Opinions - Cannabis, what's the big deal?

[Streak of Blue]

SWIM is 18 has taken a few drugs for the first time over the last year or so.

The first drug he tried was Salvia(intense, but interesting), and since then he's tried BZP(disasterous comedown), MDMA(best. drug. ever.) and various other (generally legal and light) drugs. However, strangely enough, he'd never smoked weed properly. He'd had the odd few drags of joints at parties while already drunk, and it gave him a mild spaced out feeling, but nothing special or all that amazing.

About a month ago, SWIM acquired some pretty good dutch weed and since then has smoked it a couple of times and gotten stoned properly for the first few times ever, and he honestly has to say that he can't see why everyone makes such a big deal out of it. It's not a great social drug. While it can make some funny conversations arise, generally he just spaces out in the middle of convos and loses his train of thought and also it eventually makes him tired and he just wants to lie down and watch a movie or something.

As far as SWIM can see, there's only one situation where weed is good, and that's sitting around and relaxing, maybe with a few friends, watching a movie or TV. And alcohol works for that purpose too, and being high isn't majorly preferable to being drunk in this setting in SWIM's opinion, though one advantage is that there's no physical hangover, but SWIM finds he thinks slower the morning after, which isn't great if he has college or something.

SWIM just can't understand how weed is hailed as being such a wonder drug, why it's promoted by some as an alternative to alcohol when it's really not, why it's so widely used in comparison to other drugs etc.

It's by no means a bad drug, it's quite a nice high actually, but put it this way, if a legal smoking blend SWIM bought in a head shop gave the same effects, he wouldn't be all that amazed.

Is SWIM the only one or does anyone else feel the same way?

[Mint boi]

I know that there are at least a few other people on the board who fell the same way as swiy. My Ferret is amongst them, as you know! He just doesn't think the effects are all that great. But different strokes for different folks.

[Ikku]

SWIM agrees that weed isn't a great social drug. MDMA makes SWIM want to party and dance and chat, cocaine and alcohol also make him talk a lot. Those are the social drugs. Weed makes him zone out.

He loves weed though, so so relaxing and fun. But not his idea of a party.

[trptamene]

Many people seem to agree Does SWIY have a *least* favorite drug?

I think for some people it is a matter of the type of high the weed gives...whether it is indica or sativa. Some people will really like the nice cerebral buzz sativa gives while disliking the stoned feeling from indica.

Sativas are just about the opposite of Indicas. They are tall, thin plants, with much narrower leaves and grow a lighter green in color. They grow very quickly and can reach heights of 20 feet in a single season. They originally come from Colombia, Mexico, Thailand and Southeast Asia. Once flowering has begun, they can take anywhere from 10 to 16 weeks to fully mature. Flavors range from earthy to sweet and fruity. Sativa's higher THC than CBD equals cerebral, soaring type of high, more energetic which can stimulate brain activity and may produce hallucinations (less likely).

Indicas originally come from the hash producing countries of the world like Afghanistan, Morocco, and Tibet. They are short dense plants, with broad leaves and often grow a darker green. After flowering starts they will be mature in 6 to 8 weeks. The buds will be thick and dense, with flavors and aromas ranging from pungent skunk to sweet and fruity. The smoke from an Indica is generally a body type stone, relaxing and laid back. Indica's higher CBD than THC equals a much heavier, sleepy type of high. Indica plants have a heavy, stony high that is relaxing and can help different medical problems.

[Matt The Funk]

Cannabis is the most well balanced "drug" in SWIM's opinion. Sativa's are great for things that require energy and flowing thoughts, while indica's are great for chilling.

[Alicia]

its just an acquired taste.

[merecat]

Originally Posted by Alicia

its just an acquired taste.

This sums it up for my parrot. My parrot obviously speaks from personal experience, and recognises that her experiences do not necessarily reflect the experiences of other weed-smoking parrots.

The effects of weed changed over time for my parrot. At first weed made her completely 'out of it'. She smoked it on occasion through highschool and university. After university my parrot, who is naturally awfully thin, decided that smoking weed would be a great way to put on weight (height of stupidity, btw). She took up weed-smoking full-time... ie every day.

Slowly over time my parrot reported that she did not get so 'out of it' as before. There was a definite build-up of tolerance. Weed no longer sent her into outta space, it no longer incapacitated her. My parrot learnt how to 'ride' the high instead of fighting it. It made her very relaxed and 'dreamy'... ie given to thinking about the world in a way different to when she was sober. A different sort of consciousness. Weed no longer made my parrot giggly or particularly intoxicated. My parrot was quite able to function on weed and it became a part of her daily life. Chronic weed smoking took 'the edge' off of her anxiety, it 'smoothed' the rough pokes of life.

Weed is a different experience when a parrot smokes it chronically and knows how to ride it, as opposed to odd once-in-a-blue-moon smoking.

[Streak of Blue]

Acquired taste? Perhaps... SWIM doesn't think he'd be bothered buying it again though, and from what he can tell from the effects he gets off it, smoking it frequently would just make you really stupid...

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by UndeadPaperclip

I'd say you're either getting some very heavily indica bud and it's not your style, or you aren't very experienced and can't really handle your high, or both.

I agree, and also i think u had some good points in the above post too.

Originally Posted by Streak of Blue

smoking it frequently would just make you really stupid...

depends on the person or idiot' smoking it for that purpose if even exists.

that usually goes for indica heavy sofa-lock strains. with some people it can make them lazy others very energetic.

There are other uses for green apart from just relaxing and pissing about. swia always enjoyed meditating with it more so then when she does it sober as she gets far more further, She also finds it helps her to eat. It depends on your view point for the use of a substance in general and the "mindset" for its purpose..

You can get high on anything if you use it for that then fine,she knows others who use it to for creativity certain strains and also its not all the same thing with cannabis there are different strains which have slightly different effects rather the then the typical indica strain, SWIY is probly referring too.

not to mention the other users, alot of people who start smoking often don't have a clue on what to expect it requires certain mindset and setting.

[Nature Boy]

Originally Posted by Streak of Blue

As far as SWIM can see, there's only one situation where weed is good, and that's sitting around and relaxing

Pretty much summed it up right there. Cannabis is best used for relaxing and being relatively benign compared to other widely available recreational drugs, it is a lot more adaptable and does not cause any significant problems in the right hands. It's the kind of thing that can be done in moderation on a daily basis. Used correctly, it is no more harmful than having a glass of red wine a day with your dinner. People will always abuse things unfortunately however.

[UndeadPaperclip]

Well different strokes for different folks, but SWIM finds marijuana good in almost any setting, he didn't always feel functional when high, but that comes with experience, though he does still prefer to be alone and just relax a lot when high. Plus, SWIM definitely prefers bud to alcohol, alcohol just makes him stupid, whereas weed makes him relaxed and open both emotionally and cognitively, and just seems generally more productive of a substance.


I'd say you're either getting some very heavily indica bud and it's not your style, or you aren't very experienced and can't really handle your high, or both.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good post. I like truth-ful posts.!

[AddyCrazy]

SWIM has tried a decent amount of recreational drugs including marijuana, cocaine, adderall(amphetamines) and various prescription drugs and painkillers. While I love adderall for its stimulant effects but I would say marijuana is good for relaxing at the end of the day and I am a small dude because I generally never have an appetite and I have insomnia so marijuana conveinently gets me high and helps with that stuff. I think it also depends on if you are more of a depressant or stimulant type of person.

[FuBai]

As someone who has never tried any illegal drugs I cannot speak for myself, however I have a friend who says this:

Originally Posted by A Friend

I have tried many different types of drugs, both legal and illegal. Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, cannabis, MDMA, ketamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, 2 c-b, Herbal Ecstasy, Lettuce Opium, Nutmeg and others have been consumed at one point or another, but the only things I return to are caffeine, nicotine and Cannabis - I've even stopped drinking. Cannabis is great because it is gentle, relaxing and enhances music as well as making the world a more beautiful place. The others just aren't for me - you would have to pay me to do coke or crack again, I wouldn't take MDMA if offered it for free, nor really any of the others. There is just a special something about a joint that I just don't find elsewhere.

[Metomni]

SWIM must confess that marijuana is his favorite drug for several reasons.

A) SWIM smokes it several times every day, there is no other drug that SWIM would want to or even be able to do that often while staying sane and productive.

B) Marijuana's high leaves SWIM ready to live life. Whether that be relaxin' with the boys, starting the midterm paper, going to dinner, waking up, whatever, it gets SWIM goin'. SWIM actually enjoys life more while under the influence, but don't get SWIM wrong, he enjoys life either way, it is simply amplified.

C) The diversity of high's you can get from simply varying the type of marijuana you're smoking are mindblowing. Everywhere from a slight dull buzz to being baked to the point that you get visuals reminescent of mushrooms is so alluring.

D) SWIM can stop smoking pot at any time for any reason if necessary with only slight psychological withdrawal that only lasts 3-4 days.

[Streak of Blue]

Originally Posted by Metomni

A) SWIM smokes it several times every day, there is no other drug that SWIM would want to or even be able to do that often while staying sane and productive.

This SWIM can't understand, especially the "sane and productive" part. SWIM can't imagine how he'd be productive on weed as it reduces his attention span.

[Nature Boy]

It's possible to remain productive when using weed but this doesn't apply to people who are not used to it. At first the effects of weed can be somewhat overwhelming. Regular users however may find the effects to be mellow.

[Metomni]

Also, worthy of note, SWIM starts with a horrible attention span, marijuana seems to have a somewhat mellow and sedative effect on him. It seems to effect him in the way that ADHD meds SHOULD effect him but fail to. On the herb, SWIM is able to think clearer thoughts, think the same thoughts for longer, and also has much less unnecessary stress.

[Nature Boy]

As far as SWIM's attention span whilst under the influence of cannabis goes, it's a mixed bag. Some strains might make him peer through history books and websites for hours, others might only make him sit on the couch and munch crisps. I guess it depends on the mood of the moment as well.

[hX_]

SWIM would agree with the original post. Doesn't seem that much better than alcohol to SWIM, the main 'better thing' about is the impossibility to OD (only recorded death ever is when someone chain-smoked so much that his brain was starved of O2 & he died.)

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by hX_

(only recorded death ever is when someone chain-smoked so much that his brain was starved of O2 & he died.)

do u have any evidence of that, like a link to that or is that just hear say.

[hX_]

Hearsay, but thinking logically about it, that is a possible way to die when smoking anything.

[Alicia]

Originally Posted by hX_

Hearsay, but thinking logically about it, that is a possible way to die when smoking anything.

lol... please dont post crap then if its hearsay, i can say that most smoking related issues come from tobacco. So before you make a statement like that be factual and do not talk as if it is factual if you do not know then please do not add anything like that regarding cannabis as its usally those who mix with tobacco that have the death issues..

[FuBai]

Originally Posted by Alicia

lol... please dont post crap then if its hearsay, i can say that most smoking related issues come from tobacco. So before you make a statement like that be factual and do not talk as if it is factual if you do not know then please do not add anything like that regarding cannabis as its usally those who mix with tobacco that have the death issues..

I think the real question is - "Is it possible to die from from excessive smoke inhalation?" the answer is, to the best of my knowledge, yes, although I am not a medical man. This being the case it is almost certain that in the vast number of people who smoke things someone has managed to die like that, although perhaps not, obviously - it's just a probability game. If it is POSSIBLE then why not warn of it? Although a greater caveat should have been added, admittedly, as to the nature of the information. The other thing is that it wouldn't have been a Marijuana CAUSED death, but an incidental death.

[Nature Boy]

Perhaps if you locked someone in a greenhouse full of marijuana plants and set it on fire they would die, first from all the smoke and if not from that no doubt they would be charred to smithereens. Any known cases of that?

But we're talking about smoking weed through a joint or a pipe here. A bit of common sense please people.

[cra$h]

it's pretty much impossible to die from the chemicals given off in marijuana smoke. the actual smoke would kill you, and not the chemicals. swim has found that it often depends on the type of weed you smoke, and this can make your experiences much different. light weed makes swim a little goofy, and social, while heavy weeds like sour diesel has made swim very anti-social, paralyzed, but had a great time just absorbing. swim has also found that smoking multiple times a week has made him very forgetful, unable to do things that require much thought, in other words, dumb