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Exactly, people are too ignorant to see that its not that bad for you. People that have not done it dont know what they are talking about, they get their facts from shit like D.A.R.E and all the videos we watch at school.
The reason I am debating on quitting is because I am loosing friends over it.
Lately I have talked to alot of people that have been doing weed for 3 years plus and all of them are perfectly fine. I have read studies that show that people after 15 years of use are perfectly fine. Weed relaxes you, and you can function 100% fine, unless you are so stoned that you are about to pass out and do pass out. Everything is about moderation.
It is almost impossible to find someone that actually has proof or experiences that weed ruins your life, the only time it does is if you get into hardcore drugs.
Exactly, people are too ignorant to see that its not that bad for you. People that have not done it dont know what they are talking about, they get their facts from shit like D.A.R.E and all the videos we watch at school.
The reason I am debating on quitting is because I am loosing friends over it.
Lately I have talked to alot of people that have been doing weed for 3 years plus and all of them are perfectly fine. I have read studies that show that people after 15 years of use are perfectly fine. Weed relaxes you, and you can function 100% fine, unless you are so stoned that you are about to pass out and do pass out. Everything is about moderation.
It is almost impossible to find someone that actually has proof or experiences that weed ruins your life, the only time it does is if you get into hardcore drugs.
Im sorry, but this just doesnt sound like a moralist conservative republican speaking. Your philosophy now is "everything is ok". So I guess that makes so many other things in this world OK in moderatation( so crap like- gay marriage, any other drug) Really most people that smoke pot that I know, have very low scores in school and are rather "emo". The only reason people smoke it is because they are trying to escape from there lives, meaning they are depressed or have the "other people do it, I want to follow the crowd" attitude.
Scientifically it is bad for you and addicative:
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. A dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, it usually is smoked as a cigarette (joint, nail), or in a pipe (bong). It also is smoked in blunts, which are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana, often in combination with another drug. Use also might include mixing marijuana in food or brewing it as a tea. As a more concentrated, resinous form it is called hashish and, as a sticky black liquid, hash oil. Marijuana smoke has a pungent and distinctive, usually sweet-and-sour odor. There are countless street terms for marijuana including pot, herb, weed, grass, widow, ganja, and hash, as well as terms derived from trademarked varieties of cannabis, such as, Northern Lights®, Fruity Juice®, Afghani #1®, and a number of Skunk varieties.
The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The membranes of certain nerve cells in the brain contain protein receptors that bind to THC. Once securely in place, THC kicks off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana.
Extent of Use
There were an estimated 2.6 million new marijuana users in 2001. This number is similar to the numbers of new users each year since 1995, but above the number in 1990 (1.6 million). In 2002, over 14 million Americans age 12 and older used marijuana at least once in the month prior to being surveyed, and 12.2 percent of past year marijuana users used marijuana on 300 or more days in the past 12 months. This translates into 3.1 million people using marijuana on a daily or almost daily basis over a 12-month period(1).
The percentage of youth age 12 to 17 who had ever used marijuana declined slightly from 2001 to 2002 (21.9 to 20.6 percent). Among adults age 18 to 25, the rate increased slightly from 53.0 percent to 53.8 percent in 2002. The percentage of young adults age 18 to 25 who had ever used marijuana was 5.1 percent in 1965, but increased steadily to 54.4 percent in 1982. Although the rate for young adults declined somewhat from 1982 to 1993, it did not drop below 43 percent and actually increased to 53.8 percent by 2002(1).
Forty-two percent of youth age 12 or 13 and 24.1 percent age 16 or 17 perceived smoking marijuana once a month as a great risk. Slightly more than half of youth age 12 to 17 indicated that it would be fairly or very easy to obtain marijuana, but only 26.0 percent of 12- or 13-year-olds indicated the same thing. However, 79.0 percent of those age 16 or 17 indicated that it would be fairly or very easy to obtain marijuana(1).
Prevalence of lifetime, past year, and past month marijuana use declined among students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades in 2003. However, the declines in 12-month prevalence reached statistical significance only in 8th-graders; past year use has declined by nearly one-third since 1996(2). All three grades showed an increase in perceived risk for regular marijuana use. This finding represents a welcome turnaround in this perception, which has been in decline in all grades over the past 1 or 2 years(3).
In 2002, marijuana was the third most commonly abused drug mentioned in drug-related hospital emergency department (ED) visits in the continental United States. Marijuana mentions rose significantly (24%) from 2000 to 2002, but showed no significant increase since 2001. Taking changes in population into account, marijuana mentions increased 139 percent from 1995 to 2002(4).
Effects on the Brain
Scientists have learned a great deal about how THC acts in the brain to produce its many effects. When someone smokes marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries the chemical to organs throughout the body, including the brain.
In the brain, THC connects to specific sites called cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. Some brain areas have many cannabinoid receptors; others have few or none. Many cannabinoid receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement(5).
The short-term effects of marijuana can include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate. Research findings for long-term marijuana use indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs of abuse. For example, cannabinoid (THC or synthetic forms of THC) withdrawal in chronically exposed animals leads to an increase in the activation of the stress-response system(6) and changes in the activity of nerve cells containing dopamine(7). Dopamine neurons are involved in the regulation of motivation and reward, and are directly or indirectly affected by all drugs of abuse.
Effects on the Heart
One study has indicated that a users risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana(8). The researchers suggest that such an effect might occur from marijuanas effects on blood pressure and heart rate and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
Effects on the Lungs
A study of 450 individuals found that people who smoke marijuana frequently but do not smoke tobacco have more health problems and miss more days of work than nonsmokers(9). Many of the extra sick days among the marijuana smokers in the study were for respiratory illnesses.
Even infrequent use can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, often accompanied by a heavy cough. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illness, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency to obstructed airways(10). Smoking marijuana increases the likelihood of developing cancer of the head or neck, and the more marijuana smoked the greater the increase(11). A study comparing 173 cancer patients and 176 healthy individuals produced strong evidence that marijuana smoking doubled or tripled the risk of these cancers.
Marijuana use also has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because it contains irritants and carcinogens(12, 13). In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke(14). It also produces high levels of an enzyme that converts certain hydrocarbons into their carcinogenic formlevels that may accelerate the changes that ultimately produce malignant cells(15). Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which increases the lungs exposure to carcinogenic smoke. These facts suggest that, puff for puff, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than smoking tobacco.
Other Health Effects
Some of marijuanas adverse health effects may occur because THC impairs the immune systems ability to fight off infectious diseases and cancer. In laboratory experiments that exposed animal and human cells to THC or other marijuana ingredients, the normal disease-preventing reactions of many of the key types of immune cells were inhibited(16). In other studies, mice exposed to THC or related substances were more likely than unexposed mice to develop bacterial infections and tumors(17, 18).
Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use on Learning and Social Behavior
Depression(19), anxiety(20), and personality disturbances(21) have been associated with marijuana use. Research clearly demonstrates that marijuana has potential to cause problems in daily life or make a persons existing problems worse. Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, the more a person uses marijuana the more he or she is likely to fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills. Moreover, research has shown that marijuanas adverse impact on memory and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off(22, 23).
Students who smoke marijuana get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school, compared with their non-smoking peers(24, 25, 26, 27). A study of 129 college students found that, for heavy users of marijuana (those who smoked the drug at least 27 of the preceding 30 days), critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours(28). The heavy marijuana users in the study had more trouble sustaining and shifting their attention and in registering, organizing, and using information than did the study participants who had used marijuana no more than 3 of the previous 30 days. As a result, someone who smokes marijuana every day may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level all of the time.
More recently, the same researchers showed that the ability of a group of long-term heavy marijuana users to recall words from a list remained impaired for a week after quitting, but returned to normal within 4 weeks(29). Thus, it is possible that some cognitive abilities may be restored in individuals who quit smoking marijuana, even after long-term heavy use.
Workers who smoke marijuana are more likely than their coworkers to have problems on the job. Several studies associate workers marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers compensation claims, and job turnover. A study of municipal workers found that those who used marijuana on or off the job reported more withdrawal behaviorssuch as leaving work without permission, daydreaming, spending work time on personal matters, and shirking tasksthat adversely affect productivity and morale(30). In another study, marijuana users reported that use of the drug impaired several important measures of life achievement including cognitive abilities, career status, social life, and physical and mental health(31).
Effects on Pregnancy
Research has shown that babies born to women who used marijuana during their pregnancies display altered responses to visual stimuli, increased tremulousness, and a high-pitched cry, which may indicate neurological problems in development(32). During infancy and preschool years, marijuana-exposed children have been observed to have more behavioral problems than unexposed children and poorer performance on tasks of visual perception, language comprehension, sustained attention, and memory(33, 34). In school, these children are more likely to exhibit deficits in decision-making skills, memory, and the ability to remain attentive(35, 36, 37).
Addictive Potential
Long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction for some people; that is, they use the drug compulsively even though it interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. Drug craving and withdrawal symptoms can make it hard for long-term marijuana smokers to stop using the drug. People trying to quit report irritability, sleeplessness, and anxiety(38). They also display increased aggression on psychological tests, peaking approximately one week after the last use of the drug(39).
Genetic Vulnerability
Scientists have found that whether an individual has positive or negative sensations after smoking marijuana can be influenced by heredity. A 1997 study demonstrated that identical male twins were more likely than non-identical male twins to report similar responses to marijuana use, indicating a genetic basis for their response to the drug(40). (Identical twins share all of their genes.)
It also was discovered that the twins shared or family environment before age 18 had no detectable influence on their response to marijuana. Certain environmental factors, however, such as the availability of marijuana, expectations about how the drug would affect them, the influence of friends and social contacts, and other factors that differentiate experiences of identical twins were found to have an important effect.
Treating Marijuana Problems
The latest treatment data indicate that, in 2000, marijuana was the primary drug of abuse in about 15 percent (236,638) of all admissions to treatment facilities in the United States. Marijuana admissions were primarily male (76 percent), White (57 percent), and young (46 percent under 20 years old). Those in treatment for primary marijuana use had begun use at an early age; 56 percent had used it by age 14 and 92 percent had used it by 18(41).
One study of adult marijuana users found comparable benefits from a 14-session cognitive-behavioral group treatment and a 2-session individual treatment that included motivational interviewing and advice on ways to reduce marijuana use. Participants were mostly men in their early thirties who had smoked marijuana daily for more than 10 years. By increasing patients awareness of what triggers their marijuana use, both treatments sought to help patients devise avoidance strategies. Use, dependence symptoms, and psychosocial problems decreased for at least 1 year following both treatments; about 30 percent of users were abstinent during the last 3-month followup period(42).
Another study suggests that giving patients vouchers that they can redeem for goodssuch as movie passes, sporting equipment, or vocational trainingmay further improve outcomes(43).
Although no medications are currently available for treating marijuana abuse, recent discoveries about the workings of the THC receptors have raised the possibility of eventually developing a medication that will block the intoxicating effects of THC. Such a medication might be used to prevent relapse to marijuana abuse by lessening or eliminating its appeal.
Sry didnt read your post, its too long. Please, dont go overboard, its a plant. Liberals are just finding a way to make republicans hipocrits. I am pretty conservative, but I dont agree with EVERYTHING that republicans believe. I go by my views, not others. Im not sure if marijuana should be legal, as I have said.
There is bigger and more important things to solve in our world then stopping some people smoke weed.
And all the emo kids that are my friends usually dont do weed, or smoke it then turn around and bitch to me about how its so horrible for you. Marijuana has nothing to do with what stereotype you are in, what grades you get, or any of that crap. Alot of highly intellectual people smoke, hicks smoke, some republicans smoke, skaters, goths, preps, name it. My dad has been highly successful and he smoked weed only like 1 year ago. Mainly to relieve stress and calm himself down from bi polar depression.
Nice excuse, you just refuse to find out the truth. Now that you said that "Everything is OK in Moderatation"- you dont have any room to critize anyone for anything. So with that comment, there is no such thing as morals or values. And who the fuck said I was liberal? I just found it funny that Bush fan was going againist the war on drugs and said that "everything is OK in moderation".
Your not going to find many "highly intellectual people" smoke pot. People who smoke have a much high drop rate then people that don't.
Omg, I never said drugs are good. Cocain, herion, crystal, speed, all that shit are really bad for you, its proven. Weed on the other hand is not. I doubt you have tried weed, so go smoke a bowl and tell me if you have the same views.
Ok and next time you use someone elses article on weed and its effect, show a source. Thats not your post, you probly looked it up on google then ctrl c+ ctrl v'd it.
No, because its wrong and self-destructive. With your logic, i dont want you to comment on aboration, gay marriage, or the war in iraq- because you havent "tried" it. You just have some sort of mental problems, and need a substance to make your self feel better about yourself.
Read about the scientific facts, nothing good can come of the shit except for the terriminal ill-
http://www.marijuana-info.org/
the last article i posted, was from the top sciencists in the nation.
You have never tried it! This is something different then gay marriage or abortion, you cant compare it so just stop now. Its like compairing a car to dr. pepper, they share nothing in common. Right now you just dont like me so you are going to go against everything I say, out of ignorance.
People need to take their own views, not other peoples. If I am a republican im not going to follow every single thing a republican belives in. I go by what I feel, not others. I think its so stupid that liberals go against every single thing Bush says, when alot of it isnt really as bad as they make it to be. This is the way people are in general, they do something or say something for a reason, not for them selves.
the last article i posted, was from the top sciencists in the nation.
Lol that would be an opinion. That is just a stupid statement. Do you know every scientist that is alive right now? I dont think so. So think about what you say next time.
the last article i posted, was from the top sciencists in the nation.
Lol that would be an opinion. That is just a stupid statement. Do you know every scientist that is alive right now? I dont think so. So think about what you say next time.
Whatever, your mental problems/"feelings of the drug-"(not so logical) vs. nation's top scientists.
Most "scientists" will say that weed isnt bad for you either, just type "is marijuana bad for you" in a google search and most of the articles will agree with me. But always you will find two different opinions on the same subject. Alot of articles are based off of strong opinion, so you will never find a true anwser until you have a personal experience with it. The moment I feel stupid or less motivated I will be sure to let you know.
the last article i posted, was from the top sciencists in the nation.
Lol that would be an opinion. That is just a stupid statement. Do you know every scientist that is alive right now? I dont think so. So think about what you say next time.
Whatever, your mental problems/"feelings of the drug-"(not so logical) vs. nation's top scientists.
And just please, shut up (respectfully
). Everyone has different opinions and you need to respect that. I get pissed when im argueing but I still respect your opinions, whether I agree or not. I think most likely if you talked with me about more important issues you would agree with me. Just based out of the opinions I have heard from you.
I dont need this to get ugly, so fine, lets agree to disagree. I'm also a republican, but I hate the "Everything is OK" and feeling logics! Drives me crazy.
Ya I totally agree, but what I meant with the moderation thing was drugs and alcohol and stuff like that. Well not hardcore drugs but natural. You cant have homosexuality and abortion in moderation, even a little is wrong in my opinion.
Wrong, you can have abortion and homosexuality in moderation. Bam, you got served AGAIN!
You are starting to sound like wootedge and murt, I have a follower I guess now. But I wouldnt mind if you left me alone, unless you have something intelligent to say besides ummm blink 182 boy and you got served.
Maybe this really is wootedge
Lol for one it could be another user name, and I was joking. Obviously if you have 600+ posts its not going to be an alt account.
Can you be any less mature, Foxus? How about being a little less anal-retentive about 92...'s posts?
"Whoever controls the media controls the mind..-'Jim Morrison"
"When decorum is repression, the only dignity free men have is to speak out." ~Abbie Hoffman
I dont know if im gong to keep doing it, it does make me a more laid back person and people have really been starting to like me more now, because I dont give a shit about anything. But at the same time im worried about becoming addicted and stupid over it from doing it too much. So maybe I will quit im not sure.
Some people say you can use it for medicinal purposes, but I haven't read up on it so I wouldn't know. Never did it; never been an issue. Personally I think that if you can become a better person and a more laid back person without a drug then you genuinely are a better person and your character will show through in tough times.
I know that I tend to think of a lot of things at once and I've been trying to look at what's in front of me and live my life minute by minute - not in the future and not in the past. The past can't be changed (at least not yet
), and the future should only be prepared for - not feared or brooded about. Try living your life by face value (or rather the present), but it wouldn't hurt to prepare for future events either. You may find yourself a more relaxed person if you do so; works a bit for me so far (unless the present is horrible - then I think of how good it will be in the future 
).
PS. If it's self-esteem you're having a problem with, then even simply taking the first rough step off of a drug in resolution could get your self-confidence back up; and with good reason.
"Put your foot where your mouth is." - Wisdom from my grandfather
"Paper or plastic? ... because I'm afraid I'll have to suffocate you unless you put this bag on your head..." - Ethnitrek
AC1: Wierding from Harvestgain
Well I think more positives have came out when I started smoking then negatives. Im just going to smoke socially, and once in a while before I sleep or after school, but never in the morning and go to school high. Il just do it to relaxe and have fun every once in a while.
Haha look at this, in northern arizona it is a deep read showing high marijuana use. That is where I live. That why we have so many stoners where I live.
ok whoever made that map had their head so far up their ass that they cant even remember daylight.
NEW MEXICO doesnt have a drug problem it certainly would not have escaped my notice, i ahve lived in every area in my state and most major cities, and their is no drug use. our border is the hardest US/mexico border to get drugs across. and our state has the least grown marajuana amoung any of the souther states. we have the best drug police of any state, and we stopped it years ago.
This is how we squashed our gangs and they all pretty much disbanded.
WHO MADE THIS MAP, PLEASE I DONT THINK ITS DATA IS ACCURATE. Maybe he was high
98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.
Well it is definately true for where we live at. I dont think any of the borders are doing that great of a job. Still ALOT of illigal immigrants get past every single day, its horrible in Arizona that even some of the citizens that live around there are trying to stop it.