<p>
[quote]
Can I stop if I wanted to? Yes.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Spoken like a true junkie.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I did not talk anything at all about physical risks. I don't believe there are any with marijuana. I was talking about psychological dependence on a substance. That is not good.</p></li>
<li><p>I never have and am not advocating for any sort of drug prohibition or regulation of any kind. That does not mean I should personally accept bad behaviors as okay. You wouldn't approve of cutting wrists, yet you (proabbly) wouldn't make laws against it.</p></li>
<li><p>As I said before, I am referring to psychological dependence. This type of dependence can be with anything from caffeine to marijuana to alcohol. Someone can drink coffee once in a while or they can need it everyday to function. I like to put drug use to the doctor test. Would you have problems in your life if you're doctor said you can't consume X substance?</p></li>
<li><p>I am skeptical about claims of inspiration from drugs. Still, let's assume it exists. Does it outweigh the harm of psychological dependence? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>There are 2 types of drug users (yes, I know this is a generalization). One kind says they need drugs to be happy. This sort of person is escaping from reality. The other type of person says they are happy with or without drugs but they get a happiness boost from drugs? In this case, why bother doing drugs for such a little boost when it costs so much money and/or you could go to jail?</p>
<ol>
<li>Yes, I know Carl Sagan from my physics class videos and youtube.</li>
</ol>
<p>@afruff23 and the rest of you,</p>
<p>Here's an article from Salon.com yesterday from a "Pot addict" to Cary Tennis, a columnist at Salon:</p>
<p>April 2, 2008</p>
<p>It seems you have a soft spot for addicts -- understandably so. Well, I'm writing to you because I'm having a bit of a problem with an addiction -- I just can't seem to stop smoking pot. I know, I know, marijuana doesn't really count ... It always makes me think of the joke in "Half Baked" -- I'm not out there sucking dick for weed! -- and that, I think, is part of my problem.</p>
<p>I've become dependent on this drug, and I'm thriving. I'm a 21-year-old student, in my final year at a reasonably challenging liberal arts college. I've been plagued with stress my entire academic career (late nights in the library, occasional experiments with academic performance enhancers to get everything done, the usual drill), except for my senior year, which is supposed to be my most stressful because we have a required senior thesis and there are very high expectations that we will perform on almost graduate-school levels. It's an intense and rigorous school, and for the first time in my life I feel like I'm handling it well, excelling even. I'm keeping up with all of my course work in addition to producing what is shaping up to be a pretty well-thought-out senior thesis. Best of all, I've been keeping a reasonable work schedule -- again, for the first time ever -- and I've been able to spend a significant amount of time relaxing.</p>
<p>And there is the problem. While I've been doing this, I've also been almost constantly high. I mean, I still maintain certain boundaries -- I never go to an academic class and don't normally work while high -- but my free time, the ultimate thing that is keeping me sane through a very stressful academic time, has been entirely spent smoking pot. Well, that and watching science-fiction television. While I've always been an occasional smoker, I've never smoked this amount -- it really is almost constant, usually starting at night, but sometimes, like today, I'll smoke a joint after I wake up, a way of enhancing my morning ritual of checking the Internet and washing my face -- not specifically time I would be productive is how I rationalize it to myself when I do these things. It's getting to be kind of an expensive habit, but I don't go out and spend money elsewhere like I used to – I mostly cook simple meals at home, and I have stopped shopping (something I think I used to do compulsively when I was stressed, because I used to buy a lot of things I never ended up wearing).</p>
<p>I'm maintaining good relationships with people who matter to me, people it's hard and complicated work staying on good terms with (a pantheon of exes, pretty much), and occasionally making time for people outside my immediate social circle. I don't go out all the time, because I've become more or less anti-social, but I do still go spend time with several people. Plus my thesis takes me out of the house to do research. So I'm not becoming some stoned shut-in. All in all I think I'm doing really well. School's great, my personal life is great, I'm taking better care of myself than I ever have before (we're talking real adult stuff; I floss and wash my face twice a day!). I even quit drinking six months ago, a drug that really does turn me into an unpleasant person (a lot of tears and uncomfortable statements -- it really was necessary). I'm just smoking all the time. That's the one, the only, problem.</p>
<p>Am I deluding myself because I'm stoned all the time? Honestly, that's my first thought. But things really are going that well. I can tell because I still get upset by things, I still do have days where I cry about my thesis or whatever, but I tend to move on from those moments pretty quickly. But those are the times that I smoke the most, or when I'll break my will and smoke at a weird time of day. It's just something I feel is helping me right now. Should I feel wrong for this? Weak? I do have moments when I'm reminded that I smoke way too much, and I feel guilty. But there's nothing driving me to quit; honestly, I haven't even tried. It could be the easiest thing ever, and this crisis could be unnecessary, but other than some vague concerns about my health and the future, and a bit about how my parents would feel if they ever found out, I'm not overly interested in stopping right now. Cutting down, definitely, and I've been working on that recently. It's not like I plan to do this forever -- once I graduate, I'm moving, possibly to another country where this sort of reckless behavior wouldn't be tolerated. So I'm just hanging on to it for the time being.</p>
<p>I guess my question is: Is that OK? I feel all right. Better than all right. Is that enough? I mean, presuming I don't care about the possible heath side effects (I'm a smoker anyways, so I clearly have an abusive relationship with my body) -- that isn't my issue. I'm concerned about the dependence. I've been considering talking to a counselor at school, but it just seems so silly when things are going so well, overall. So, I thought I'd ask you. </p>
<p>Here's his response: </p>
<p>@andandy</p>
<p>That article is saying exactly what I've been saying. Drug use often hides a much bigger problem (like that kid's stress). If you deal with the problem itself, you won't have to resort to drugs.</p>
<p>I contend there are people on this site addicted to the forum, just as many people can become "psychologically" addicted to sex, shopping, WoW, Halo and so forth. In my opinion, if marijuana isn't clouding anyone's judgment and because it is less physically addictive than alcohol - by using logic we should be condemning alcohol on multiple points: physiological addiction, driving under the influence, domestic violence, etc. not casual marijuana use. </p>
<p>I don't drink caffeine, alcohol and have never smoked a cigarette. But I smoke marijuana casually.</p>
<p>P.S My mom is psychologically addicted to Desperate Housewives. She needs to seek treatment.</p>
<p>@afruff23</p>
<p>Many people harm their bodies when stressed - i.e, emotional eating or drinking alcohol after work. But your opinion on how people deal with stress bears no weight since everyone deals with stress differently. I'll go to the gym and spend 30 minutes on the rowing machine, my mom might sit down and eat ice cream in front of the T.V after 12 hours at work, and sometimes I might light up. Who are you to tell me or any casual marijuana smoker what we are doing is wrong?</p>
<p>@andandy</p>
<p>Yes, those can all be psychologically addicting and they are all no different from those psychologically addicting to drugs. I know that I at least am not pscyhologically addicted to this forum. If they shut down this website, I won't have any problems.</p>
<p>We should be condemning alcohol on all those things though I might be inclined to say drunk driving is only a huge problem here in the US because of the law (in Europe people grow up with alcohol and thus binge less often). As I said before, caffeine can be psychologically addicting as well.</p>
<p>If they canceled Desperate Housewives, would it cause problems in her life (see: the doctor test in my previous post)? I don't think so.</p>
<p>I can tell you this, when midterms came around I didn't smoke for two weeks before hand, because I knew I had to focus. During the two week hiatus I wasn't taking money out of my parent's wallets to buy more herb, nor did I have the urge to smoke. I functioned perfectly ok and had no withdrawal effects. I don't know if you have ever smoked before, but you need to so you can stop worrying about how other people live their lives.</p>
<p>And on the legality issue, in the state of California, Fifty-six percent of voters approved Proposition 215 on November 5, 1996. The law took effect the following day. It removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess a "written or oral recommendation" from their physician that he or she "would benefit from medical marijuana." Patients diagnosed with any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been "deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician" are afforded legal protection under this act (Wikipedia).</p>
<p>I want to go to Boalt Law after Undergrad at Berkeley :]</p>
<p>So why do you smoke? As I said before, if you're already happy, then why smoke? </p>
<p>I never forced my point of view on anyone. My man concern is exposing truth and false constructs in people's lives. I could care less what you do with your life, but if you give misinformation (e.g. drug use is being open-minded) then you are creating falsehoods for other people which is a form of abuse.</p>
<p>Why do many of our parents drink a glass of wine or two? Why do people play video games? Many people enjoy having a different state of mind. You need to investigate the false mental constructs you have towards marijuana. I don't hold a libertarian position towards all drugs, I do not believe cocaine, heroin and the other Class I,II,III,IV drugs should be legalized. But the idea that marijuana is in the same class as Heroin, Ecstasy, LSD, and GHB is an utter joke. It is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco which are legal. You need to start stating facts and using logic, instead of simply restating your "opinion" against drug abuse.</p>
<p>By the way, isn't this great discourse :] </p>
<p>Don't knock pot smokers, you will have some of the most enlightened conversations with (some) of them.</p>
<p>Because it's fun to do socially? Jesus Christ I hate anti-weed people</p>
<p>Ironic that in many Christian churches wine is drank during communion. Does that make Christians drug abusers for attempting to seek a "higher spiritual state"?</p>
<p>@saasaa
So you're telling me that you NEVER smoke in private and that your "friends" would look down upon you if you didn't smoke?</p>
<p>I never said I was anti-weed. There are medicinal uses for marijuana. I'm not anti-any-drug. But I am anti-misinformation. Sating that using drugs is open-minded is misinformation.</p>
<p>I'm not even anti-people-who-use-drugs. If they asked my opinion of their activities, I would tell them what I honestly think and if they get so ****ed off to see the truth that they don't want to be near me, then so be it. A lot of my friends use illicit drugs as well as others who constantly need caffeine.</p>
<p>Lol, I love this guy. ^</p>
<p>@andandy</p>
<p>Regarding wine, would the meal be much different without wine? No. Not the same thing for sitting and doing drugs. As for playing videogames, again there can be psychological addiction here.</p>
<p>I don't have any false mental constructs I have towards marijuana. Marijuana affects your level of happiness and keeps people from achieving true happiness (without fear of munchies or police, etc.) and facing the problems in their lives.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm not going to bother responding here unless you watch this video:
YouTube</a> - Stef does a podcast on drugs...</p>
<p>I'm going to go study :| I miss you already afruff :[</p>
<p>What level scientologist are you by the way? :/</p>
<p>I lied. This is my last post (until you watch the video). I hope you do watch that video; address what makes you happy and what keeps you from achieving that in your life (e.g. politics, war, self-medication, emotional abuse (including parents))</p>
<p>Mario Kart for Wii is going to make me happy in 25 days! Everyone is invited (even you afruff) to a Wii-off at my place, we might even play with my Nintendo! (I can't stop making that joke :[)</p>
<p>P.S I have this inkling that afruff is Tom Cruise.</p>
<p>I would never smoke unless with friends... there is no reason NOT to do it, it's just a fun thing to do, unwind and relax.</p>
<p>There is more of a chance of dependability taking caffeine than marijuana... Pot is non-addictive</p>
<p>I never smoked weed before I came to Berkeley. I do smoke it now, but I don't think I smoke often enough to be labeled a pothead (I smoke once or twice a month). I've NEVER smoked alone (I really don't seem myself doing that either; I also don't see any of my friends that smoke smoke alone). I smoke because I find the changed state of mind to be interesting and fun. It actually doesn't cost that much (you'd be surprised at actually how little weed you need to get high...) and the risks of getting caught around here are a joke.</p>
<p>A lot of people here drink, but much less people actually smoke weed. On my floor about 75% of the people drink, while only about 30% smoke weed (either occasionally or on a regular basis).</p>