Originally posted by Scottishthistle Isn't it worse than cigarette smoking on your lungs though?
This would be true if you smoked a pack of joints a day
But most recreational pot smokers just smoke one or 2 joints a day and there are probably days when they don't smoke at all.
My parents always grew their own, just for themselves, never to distribute.
I used to smoke a lot back in my younger years. But I havent in a very long time. I think it should be legal for so many reasons, too many to type out while nak, lol.
I don't like the fact that alcohol is seen as a harmless passtime and pot is illegal. People die of alcoholism and drunk driving all the time, but I've yet to know of a marijuana induced death.
Originally posted by Wendydagny >Isn't it worse than cigarette smoking on your lungs though?
From what I remember, yes. My memory says that 1 complete marijuana cig= 2 packs of tobacco in terms of lung damage. But that may be because of the unfilter/filter thing. And I don't have a source on that-- just what's stuck in my head.
Now, I have read the opposite. They also have yet to be able to link cancer and marijuana smoking.
Plus, you have to remember, most recreational users aren't going to sit down and smoke a complete joint by themselves. Back in my smoking days, one joint would be shared between a group of us. Plus, I don't know many people that smoke a pack of joints a day Okay, there are some serious users that would, but they are much fewer than people that smoke a joint every once and awhile.
I support the legalization of marijuana. Heck, just went to Seattle Hemp Fest last weekend. That doesn't mean I smoke anymore, I just think the reasons that pot are illegal are ridiculous, it is all about $$. Cotton growers don't want hemp used, nylon makers don't want hemp used, people benefiting from the war on drugs don't want marijuana legal.
If pot is illegal they should at least make it fair and make alcohol and cigarettes illegal also. I think alcohol is far more dangerous - pot makes you mellow, I don't know anyone that gets stoned and rapes or fights, beats their family, etc, unlike alcohol.
Just for the record, I think all drugs should be decriminalized. The war on drugs is a freaking joke and a waste of money. Countries where they have decriminalized all drugs have way lower drug usage rates than we do. We spend the most money on fighting drugs than any other country yet we have the highest drug usage rate. Makes me sick.
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Allison
mama to Ara, Simone, and Zarin
Hi. I want to say that I agree with legalising pot, not just for the medicinal aspects but also because of all of the other things that can be done with it (in the form of hemp) and its economic potential for farmers in this country. (The cotton and tobacco industries also played large roles in the criminalization of maijuana in one way or another, although that subject can be saved for a new post). The reason that I wanted to write though is because in a way I disagree with the statement that using anti-depressents is non-crunchy. This is not a flame, so please don't be offended. I agree that using them is not the crunciest thing in the world to do but I think that for some people it is a matter of life and death. My sister for example, has to be on anti-depressents. She is a master herbalist and tried every natual remedy that she could think of- including weed, which only depresses her more. Anti-depressents saved her from doing something to herself that would have destroyed our family. I think that besides her taking the pills, she is about the crunciest person I know....not that there is a contest going on or anything to see who is the crunchiest person.....
Again, I am not trying to flame anyone, I am just being my loud-mouthed self......but I really hope this list thing is has not turned us into a bunch of show and tellers to see who can be the crunchiest of the crunch! Being "crunchy" means different things to different people and I think the best thing that we can do is to learn from each other that it is okay and desireable to have different views about our lifestyles as long as the semi=crunchy, the super-crunchy, the
almost crunchy, the wanna-be crunchy and all of the other labels we come up with for ourselves and each other, are accepted within the forum, because in my mind that is the crunchy way.
Just for the record, I think all drugs should be decriminalized. The war on drugs is a freaking joke and a waste of money. Countries where they have decriminalized all drugs have way lower drug usage rates than we do. We spend the most money on fighting drugs than any other country yet we have the highest drug usage rate. Makes me sick.
ITA! The decriminalizing of narcotics in the US would have huge positive global effects as well.
Okay, my face is burnin' red. SORRY. I am sensitive about the issue and I I originally thought I read that ....some one using anti-depressents can't be considered crunchy. My mistake. I hang my head in shame.....Hopefully no offense taken by anyone....
This has been a totally fascinating thread. Thanks to all the mamas who posted such interesting information. I've long been a supporter of decriminalization, for most of the reasons Meeshi describes, but I'd never heard about the DuPont/hemp link.
Marijuana is highly fat soluble, and thus it is absorbed readily and will accumulate in the brain, liver, lungs and reproductive organs. These parts of the body are covered by fatty membranes. As a result of this storage within the body, marijuana poses serious danger because its effects may persist for several days or even weeks, with chronic use.
Several facts about marijuana smoking have produced persistent concern about its effects on the respiratory system. First, marijuana is smoked "unfiltered," and the cigarette is consumed almost entirely. Also, marijuana is deeply inhaled, and when it is smoked, the smoke is held in the lungs for several seconds. Marijuana smoke contains carbon monoxide, nitrosamines, benzopyrene, and over 60 cannabinoid compounds. All of these are respiratory irritants and potential carcinogens. Long-term use has been shown to produce precancerous cell changes and several recent studies suggest that marijuana smoking can lead to lung cancer. Users have reported symptoms such as hoarseness, coughing, laryngitis and bronchitis.
In addition to irritation of the respiratory system, specific physical effects of marijuana use include increased pulse and heart rate, and with chronic use, impairment of the immune system. Also, there is evidence that regular marijuana use may damage the reproductive system, including reducing sperm production and decreasing estrogen production, and causing menstrual or ovulatory irregularities. Research on marijuana use during pregnancy is inconclusive, although like most substances, marijuana crosses the placental barrier. Evidence suggests that marijuana use during pregnancy may be sufficient to produce permanent fetal abnormalities, and if combined with other drug use, inadequate prenatal care or malnourishment, harm to the fetus may increase greatly.
Marijuana also produces inability to complete psychomotor tasks. Driving performance is impaired, due to altered perception of space and time, and reduced ability to make quick decisions. Marijuana intoxication interferes with other skills such as communicating, or recalling verbal or graphic material from short-term memory. The degree of impairment depends on the dose and potency of the drug, the individual's tolerance, and the complexity of the task.
Many feelings experienced by marijuana users are subjective in nature. Feelings may include euphoria, relaxation and hilarity, and negative psychological reactions include panic attacks, anxiety and hallucinations. Although it is difficult to measure objectively, researchers have expressed concern over marijuana's effects on motivation. A picture has emerged of amotivational syndrome, which can be described as a massive and persistent loss of ambition that is replaced by chronic apathy and passivity toward goals and the future. Amotivational syndrome is seen most frequently in heavy marijuana users.
Tolerance to a drug develops when increasing doses of a drug are required to produce the same effect. If marijuana use is infrequent or doses are small, tolerance to the drug is not apparent. After prolonged use, however, it is necessary to ingest more marijuana to produce the same feelings. The fact that the body stores THC may be a factor in developing tolerance.
Physical dependence is manifested when an interruption of drug use produces physical withdrawal symptoms. It is believed that marijuana is not physically addictive, except in extremely high doses that are atypical of the majority of users. But because of the "good feeling" and instant gratification that marijuana can produce, psychological dependence is a very real consequence. Moreover, the lack of motivation that also is experienced by regular users may make it even more difficult to discontinue using marijuana.
And I find that interesting that Meeshi would say it's an anti-depressant. (I just looked this up in my neurophysiology text). It is for some people, but the effects of marijuana are so unpredictable, that *my book* says that it intensifies depression more often than it cures it.
The same text says that it inhibits male sex hormones and lowers sperm production.
Who wrote that textbook?? Dupont?? (And I *do* say that in jest!)
But, seriously, it's hard to find too many textbooks that have a completely unbiased opinion on the subject...
Think about who funds the testing of things like the effect of marijuana on people. I do realize that there are examples of privately funded testing, but call it a conspiracy theory, I do believe that pro-marijuana results often get *lost*... I'll have to dig to see if I can find it, but we've got an article out of Ithaca that talks about a test someone was doing on the effects of THC on rats with cancer. When results started showing that the rats given THC had a *much* longer survival rate, the funding got pulled and the data up to that point was confiscated. I'm pretty sure I last saw the article in a stack of alternative publications out on the studio/storage... I can dig if you want me to.
Ok, I've got a thrift store mission to complete now... I have really enjoyed reading this thread!! I hope we have more like it in the future!!
Oh, and I sincerely hope no one feels that there is a "Crunchier Than Thou" thing going on here... The list, IMO, was merely a way to see which Mama's here crunch in the same way you do.... At least, that's the way *I* took it.
but I don't drink or take any optional medications either so that is just my own purist approach to life.
I do think it should be legalized with limits (like alchohol and tobacco) so it isn't so totally available to every single child and adolescent in the country. (Those who want to find a way always will......but kids like I was wouldn't dare!)
My SIL who passed away from multiple sclerosis had a perscription for it and used it (baked in cookies) so she would have an appetite for other foods but ultimately though it helped keep her alive longer......she still wasted away bedridden and died.
I do think it should be readily available to people for such medical reasons.
Other than that.........I don't have much more to add
Let me say and hopefully this time without putting my foot in my mouth that I meant to offend no one and I apoligize if I did. I HATE lists. I am not organized enough to make them for myself and if I do I forget where I put them and I don't liek labels, probably because I am always called them because of my ideas and my "radical" thoughts. I participated in the list thing anyway because I like to hear about what other moms do. It just seemed to me that some mamas were saying that they wanted to be this way or that way. Plus I misread your post which I already said and I thought the tone of it because of the anti-depressent thing was that way. Like I said, I am embarrassed for getting a little hot before I reread the post and my comments would have been different had I done that before pressing the submit reply. Hey, it's my non crunchy thing to work on, being hotheaded that is.
Re: Ok here's a ? I have always had, but please let's be civil...
Welp, I am *against* it....I hope it is never legalized......I do NOT need people living next door to me, or standing next to me, smoking it and blowing their smoke MY way......uh-uh, no way. If it's legal, then what? You can smoke it where? In public? Your own home? What about neighbors living close by who can smell it? Or children in the home??? No way, I think it's a bad idea, and akin to smoking. And yes, I know smoking is legal.....the one difference with smoking is that I do NOT get high or a buzz standing next to someone who is doing it. In my opinion, it's a drug, and needs to stay illegal except for my being on the fence over it being used for medicine only.
__________________ "Custom will reconcile people to any atrocity."
George Bernard Shaw
Originally posted by ~Denise~ If it's legal, then what? You can smoke it where? In public? Your own home? What about neighbors living close by who can smell it? Or children in the home???
The way I would envision it is that marijuana (and other currently illegal drugs, if they were legalized) would be regulated just as alcohol and tobacco are. Those regulations could include having to purchase from authorized dealers, or there would be a minimum age requirement, or it can only be consumed in a home or in a licensed establishment, etc.
Yep, that's the way I envisioned it as well... Stemming from a cigarette burn I got right below my eye as a small child walking through a crowd at a carnival ~ The guy who did it never even stopped ~ I feel that even cigarettes shouldn't be allowed in public outdoor events...
Don't get me going on how I react to seeing a parent smoking in a car with the kids, even with the windows open. That's how it was when I was growing up and it made me queasy every time we rode anywhere...
Okay, there are some serious users that would, but they are much fewer than people that smoke a joint every once and awhile.
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