The Pot Poll

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by SS Mayfloat:<br /> Actually due to the laws that have been placed upon the substance, research cannot be done by private or government agencies. Therefore we do not know what its full capabilities are.<br />

Wrong. Plenty of research has been done and continues...especially in other countries.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br />Numerous studies on both humans and animals have been performed to show the psychological addictive nature of THC.

That is absolute nonsense! Not one study has EVER proven pot to be "highly" addictive as you say. NOT ONE! This is proven by the fact that you haven't provided a single link to support your arguement. (and by the fact that not one of the dozens of people here who've tried it agrees with you) Like I said before, yes, pot can be very mildly addictive to very few people simply because it is a pleasureable experience. It is no more addictive than any other pleasureable experience - eating your favorite foods, driving fast, sex, video games, shopping, etc. Some people have been strongly addicted to all of those things, does that make cheeseburgers "highly addictive"? Absolutely not. To even suggest such a thing is absurd.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> I'm not making this stuff up. If you think maijuana isn't addictive, you've been misled. Check your own sources. Do your own research. The final word on this shouldn't come from "High Times" magazine.

You may not be making it up but you're pulling it out of somebody's rear end. I have checked my sources. I have done EXTENSIVE research on this subject. And I have tried it myself many times. I can conclude with 100% certainty that pot is NOT highly addictive in any way. I have never read "high times" magazine.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

And I have tried it myself many times.

And you can quit anytime you want can't ya? <br /><br />Zm, I am sitting in front of a rack full of books and medical journals that prove my point. The reason I hesitate to provide internet links is because you wouldn't believe them if you saw them. Oh, and what is your source? Get your hands on a PDR (physicians desk reference), I'm sure you will find it very informative.<br /><br />Also, if you're going to quote me, get it right. I said THC is very psychologically addictive. There are different kinds of addiction and I agree that it is not physically addictive like ETOH or Heroine or nicotine. My point is, the more you use it, the more you want more of it and the more it takes to get high. That is addiction whether you believe it or not. Oh, another sign of addiction, denial. Remember, the first step toward recovery is admitting your addicted. You know, the whole 12 step thing. <br /><br />BTW, what's to gain by using it. It costs money, it'll get you fired from a job (not your job obviously as you're your own boss), it'll get you arrested, it poisons your lungs, it makes you stink and go through life with a stupid grin on your face. Oh, it makes you high too. That's the pleasure thing, got it. So in spite of all the negatives, you still want the high. There's a name for that condition, it's called addiction.

 

[QC]

Re: The Pot Poll

From personal experience, I can 100% agree with Z on this. The man knows of what he speaks <br /><br />I smoked a lot of pot when I was younger, starting when I was 13. If there was pot around, OK, if not, so what? Months on, months off, years on, years off, days on, days off. No Biggee, no difference, no nothing. Stop for certain girls, start for certain girls. Stop for work, start for vacation. Vacation with, vacation without etc. etc.<br /><br />I was trying to think of a good analogy and Z gets pretty close with food. I would describe the degree of addictiveness similar to having some food that you always ate at a certain restaurant. When you get there and they are out of it, you are sorta bummed for a nano second and then you order something else. That would be a fairly close description of the disappointment that would be experienced if you found yourself without some pot in a place or time that you would consider smoking. And actually the favorite food pursuit at a particular restaurant is probably a little too strong. There is some pretty darn good food out there

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

QC, how is that different from a recovering alcoholic or someone trying to quit smoking. These folks might do fine for years off their drug and then they go to a bar where someone's smoking and that's all it takes. I'm not comparing the addictive power of alcohol or nicotine to THC, only the presence of a craving. Zm says it's not addictive whatsoever and I've heard that argument many times. Obviously some individuals are more prone to addictive behavior than others. It's a genetic thing. Not everyone who smokes crack becomes addicted.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br />And you can quit anytime you want can't ya?

I haven't had any for months and can stop at any time without a second thought. On the other hand it's extremely difficult for me to go more than a week without a #2 from Wendy's. Are those highly addictive? Should we ban them? <br /><br />What you said is it is VERY addictive. That is absolutely not true and you will find no credible source of information that supports it. For a substance to be VERY addictive it needs to provide STRONG addictions to a large percentage of people that use it. Marijuana does not. Ask ANYBODY who's actually tried it and they will agree with me 110%. I don't know what your profession is, but unless you work in a rehab clinic, or conduct pot studies all day long you have NO experience what-so-ever with marijuana addiction. To have any experience you would either need to try it and get addicted yourself, or study multiple people over long periods of time who claim to be addicted.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br />Zm says it's not addictive whatsoever

I most certainly did not. I said it is no more addictive than any other pleasureable experience, and that is a proven fact, which I have experienced for myself.

 

[QC]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br />It's a genetic thing.

I mildly agree. Maybe a better thing to debate is physical vs. psychologically addictive . . . I think I exhibit some traits of addictive behavior. Look at the number of posts over the time that I have been here . . .<br /><br />I also don't agree with your tolerance points. Not my experience . . . My experience is that pot cannot be put into a box with any other substance. It is very unique stuff and defies simple definitions.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

On the other hand it's extremely difficult for me to go more than a week without a #2 from Wendy's. Are those highly addictive? Should we ban them?

Yes, we should ban them. Obesity is the number one risk factor for heart disease in the U.S.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

Zm. I said Psychologically addicting like, 4 times and that's it. You're turning around what I said.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> Zm. I said Psychologically addicting like, 4 times and that's it. You're turning around what I said.

No, I am not. Whether it's psychologically or physical makes no difference, because marijuana is hardly addictive in either way. <br /><br />Still waiting for any proof to back up your statements...

 

[one more cast]

Re: The Pot Poll

psychologically addictive <br /> What the heck does that mean? You like something so much you just have to have it? Then so are boats,motorcycles,candy bars,baked beans ,iboats..........................................................................and the list goes on.

 

[QC]

Re: The Pot Poll

Exactamente OMC.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

By the way, I used to think weed was bad too. I blindly believed all that BS they told us in school about how horrible it is. (like you, Drowned Rat)<br /><br />Then my friend talked me into trying it. First I researched just about everything there is to research about it. What I found is there are almost no negative effects, except for the police...<br /><br />Until you've tried it, Drowned Rat, you are no different than a doctor explaining how rocket science works. It would be like somebody who's never gone to Wendy's telling everyone how bad their food is.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

"Hashish smokers I have known for twenty years are now able to smoke at least ten times as much as other people. If a beginner smoked the same quantity he would collapse" (Miras, 1970). According to Paton (1972), perhaps the best evidence for tolerance in man is still that in the LaGauardia report, where it was found that to produce a given degree of ataxia a dose three times as high was required for users compared with non-users.<br /><br />

www.unodc.org/unodc/en/bulletin/bulletin_1973-01-01_4_page006.html+thc+tolerance&hl=en]link to full article[/URL] <br /><br /> Mouse study, College of Pharmacy, Medical college of VA <br /><br />

Addiction is a complicated process that is described by tolerance, dependence and withdrawal. Users can develop a tolerance over time. People who smoke marijuana or who have a genetic predisposition might develop a tolerance and would need more of the drug. Withdrawal can occur after chronic use and may be mild due to the THC lasting longer in the body because it is fat-soluble. Some people report irritability and restlessness and some have insomnia and nausea. People who use marijuana can become dependent when:<br /><br />There is a constant desire for the “high”, or unsuccessful attempts are made to cut down or control use, <br />Too much time is spent getting “high”, taking away from other life activities, <br />Use is continued despite consequences like conflicts with, or loss of friends, family, or relationships; diminished academic motivation or performance; or negative effects on employment situation. <br />Heavy users however, can begin to show signs of dependence when they experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include loss of appetite, problems sleeping, weight loss, and restlessness.<br /><br />

Link to full article Rugers New Brunswick <br /><br />I could go on all day.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Wow, even your proof agrees with me. Tolerence is not addiction. <br /><br />How does this = "VERY addictive"?<br />"People who smoke marijuana or who have a genetic predisposition might develop a tolerance and would need more of the drug."<br /><br />I said it was mildly addictive in a few people.<br /><br />Tell me, Drowned Rat, if 76% of the people on this forum are current or former pot smokers, why does nobody agree with you? (You know, the guy that doesn't have any experience)

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

Like I said before, denial.

 

[pjc]

Re: The Pot Poll

Please post research regarding booze addiction...and correlate that to pot and "drug" addiction.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: The Pot Poll

Addiction is defined and described by tolerance. Look it up. <br /><br />BTW, where is your "counter evidence"?<br /><br />Credible evidence that is.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: The Pot Poll

Do you enjoy making a fool of yourself in public?<br /><br />

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> BTW, where is your "counter evidence"?<br />

76% of people on this forum have tried it and are not addicted.<br /><br />Your own evidence agrees with me... (as does everybody else)

 

[QC]

Re: The Pot Poll

Originally posted by Drowned Rat:<br /> Addiction is defined and described by tolerance.

OK. That helps make my point, and it was what I responded to. Tolerance to pot does not change over time in my experience.