Why I, and many other people use marijuana

[CaptainCourtesy]

This is one of the biggest reasons people use it, and it's why I use it also. Teens and young adults use it to forget about problems and traumatic experiences, I'm 17 and I've been through some nasty s*** the past 10 years. Marijuana helps to to forget all that, 80% of users in Canada below the age of 18 either had divorced families and/or abuses in family or school. Should this be a reason to legalize it? I think it is.

Truthfully... pretty bad excuse. There are lots of other ways to deal with problems that you have had then smoking marijuana. And in the end... if you just "smoke your problems away" they don't actually go anywhere.

 

[RepublicanMcDuc]

If your situation is really that bad, then you should be spending time trying to improve it instead of smoking pot. At the very least, it is a waste of time. It can also make matters worse and a fair number of people who try to escape by taking that path simply end up putting themselves deeper in the maze.

On a personal note, I had one of the worst childhoods imaginable for someone born in the first world, and while there are still some scars, I managed to turn out relatively well. I strongly believe that one of the main reasons for this is that I avoided those kinds of drugs.

 

[WI Crippler]

Truthfully... pretty bad excuse. There are lots of other ways to deal with problems that you have had then smoking marijuana. And in the end... if you just "smoke your problems away" they don't actually go anywhere.

I've always said this. Drugs, even to include pharmaceuticals don't usually fix the root problems. Be it physical, mental, etc.... They may correct symptoms, but often they come back if the drugs aren't used. Therapies, rehabilitation, life style changes, etc... are the path to addressing core issues. If drugs are used in adjunct, then it can make the process easier, if its the appropriate drug(s).

 

[Rainman05]

I can agree to some extent, but if I were doing what you're describing, I would be complaining and describing everything that happened. But I'm not, in fact I dont want to. Just something I wanted to ask, is it a good enough reason to legalize?

It's already legalized in certain states in the USA. And if you are a citizen of the Netherlands, it has been legal for quite some time now.

And no.

I love you, Rainey, but remind me to never ask you for advice.

Maybe i overdid it a bit.

 

[digsbe]

I would, but it would probably be 16 or 17. The drinking age in Communist North Korea is 17, another reason a democratic society like USA should have reasonable restrictions.

I don't think we should model our drinking age off of communist North Korea.

Seriously though, please do not use marijuana or other drugs as something to mend or deal with "nasty ****" in life. I'm not judging you, but I am saying you should seriously reconsider this and find some healthy ways to cope or to help you forget about things.

 

[LaMidRighter]

If guns and alcohol and tobacco are legal, I personally think that's reason enough to legalize marijuana. Not that I'd ever touch it, but I think the federal ban on marijuana and the war on drugs in general is plain idiotic.

Something we definitely agree on. I have tried pot, don't like the high and if it were legal I wouldn't imbibe but it's kind of ridiculous that we have people getting shot over it in the streets, and people going to prison for years at taxpayer expense for wanting to get high (75% incarcerated are for minor drug offenses, average 45K$/Yr.). We could free up space for people who are a danger to society just by legalizing marijuana and setting an age limit/quality standard.

I don't think people should use it as a crutch though, if you enjoy the high and don't endanger anyone(like working with equipment high) then it's no one else's business IMHO.

 

[LaMidRighter]

I would, but it would probably be 16 or 17. The drinking age in Communist North Korea is 17, another reason a democratic society like USA should have reasonable restrictions.

I'm in favor of everything being 18. If you can sign a contract, marry, or serve in a theater of war you can be trusted with a beer or a bong.

 

[ChrisL]

Truthfully... pretty bad excuse. There are lots of other ways to deal with problems that you have had then smoking marijuana. And in the end... if you just "smoke your problems away" they don't actually go anywhere.

I can agree with this, but what about when doctors prescribe antidepressants? Is marijuana really any worse for you than those drugs that are prescribed by a physician to treat depression, anxiety, etc.?

 

[ChrisL]

I'm in favor of everything being 18. If you can sign a contract, marry, or serve in a theater of war you can be trusted with a beer or a bong.

Or perhaps we should raise the age on everything. MANY who are 18 are really still children in heart and mind. IMHO, a LOT of people need longer than 18 years to really grow up and be responsible.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

This is one of the biggest reasons people use it, and it's why I use it also. Teens and young adults use it to forget about problems and traumatic experiences, I'm 17 and I've been through some nasty s*** the past 10 years. Marijuana helps to to forget all that, 80% of users in Canada below the age of 18 either had divorced families and/or abuses in family or school. Should this be a reason to legalize it? I think it is.

Really, that's the excuse?
I'm sorry that's just dumb.

You were better off saying, I get high because I like to.
At least that's honest.

 

[Alyssa]

I always smoked to get high. Never needed an excuse: I like being high.

I think most people do smoke to get high, but smoking pot is not socially acceptable so people feel they need an excuse.

Intoxication is a false peace. When you're sober, the problem is still there.

These are the foul fruits of "medical" marijuana. This isn't glaucoma treatment or cancer patient appetite stimulation. This is escapism with a prescription.

Of course the problem is still there, but it's nice to forget about it.

I can agree with this, but what about when doctors prescribe antidepressants? Is marijuana really any worse for you than those drugs that are prescribed by a physician to treat depression, anxiety, etc.?

of course it's not.

 

[phoenyx]

I always smoked to get high. Never needed an excuse: I like being high.

That made me laugh

 

[LaMidRighter]

Or perhaps we should raise the age on everything. MANY who are 18 are really still children in heart and mind. IMHO, a LOT of people need longer than 18 years to really grow up and be responsible.

I don't think it's such a great idea to keep raising age limits. There has to be a point in life where we trust people to make the adult decisions, there are 45, 50, and 60 year olds out there worse than the average 18 year old at adult life, the sooner we let young adults make mistakes hopefully the better their decisions become. We can't protect people from their decisions forever.

 

[ChuckBerry]

Of course the problem is still there, but it's nice to forget about it.

That reminds me of the title of the band Low's b-sides and rarities collection: A Lifetime of Temporary Relief

Habitually using drugs to escape emotional pain is injurious to the soul. Sometimes the grief can be too deep and I blame no one for going on a drunk to stave off madness. But at some point you've got to begin the grieving process, which will involve torment that has to be experienced, not avoided. It's a necessary part of life. I wish I had someone to guide me through my grieving when my father died when I was 11.

 

[zgoldsmith23]

This is one of the biggest reasons people use it, and it's why I use it also. Teens and young adults use it to forget about problems and traumatic experiences, I'm 17 and I've been through some nasty s*** the past 10 years. Marijuana helps to to forget all that, 80% of users in Canada below the age of 18 either had divorced families and/or abuses in family or school. Should this be a reason to legalize it? I think it is.

Poor little you. Life is hard. Pseudo-escapes are for those afraid to embrace reality and lack a will. Man up.

 

[Alyssa]

That reminds me of the title of the band Low's b-sides and rarities collection: A Lifetime of Temporary Relief

Habitually using drugs to escape emotional pain is injurious to the soul. Sometimes the grief can be too deep and I blame no one for going on a drunk to stave off madness. But at some point you've got to begin the grieving process, which will involve torment that has to be experienced, not avoided. It's a necessary part of life. I wish I had someone to guide me through my grieving when my father died when I was 11.

For some people, the grieving process is long and arduous because they hold on to nearly every wrong ever done to them. Trust me, for folks like that, Marijuana is a good thing. It has a calming effect, and it also brings life into perspective. It's the chemical effect the drug has on the mind, and it's hard to explain properly.

 

[Geoist]

Well, you are wrong. Avoiding your problems with substance abuse doesn't solve the problems, it just makes them worse.

He didn't say it solved his problems.

 

[Kal'Stang]

This is one of the biggest reasons people use it, and it's why I use it also. Teens and young adults use it to forget about problems and traumatic experiences, I'm 17 and I've been through some nasty s*** the past 10 years. Marijuana helps to to forget all that, 80% of users in Canada below the age of 18 either had divorced families and/or abuses in family or school. Should this be a reason to legalize it? I think it is.

This has got to be the stupidist reason to legalize it.

 

[digsbe]

I can agree with this, but what about when doctors prescribe antidepressants? Is marijuana really any worse for you than those drugs that are prescribed by a physician to treat depression, anxiety, etc.?

Those drugs are completely different. Antidepressants alter brain chemistry and help correct chemical imbalances if there is one causing depression. There are several modes of action these drugs work by that can use to treat depression (meaning, many antidepressants that alter brain chemistry differently). They are a clinical treatment to put someone in a non-clinically depressed state of mind. Anxiety meds typically act somewhat as a sedative to decrease levels of anxiety and should only be used as needed for panic attacks and bouts of anxiety (however, due to their sedative affects and addictive nature many people become hooked on them). When used properly and as needed anxiety meds can be very beneficial to patients.

Marijuana provides a temporary high that may mask symptoms without treating anything. Using the high marijuana gives to forget problems similar reasoning to being an alcoholic that gets drunk to forget their problems.

 

[CaptainCourtesy]

I can agree with this, but what about when doctors prescribe antidepressants? Is marijuana really any worse for you than those drugs that are prescribed by a physician to treat depression, anxiety, etc.?

Yes it is. Anti-depressants have quality control have tons more research before being approved, do not alter reality or consciousness, have fewer side-effects, and are, for the most part, non-addictive. Marijuana has none of these qualities.

 

[Mathematician]

This is one of the biggest reasons people use it, and it's why I use it also. Teens and young adults use it to forget about problems and traumatic experiences, I'm 17 and I've been through some nasty s*** the past 10 years. Marijuana helps to to forget all that, 80% of users in Canada below the age of 18 either had divorced families and/or abuses in family or school. Should this be a reason to legalize it? I think it is.

Just forgetting your problems is the choice of a weak minded coward.

 

[ChrisL]

Yes it is. Anti-depressants have quality control have tons more research before being approved, do not alter reality or consciousness, have fewer side-effects, and are, for the most part, non-addictive. Marijuana has none of these qualities.

There hasn't been such extensive testing on marijuana and it's effects though, since it has been an "illegal" drug, so I hear.

 

[ChrisL]

Those drugs are completely different. Antidepressants alter brain chemistry and help correct chemical imbalances if there is one causing depression. There are several modes of action these drugs work by that can use to treat depression (meaning, many antidepressants that alter brain chemistry differently). They are a clinical treatment to put someone in a non-clinically depressed state of mind. Anxiety meds typically act somewhat as a sedative to decrease levels of anxiety and should only be used as needed for panic attacks and bouts of anxiety (however, due to their sedative affects and addictive nature many people become hooked on them). When used properly and as needed anxiety meds can be very beneficial to patients.

Marijuana provides a temporary high that may mask symptoms without treating anything. Using the high marijuana gives to forget problems similar reasoning to being an alcoholic that gets drunk to forget their problems.

Well, like I posted to CC, I've read that there hasn't been very much extensive testing done on marijuana and it's possible effects on these things.

 

[ChrisL]

I don't think it's such a great idea to keep raising age limits. There has to be a point in life where we trust people to make the adult decisions, there are 45, 50, and 60 year olds out there worse than the average 18 year old at adult life, the sooner we let young adults make mistakes hopefully the better their decisions become. We can't protect people from their decisions forever.

:lol: Well, my son is 17, and he is in NO WAY close to being an "adult" yet. IMO, you are not an adult until you are capable of caring for yourself, and most 18 year olds are still in high school or freshly graduated and still very much dependent upon their parents. I know there are some 18-year-olds who are much more mature than my son, but from what I have observed with my son and his friends they are still pretty immature at that age, especially boys.

 

[ChrisL]

I think most people do smoke to get high, but smoking pot is not socially acceptable so people feel they need an excuse.



Of course the problem is still there, but it's nice to forget about it.



of course it's not.

Really it probably all depends upon the person. Just like with any other drug (prescribed or not), they affect different people in different ways. I know that it is difficult to get the right combination that works for a lot of people who suffer with certain kinds of mental illnesses/personality disorders, etc.