Medical Marijuana - Welcome to the club Washington DC

[ceduke]

Have you ever taken any meds other than pot and ambien, ceduke?

Valerian - No effect
Melatonin - Increased depression and VIVID nightmares. I slept more, though.
Progressive relaxation - Helps a little.
Sound machine - Helps a little when I'm manic. No effect when I'm down.
Halcion - I sleep-walked so much that I was more tired than when I fell asleep. Plus sore.
Massage - Helpful, but expensive.
Wellbutrin - Gives me energy during the day but I still can't sleep at night. It's really odd. When taking wellbutrin I've found that I'll be energetic for months, and then suddenly spend a half a week sleeping. (presumably catching up?) I haven't decided what I think of this.
I exercise, don't drink caffeine or eat sugary things after about 1pm, stretch, I avoid alcohol when my mood is off, etc. My bedroom is not used for anything but sleeping.

Natural, natural, natural... who cares if it's natural or not? Are you under the impression "natural, non-chemically altered" things can't hurt you? Go rub up on some nettles. Pick up a rattlesnake. Just because it grows in your back yard does not make it magically safe.

I don't see anyone using the "but it's natural!" argument. Am I missing something?

 

[Shiari]

I don't see anyone using the "but it's natural!" argument. Am I missing something?

A page or two ago, someone quipped that marijuana is not a drug, it's an herb... which is of course just sillyness. After all, opium and morphine come from a plant, and yet people aren't trying to legalise that. Marijuana is a plant with a particular chemical (a drug) that can have both beneficial and deleterious effects upon individuals. Though admittedly, I'm so far the only person I've heard of to have such extreme adverse reactions to the chemicals inherent in marijuana. Go figure.

 

[ceduke]

A page or two ago, someone quipped that marijuana is not a drug, it's an herb... which is of course just sillyness. After all, opium and morphine come from a plant, and yet people aren't trying to legalise that. Marijuana is a plant with a particular chemical (a drug) that can have both beneficial and deleterious effects upon individuals. Though admittedly, I'm so far the only person I've heard of to have such extreme adverse reactions to the chemicals inherent in marijuana. Go figure.

St John's Wort is a very "natural" remedy for depression that apparently can cause massive problems for people with bipolar disorder. I found this out when a family member used their "internet doctor" skills and recommended it to me. I have never been so manic in my life. I thought I had lost my mind. So you're not the only person here who has had an extreme reaction to an herb.

 

[tyflier]

A page or two ago, someone quipped that marijuana is not a drug, it's an herb... which is of course just sillyness. After all, opium and morphine come from a plant, and yet people aren't trying to legalise that. Marijuana is a plant with a particular chemical (a drug) that can have both beneficial and deleterious effects upon individuals. Though admittedly, I'm so far the only person I've heard of to have such extreme adverse reactions to the chemicals inherent in marijuana. Go figure.

OK...Morphine is a synthetic derivative of the opium plant. So is heroin, delaudid, methadone, and various other "opiates"(that's where they get their name). Opium can be mildly addicting when used in it's natural state. The synthetic and derivative opiates can kill you.

Marijuana, by itself, has never caused a death. CANCER IS NOT CAUSED BY MARIJUANA. It is caused by the inhalation of smoke into the lungs...ANY smoke...car exhaust, burning food, cigarrettes...ANY smoke taken into the luings will have negative effects.

It's obvious to me, VickyChaiTea, that you did not bother to read even a single link provided on the NORML page. If you had, you would have found the scientific studies that were posted there, unbiasedly, sjhowing all of the positive and negative effects of marijuana.

Those of you opposed are opposed because of myths and fallacies. I don't mind debating with you, but please base your claims on facts and provide evidenciary support for them. You keep screaming about cancer, I have told you twice already, and now a third time, that if you don't smoke it, it doesn't cause cancer.

There is no physical addiction, chemical dependancy, or withdrawal from marijuana. There is no permanent psychosis, depression, or violent tendencies from marijuana. THC DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER.

Come down from your high-horses, read the evidence offered, and THAN make a reasonable argument, instead of using baseless claims and ignorance to support your "cause".

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

OK...Morphine is a synthetic derivative of the opium plant. So is heroin, delaudid, methadone, and various other "opiates"(that's where they get their name). Opium can be mildly addicting when used in it's natural state. The synthetic and derivative opiates can kill you.

LOL! Ok Chris. I'll tell Asia that.

It's obvious to me, VickyChaiTea, that you did not bother to read even a single link provided on the NORML page. If you had, you would have found the scientific studies that were posted there, unbiasedly, sjhowing all of the positive and negative effects of marijuana.

Those of you opposed are opposed because of myths and fallacies. I don't mind debating with you, but please base your claims on facts and provide evidenciary support for them. You keep screaming about cancer, I have told you twice already, and now a third time, that if you don't smoke it, it doesn't cause cancer.

Ok, but most people DO smoke it. It's much faster and easier than making cannabutter and cooking with it. And I'm not fully convinced that a hallucinogenic drug has absolutely no ill effects on you simply because you don't smoke it.

There is no physical addiction, chemical dependancy, or withdrawal from marijuana. There is no permanent psychosis, depression, or violent tendencies from marijuana. THC DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER.

I call shenanigans on this. You can become addicted to absolutely anything and everything, regardless of any chemical reward. Every stoner I've ever known has claimed there's no withdrawal... and then guess what happens when they go a week without their precious weed? "Bawwwwwwwwwww, it's been soooo long since I got high, I would do anything to smoke out right nowwww".

Come down from your high-horses, read the evidence offered, and THAN make a reasonable argument, instead of using baseless claims and ignorance to support your "cause".

IIRC, Vicky was not the one to claim that weed "slowed cancer".:shrugs:

Frankly I could not possibly give less of a crap about whether people do drugs or not, as long as they do them in the privacy of their own homes where they can't hurt anyone after they get high and start acting like morons. I personally choose not to drink, smoke, or do drugs simply because they never appealed to me. I have several stoner friends and we get along famously, once they stop telling me the only way to relax and be happy is to smoke weed. But honestly, who are you fooling with your "it's natural, it's safe, it has no negative effects" mantra? Are you trying to justify your habit to yourself? Because anyone who doesn't care to smoke can see that those statements are inherently wrong whether they support your choice or not. Just come right out and say, "Yes, I enjoy an illegal drug from time to time, what the hell business is it of yours?" Don't try and paint it like it's a miracle plant that everyone should have in their homes, popping little legal marijuana pills like so much Advil when they have hard days.

 

[ceduke]

IIRC, Vicky was not the one to claim that weed "slowed cancer".:shrugs:

Actually, there are a handful of studies published that demonstrate that THC shrank lung tumors in mice. Because of the "war on drugs", there has not been enough follow up in the form of human research for me to say "yes, it slows the growth of cancer", but given that these studies do exist, and that the one human study done seems to confirm this, I'm not going to discount it outright.

 

[Tula_Montage]

All I have to say about this thread is...


Oh, and I am a huge advocate of using weed for whatever reason you see fit. Home grown and pure is the way to go! Who says "stoners" have no get up and go? I have 3 jobs (out of choice) and attend full time higher education.

 

[danielle]

Teddy- your friends aren't addicted to weed they just like it- marijuana is not addictive even our government agrees with this. I smoked all the time in high school and college and just quit when I became a mom- not really worth it to me I had no withdrawls, urges, or need for it- it was something I did for fun before I had the responsibility of caring for another human life. Whether or not anyone likes cigarettes, alcohol, or pot no one is forcing you to partake so why is it okay to force someone else not to? I am with people not smoking or drinking in public, driving, or putting you in the situation where you have to be around it- it's called being respectful, but I find it very disrespectful when people assume just because they don't like it no one else should be able to do it.

No one can deny the medical benefits of marijuana that doesn't damage your liver or kidney's like every other pharmaceutical out there, or hemps use in society. While you may not like that fact- it is a fact I don't believe anyone here has said marijuana smoke is not a concern, but so is every other kind of smoke, eating smoked foods, or breathing outside. As far as opiates the funny thing is they are legal medications in our country and all over the world and are far more addicting then nonaddictive pot with adverse side effects such as severe mood swings, terrible withdrawals, and damage to our precious liver, kidney's, heart, and lungs when smoked. Pain killers are definitely in the top 5 most addicting drugs out there even non opiate derived ones and they are legal too. So if your going to use the argument that pot is so dangerous and unsafe you need to include every kind of pain killer, sleep medicine, psychiatric drug, antibiotic, cough and cold medicine, chemo....this list would be pretty long huh? All drugs legal or not have side effects from long term use, some are addicting, some cause major organ damage, and all are necessary. I would rather ingest a NATURAL herb that yes is a drug before ingesting a chemically engineered pill my body was never designed to process without damage

 

[vetusvates]

Valerian - No effect
Melatonin - Increased depression and VIVID nightmares. I slept more, though.
Progressive relaxation - Helps a little.
Sound machine - Helps a little when I'm manic. No effect when I'm down.
Halcion - I sleep-walked so much that I was more tired than when I fell asleep. Plus sore.
Massage - Helpful, but expensive.
Wellbutrin - Gives me energy during the day but I still can't sleep at night. It's really odd. When taking wellbutrin I've found that I'll be energetic for months, and then suddenly spend a half a week sleeping. (presumably catching up?) I haven't decided what I think of this.
I exercise, don't drink caffeine or eat sugary things after about 1pm, stretch, I avoid alcohol when my mood is off, etc. My bedroom is not used for anything but sleeping.

I don't see anyone using the "but it's natural!" argument. Am I missing something?

LOL.
St. John's Wort just made me abnormally hungry.
Echinacea and Ginkgo-Biloba made me think I was loosing my mind. Almost got lost driving across town. Seriously.
Ambien...sleepwalking and woke up after 4 hours.
Halcion...trouble waking up, dazed the next day.

Note : I do not use marijuana in any form, but I do seem to now sleep better as I have grown older.

 

[danielle]

Had to rep Elle how simple is that? And true

 

[vetusvates]

Had to rep Elle how simple is that? And true

LOL. I repped her, too.

 

[Tula_Montage]

You wouldn't rep me if you knew how much of a pot head I was....am. LOL!

 

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Teddy- your friends aren't addicted to weed they just like it- marijuana is not addictive even our government agrees with this. I smoked all the time in high school and college and just quit when I became a mom- not really worth it to me I had no withdrawls, urges, or need for it- it was something I did for fun before I had the responsibility of caring for another human life. Whether or not anyone likes cigarettes, alcohol, or pot no one is forcing you to partake so why is it okay to force someone else not to? I am with people not smoking or drinking in public, driving, or putting you in the situation where you have to be around it- it's called being respectful, but I find it very disrespectful when people assume just because they don't like it no one else should be able to do it.

No one can deny the medical benefits of marijuana that doesn't damage your liver or kidney's like every other pharmaceutical out there, or hemps use in society. While you may not like that fact- it is a fact I don't believe anyone here has said marijuana smoke is not a concern, but so is every other kind of smoke, eating smoked foods, or breathing outside. As far as opiates the funny thing is they are legal medications in our country and all over the world and are far more addicting then nonaddictive pot with adverse side effects such as severe mood swings, terrible withdrawals, and damage to our precious liver, kidney's, heart, and lungs when smoked. Pain killers are definitely in the top 5 most addicting drugs out there even non opiate derived ones and they are legal too. So if your going to use the argument that pot is so dangerous and unsafe you need to include every kind of pain killer, sleep medicine, psychiatric drug, antibiotic, cough and cold medicine, chemo....this list would be pretty long huh? All drugs legal or not have side effects from long term use, some are addicting, some cause major organ damage, and all are necessary. I would rather ingest a NATURAL herb that yes is a drug before ingesting a chemically engineered pill my body was never designed to process without damage

Uh, I'm not forcing anyone not to. I clearly said, in my post, that I could not possibly care less about what you put in your body, but saying that it's healthy is just being stupid. I also didn't say it was "so dangerous and unsafe", but it's definitely not completely safe with no repercussions on people's health.

Yeah, some legal drugs aren't completely safe - but at least they're regulated and tested on more than just anecdotal, biased "evidence". If you're all so dead-set on avoiding "unnatural" things like a pill with reliable amounts and reactions to the body, stop taking ibuprofen/asprin, stop vaccinating your kids, and go find a mushroom in the woods to eat. It's natural, so I'm sure nothing bad will happen. Why would ingesting something that grows naturally in the wild have any harmful effects on someone?

 

[danielle]

Teddy I never said that because Marijuana was natural it had NO side effects- I just feel the side effects are less damaging then what ibuprofen, antibiotics, pain killers, and other legal drugs do to the body with long term use. I don't appreciate your implication that my intelligence is less than especially since I never made the comment pot is healthy- just safer than what billions of people worldwide take daily without a thought. I smoked pot pretty regularly from the age of 14-21 with no adverse side effects whatsoever, but you can't say that of a person who drank heavily for 7 years. I also disagree pot has not been closely studied by our government, the FDA, pharmaceutical companies, and other agencies- it has been for over 40 years at this point and no one from a medical standpoint can find any evidence that it is more harmful than the drugs we legally rely on today. If you ate a whole bottle of aspirin or Tylenol you would more than likely die, but you could easily smoke an ounce of pot and come away hungry and sleepy which is far better than dead IMO

Pot is regulated and tested in States and countries abroad where it is legal and there is nothing anecdotal or biased about the findings. Pot is not an immediate threat to anyone's health even when abused, and it is the smoke that is the danger not the actual THC. They make THC pills, pot brownies are heaven, butters and other spreads, oils, cookies- you name it THC can be implemented in any food or drink of your choice with zero carcinogens and all the medical benefits. I happen to be someone that won't take a pain killer narcotic or not, I don't do vaccinations except the MMR and Hepatitis shots required for my kids to be in school, and I love mushrooms especially the kind that grow on cow crap However, I never stated anything natural is safe so when you reply to me please ensure your comments are based on the actual words I typed and not your twisted view of my opinion in which I state pretty clear. I also would love to see some evidence THC is dangerous to my health as you keep insisting and don't confuse smoke with THC please

 

[VickyChaiTea]

OK...Morphine is a synthetic derivative of the opium plant. So is heroin, delaudid, methadone, and various other "opiates"(that's where they get their name). Opium can be mildly addicting when used in it's natural state. The synthetic and derivative opiates can kill you.

Marijuana, by itself, has never caused a death. CANCER IS NOT CAUSED BY MARIJUANA. It is caused by the inhalation of smoke into the lungs...ANY smoke...car exhaust, burning food, cigarrettes...ANY smoke taken into the luings will have negative effects.

It's obvious to me, VickyChaiTea, that you did not bother to read even a single link provided on the NORML page. If you had, you would have found the scientific studies that were posted there, unbiasedly, sjhowing all of the positive and negative effects of marijuana.

Those of you opposed are opposed because of myths and fallacies. I don't mind debating with you, but please base your claims on facts and provide evidenciary support for them. You keep screaming about cancer, I have told you twice already, and now a third time, that if you don't smoke it, it doesn't cause cancer.

There is no physical addiction, chemical dependancy, or withdrawal from marijuana. There is no permanent psychosis, depression, or violent tendencies from marijuana. THC DOES NOT CAUSE CANCER.

Come down from your high-horses, read the evidence offered, and THAN make a reasonable argument, instead of using baseless claims and ignorance to support your "cause".

I agree that it DOES have good qualities, and SHOULD be used medically.

And oh my god, are you serious? It's the smoke not the drug? The drug that has more carcinogen than cigarettes? That's like saying "Oh, it's not the guy holding the gun that killed someone, the bullet did." Or "Oh, that drunk driver didn't kill someone, his car did." :/

And just because it doesn't cause PERMANENT depression, violent behavior, and psychosis doesn't make it good! I don't know about you, but I don't feel like going psychotic for ANY amount of time. Ir being depressed, or being violent!

 

[tyflier]

LOL! Ok Chris. I'll tell Asia that.

Go ahead. I'm sure they already know. But if you look at clinical addictions, not just your personal, inexperienced opinion, the physiological addiction to opium is very mild compared to synthetic opiates. Do some research...

Ok, but most people DO smoke it. It's much faster and easier than making cannabutter and cooking with it. And I'm not fully convinced that a hallucinogenic drug has absolutely no ill effects on you simply because you don't smoke it.

So what? It's the SMOKE that causes cancer...NOT the plant. Just because people CHOOSE to smoke it does NOT change the fact that marijuana itself is not a carcinogenic. Smoke is.

Read the research. Whether you are convinced or not, the research speaks for itself.

I call shenanigans on this. You can become addicted to absolutely anything and everything, regardless of any chemical reward. Every stoner I've ever known has claimed there's no withdrawal... and then guess what happens when they go a week without their precious weed? "Bawwwwwwwwwww, it's been soooo long since I got high, I would do anything to smoke out right nowwww".

Addiction, by definition, requires physiological symptoms of withdrawal. Without this withdrawal, there is no addiction. Marijuana does not have a physically addicting chemical reaction. Just because your friends are stoners does not mean marijuana is addicting.

The experience you describe is purely a mental habituation. Hook them up, check their pulse, brain waves, heart rate, respiration, and metabolic rate, and you will see no difference between a person who smokes, and a person suddenly without. there is no addiction. This is not a matter of opinion. This is a fact.

IIRC, Vicky was not the one to claim that weed "slowed cancer".:shrugs:

NOBODY claimed that cancer was "slowed" by weed. It isn't. Cancer is associated weith a multitude of painful and detrimental symptoms, as is chemo-therapy. Marijuana is very good at relieving a good percentage of these symptoms, including pain, sleeplessness, nausea, lack of appetite, and vomiting. If you ease these symptoms, the patient has stronger recuperative abilities.

Frankly I could not possibly give less of a crap about whether people do drugs or not, as long as they do them in the privacy of their own homes where they can't hurt anyone after they get high and start acting like morons.

And you expect me to believe that you aren't biased? Just because all of your 15 year old friends smoke too much, too often, and can't control themselves does not mean that grown adults are the same. If recreational marijuana is legalized, it will be regulated much like alcohol, and unavailable to you and your friends. This is BECAUSE children should not be using it.

I personally choose not to drink, smoke, or do drugs simply because they never appealed to me.

That's not a choice, it's the law. Become an adult.

I have several stoner friends and we get along famously, once they stop telling me the only way to relax and be happy is to smoke weed.

So? Your friends are not the average, the normal, or the net result of people that use marijuana. Your experience is incredibly minimal, and your viewpoint is, therefor, incredibly narrow minded.

But honestly, who are you fooling with your "it's natural, it's safe, it has no negative effects" mantra? Are you trying to justify your habit to yourself? Because anyone who doesn't care to smoke can see that those statements are inherently wrong whether they support your choice or not

Nobody ever said pot wasn't harmful because it is natural. NOBODY. Pot isn't harmful because research has shown that it isn't harmful. It has nothing to do with it being natural.

I said it is an herb, not a drug, in referance to it being called "an illegal drug". It shouldn't be, in my op-inion. And research supports this.

Just come right out and say, "Yes, I enjoy an illegal drug from time to time, what the hell business is it of yours?" Don't try and paint it like it's a miracle plant that everyone should have in their homes, popping little legal marijuana pills like so much Advil when they have hard days.

You have no idea what you are talking about. You are a child.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

You keep IMPLYING that it's safe because it's natural, why even mention that it's natural at all? This debate is about whether or not it should be legalized.

A drug can be an herb, an herb can be a drug. It is a drug and an herb.

 

[PJ@PJCReptiles]

You wouldn't rep me if you knew how much of a pot head I was....am. LOL!

I still love you Elle!! :dancer:

 

[chuk_138]

Ummm, Vicky, to clue you in, drug implies an altered substance, herb means it's a freakin' plant. Plants aren't drugs, the extracts and consequental alterations make it a drug. You don't get cocaine from a coca leaf by just drying it out. Opium doesn't just fall off from poppy bulbs. You have to extract a certain chemical and combine it with another, generally harmful, chemical. THC or delta-9-tetrahydracannabinol is merely the sticky, oily substance the plant secretes. The plant can be vaporized, not burned, to release the chemical without causing smoke inhalation. NO SMOKE! Thereby dramatically reducing the carcinogens you seem to be so worried about. You really do need to do some research, child of the internet. If you don't like pot, don't smoke it. I was around it for years and never tried it. After my military service was over, I tried it. I can vouch for the lack of addiction. I was a heavy smoker for five years and just quit one day. No urges, no vomiting, no fevers, nothing. I also grew my own plants for a while. It gave me a great opportunity to learn about genetics, chemistry, and horticulture. Let me also add that it has not had an adverse effect on my memory or lungs. I have an IQ of 148, am bilingual, and have 98% lung capacity. Speak of what you know, don't speculate.

 

[requin]

I am surprised and pleased that so many people approve of the use of marijuana for medical purposes (and in general ). I really don't think there's anything wrong with adults using it responsibly.

There have been TONS of legitimate studies that show the health benefits of marijuana. It's not all "anecdotal evidence" and wishful thinking. If anything, there's probably quite a bit more to be discovered; actually I recently read a study that suggests marijuana might protect the brain from the damaging effects of alcohol.

I see no reason why it shouldn't be legalized and taxed heavily; it would have a number of social benefits including giving a much-needed boost to the economy. There are tons of dispensaries where I live and they've definitely created a lot of jobs.

I don't think anyone is denying that smoke (from any source) can be harmful; as lots of people have said it's so easy to get around by buying a vaporizer or cooking with it that it's practically a non-issue.