[Jabberwalker]

I knew lots of regular cannabis users when I was younger. It was quite widespread in the 70's. I also remember that, even after a relatively short period of usage they mostly had a little piece of them "missing" I can't easily define it ... a spark ... a sparkle ... not scientific but you could sense change. I can't imagine how those people are doing after decades more of it. I've never believe that cannabis has not negative effects. I will say, though, that it is clearly not as dangerous as alcohol.

[CanadianJeff]

Everything in moderation. I know what you mean about that spark though. My mother used to work in a care home for heavy substance abusers and that spark seems to go missing regardless of the abused substance.

Even the rapid alcoholics didn't seem to be all there.

[Jabberwalker]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

Everything in moderation. I know what you mean about that spark though. My mother used to work in a care home for heavy substance abusers and that spark seems to go missing regardless of the abused substance.

Even the rapid alcoholics didn't seem to be all there.

It's very hard to define. I saw the same thing happen to a girl who was hit by a car, neck broken, spent nine months in a coma and recovered. It was a miracle, really and she was all there in the end, except for the "spark".

[OnTheIce]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

While it's certainly true that some hardcore pot users most certainly come across as rather slow it's not true of the vast majority of people who enjoy the drug for recreational use.

Most of us know at least 1 heavy pot user. In my experience, most of those heavy pot users are similar to that of alcoholics.

They are a little slower, they can't maintain steady employment, they're unreliable and they have other problems that have been compounded due to their drug use.

We need to stop referring to marijuana as some harmless plant that has no long-term effect on people at all. It's just BS.

[Jabberwalker]

It's certainly not harmless but there are far worse things out there. Most of our poisons, save caffeine, are more dangerous.

[Headstrong]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

While it's certainly true that some hardcore pot users most certainly come across as rather slow it's not true of the vast majority of people who enjoy the drug for recreational use.

Most of us know at least 1 heavy pot user. In my experience, most of those heavy pot users are similar to that of alcoholics.

They are a little slower, they can't maintain steady employment, they're unreliable and they have other problems that have been compounded due to their drug use.

We need to stop referring to marijuana as some harmless plant that has no long-term effect on people at all. It's just BS.

How many heavy pot smokers do you know? How much do they consume? How often do they consume? Could you please define a heavy pot user for us?

[Jabberwalker]

Headstrong Headstrong:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

While it's certainly true that some hardcore pot users most certainly come across as rather slow it's not true of the vast majority of people who enjoy the drug for recreational use.

Most of us know at least 1 heavy pot user. In my experience, most of those heavy pot users are similar to that of alcoholics.

They are a little slower, they can't maintain steady employment, they're unreliable and they have other problems that have been compounded due to their drug use.

We need to stop referring to marijuana as some harmless plant that has no long-term effect on people at all. It's just BS.

How many heavy pot smokers do you know? How much do they consume? How often do they consume? Could you please define a heavy pot user for us?

... starting each and every day with a spliff before you go to work, for instance ...

[OnTheIce]

Headstrong Headstrong:

How many heavy pot smokers do you know? How much do they consume? How often do they consume? Could you please define a heavy pot user for us?

Right now, I have about 2-3 people that I know that are heavy pot users. I tend not to associate with heavy drug users (of any nature). I lost a good friend to alcoholism.

One of the pot users was a very close friend but the drug use has limited him to living at his parents house (he's 34) and makes skateboard videos as his "job".

He starts first thing in the morning and smokes about 2-3 times a day.

The other guys are a couple times a day max...but there isn't a day that goes by without them smoking dope.

[ShepherdsDog]

whether it be the heavy drinker or the heavy pot user, they're both firing on 5 or 6 cylinders out of 8. Those who figure pot is harmless are prime examples of the damage heavy cannabis can do to the human brain. Their thought process gets as fucked up an alcoholic and they start comparing Canadian police to the Gestapo and a Canadian political Party as fascist.

[Jabberwalker]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

whether it be the heavy drinker or the heavy pot user, they're both firing on 5 or 6 cylinders out of 8. Those who figure pot is harmless are prime examples of the damage heavy cannabis can do to the human brain. Their thought process gets as fucked up an alcoholic and they start comparing Canadian police to the Gestapo and a Canadian political Party as fascist.

FASCIST?!? The Green Party is fascist?

I knew it, man!

[Zipperfish]

For the vast majority of people it's mostly harmless. What harm it does cause is primaily personal, not social. But it will harm almost anyone who uses too much, and it will harm a small percentage of vulnerable people if used at all. And it has important medical applications.

That about sums it up for me.

[ShepherdsDog]

It's those who use it for recreational purposes, after getting a 'prescription' for it that I find really disgusting. They undermine the rights of those who legitimately require it for treatment of real illness. They're no better than those who abuse other prescription meds.

[Thanos]

Maybe these purists who've gathered around Mark Emery smoke dope only. In reality a lot of dope smokers are also heavy or binge drinkers who quite happily combine the two during a piss-up. I certainly know that the ones who started back in high school and on into their twenties were hardcore partiers who'd happily try anything that didn't involve shooting a needle into their arm. We should really stop giving into this fantasy that there aren't a lot of blurred lines here. There's no 100% separation of substances going on anywhere.

[Unsound]

Thanos Thanos:

Maybe these purists who've gathered around Mark Emery smoke dope only. In reality a lot of dope smokers are also heavy or binge drinkers who quite happily combine the two during a piss-up.

Or just when they're sitting around with some friends relaxing and chatting after dinner.

Thanos Thanos:

I certainly know that the ones who started back in high school and on into their twenties were hardcore partiers who'd happily try anything that didn't involve shooting a needle into their arm. We should really stop giving into this fantasy that there aren't a lot of blurred lines here. There's no 100% separation of substances going on anywhere.

Has anyone claimed there is?

I think the anti-pot crowd need to get over the fantasy that all pot smokers are wasters living in mom's basement getting high and playing video games. That's a stereotype that has long outlived it's usefulness. Some of the most successful people I know like to smoke a joint now and then, or even almost every day. They treat it the same way many people treat a beer or a good whiskey.

[DrCaleb]

Unsound Unsound:

Thanos Thanos:

I certainly know that the ones who started back in high school and on into their twenties were hardcore partiers who'd happily try anything that didn't involve shooting a needle into their arm. We should really stop giving into this fantasy that there aren't a lot of blurred lines here. There's no 100% separation of substances going on anywhere.

Has anyone claimed there is?

I think the anti-pot crowd need to get over the fantasy that all pot smokers are wasters living in mom's basement getting high and playing video games. That's a stereotype that has long outlived it's usefulness. Some of the most successful people I know like to smoke a joint now and then, or even almost every day. They treat it the same way many people treat a beer or a good whiskey.

Damn straight.