Should I

[raiders rule]

I have a friend and his brother that want me to at least try weed. They told me it was natural and shit like that when i know it still can harm you if you use it a lot. But they told me to only do it over the summer and not during sports and some other things that started to convince me. I was thinking should i do it once or twice

[Gender-Unknown]

honestly once is too much mate.

i would not take it if they are pressuring you to take it.

only take it if YOU want it.

and if you choose to PLEASE only once. more and it can AND WILL get addicting.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

We can't really answer that question. We can only give you facts about the drug and advice, not including whether it's okay to do it or not.

[serial-thrilla]

thats up to you. we cant really answer that question for you.

[byee]

Oh, I can answer this for you, I have no problem answering this question very directly!

You should not smoke pot. It is a drug, it is not good for your body or your mind, go look it up online. My recommendation is based on science, and not wanting to encourage you to try something that could hurt you.

This idea that it's 'natural' is absurd, so is heroin. Being 'natural' doesn't mean something is safe or good.

And the problem with trying something 'once or twice' is that it's a not very good rationalization for doing something you're not very comfortable doing in the first place. What happens if you like it? Are you prepared to continue to do something with health effects indefinetly? (not to say anything of the illegality of it, how it might impact school performance, and the relationship with your folks?).

So, there. I have no problem telling you that you should not do something that is harmful to your mind and your body.

[raiders rule]

Yeah thats exactly what I thought, I dont wanna get addicted, or harm myself. I mean, I am a great student and could have a career ahead of me in sports:D So thank you guys:)

[hobo]

if you want to go for it, but make sure to prepare beforehand. don't do it with anything you don't want to lose. try not to do it in a busy/dangerous place. try a little at first and if you want more take another hit. but yeah, don't do it out of pressure, think about it and make a concious choice. and i can say that smoking it once won't cause any damage.

[SirRawrsalot]

Seems like you might have made up you mind, but for a question like this I use this quote

"Everything has it's risks and consequences. If you want to do drugs be prepared to face them whether it's in a few weeks or a few years. That's all I can say. People can do what they want. We can argue all night (or day depending on where you are.), but we should just stick to educating, because that's what it comes down to. Do you know what the risks are. People can make their own choices. They just should know something about both sides before they chose."

[Oblivion]

Theoretically anything made on this earth that doesn't use supplies from outer space is natural. Even though it is made by humans, there is nothing else it could be made out of other than natural materials.

But i'll leave that (:
Don't do it. Whats the point? It can only hurt you.

[SpikeJ]

honestly once is too much mate.

i would not take it if they are pressuring you to take it.

only take it if YOU want it.

and if you choose to PLEASE only once. more and it can AND WILL get addicting.

Touching on the subject of marijuana dependency:

Substantial research exists regarding marijuana and addiction. While the scientific community has yet to achieve full consensus on this matter, the majority of epidemiological and animal data demonstrate that the reinforcing properties of marijuana in humans is low in comparison to other drugs of abuse, including alcohol and nicotine. According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM), fewer than one in 10 marijuana smokers become regular users of the drug, and most voluntary cease their use after 34 years of age. By comparison, 15 percent of alcohol consumers and 32 percent of tobacco smokers exhibit symptoms of drug dependence.

According to the IOM, observable cannabis withdrawal symptoms are rare and have only been identified under unique patient settings. These remain limited to adolescents in treatment facilities for substance abuse problems, and in a research setting where subjects were given marijuana or THC daily. Compared with the profound physical syndrome of alcohol or heroin withdrawal, marijuana-related withdrawal symptoms are mild and subtle. Symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, mild agitation and sleep disruption. However, for the overwhelming majority of marijuana smokers, these symptoms are not severe enough to re-initiate their use of cannabis.

[MrPinnick17]

They did a study on lung cancer with people who smoke marijuana and people who don't. The people who don't have a higher risk of lung cancer.

Trying it once is your decision. Many people will say different things about it, I don't anybody really knows the truth because it can effect different people in different ways. It has more tar than a cigarette but most likely after you smoke nothing will happen to you.

This is just like asking us if you should have sex or not, everybody has their own views about it, you just gotta do what feels right. But if you don't want to do it, don't get pressured into doing it you control you, don't let people take that away from you.

[CaptainObvious]

Oh, I can answer this for you, I have no problem answering this question very directly!

You should not smoke pot. It is a drug, it is not good for your body or your mind, go look it up online. My recommendation is based on science, and not wanting to encourage you to try something that could hurt you.

This idea that it's 'natural' is absurd, so is heroin. Being 'natural' doesn't mean something is safe or good.

And the problem with trying something 'once or twice' is that it's a not very good rationalization for doing something you're not very comfortable doing in the first place. What happens if you like it? Are you prepared to continue to do something with health effects indefinetly? (not to say anything of the illegality of it, how it might impact school performance, and the relationship with your folks?).

So, there. I have no problem telling you that you should not do something that is harmful to your mind and your body.

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about with regards to almost anything you've posted here.

First, heroin is not natural, it's a synthetic morphine derivative.

Second, your recommendation is certainly not based on science since science has yet to show unequivocally negative results from occasional marijuana consumption - only heavy and extended use has been shown to be definitively negative.

Third, "what if you like it and want to keep using it" is a hilariously weak argument unless you're implying large addictive potential - which marijuana doesn't have, being relatively non-addictive.

Don't post when you are going to do nothing but repost drivel.

To the OP: Try it if you want, just be aware of the potential effects, with respect to health, the law, and everything else.

[MrPinnick17]

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about with regards to almost anything you've posted here.

First, heroin is not natural, it's a synthetic morphine derivative.

Second, your recommendation is certainly not based on science since science has yet to show unequivocally negative results from occasional marijuana consumption - only heavy and extended use has been shown to be definitively negative.

Third, "what if you like it and want to keep using it" is a hilariously weak argument unless you're implying large addictive potential - which marijuana doesn't have, being relatively non-addictive.

Don't post when you are going to do nothing but repost drivel.

To the OP: Try it if you want, just be aware of the potential effects, with respect to health, the law, and everything else.

Chill out man, everything going to be alright. With Marijuana it's hard to know the truth about everything I heard the same thing he's talking about in school they pounded it into my head 100x times "you'll get addicted" "Take one puff and it can ruin your whole life"

I don't blame you for getting a bit untamed but you don't have to lash out on sam, he's a great guy.

[serial-thrilla]

Oh, I can answer this for you, I have no problem answering this question very directly!

You should not smoke pot. It is a drug, it is not good for your body or your mind, go look it up online. My recommendation is based on science, and not wanting to encourage you to try something that could hurt you.

This idea that it's 'natural' is absurd, so is heroin. Being 'natural' doesn't mean something is safe or good.

And the problem with trying something 'once or twice' is that it's a not very good rationalization for doing something you're not very comfortable doing in the first place. What happens if you like it? Are you prepared to continue to do something with health effects indefinetly? (not to say anything of the illegality of it, how it might impact school performance, and the relationship with your folks?).

So, there. I have no problem telling you that you should not do something that is harmful to your mind and your body. i see quite a few flaws with what you just said. I dont really get where your coming from either. Why is it that you are so blindly against all forms of illegal drug use no matter how safe it is? Are you just some far right winged conservative who doesent like to have fun, and tries to convince others to be the same? Marijuana is not healthy (like chocolate) but its definatly not going to kill you. Your someone who doesen't know a whole lot about drugs, and its hard to argue with someone who is ignorant to the real drug facts, not what your government tells you. Please provide people with real facts (this make take a few trips to mutual drug fact websites not government sponsored) and then let them make their own choices.

For example i am a regular marijuana user. You may call that a biased opinion but i could say the same for you. I am extremely healthy/athletic/I have friends. Weed works for me and many others, If everyone had your approach we would never obtain the real facts about drugs.

[SirRawrsalot]

Sam is talking from a law point of view. Pot will NOT do much damage to you short term, and over long periods of time: eventually you will almost definitely get addicted. / shortness of breath/ not too much else After a very long period of time: both of those are either increased risk or the effects of them are exaggerated. Marijuana can take away your drive and motivation to do things. You're lucky. But some people are much easier to be addicts. All in our genes. I never have used weed. I don't plan on risking getting caughtt with it or smoking it and ruining myy scholarship. I researched and did what suited my lifestyle best. You all can chose whatt you have to lose, and what you have to gain frfom drugs. No one has the right to tell you what yoyu can and can't do yourself (the police will.), Ii'm a firm believer in gaining knowledge about something and choosing whether it's for you. We're all capable of that, and if someone judges you for it. Let me lecture them aboutt everything they do that I don't agree with.

[byee]

i see quite a few flaws with what you just said. I dont really get where your coming from either. Why is it that you are so blindly against all forms of illegal drug use no matter how safe it is? Are you just some far right winged conservative who doesent like to have fun, and tries to convince others to be the same? Marijuana is not healthy (like chocolate) but its definatly not going to kill you. Your someone who doesen't know a whole lot about drugs, and its hard to argue with someone who is ignorant to the real drug facts, not what your government tells you. Please provide people with real facts (this make take a few trips to mutual drug fact websites not government sponsored) and then let them make their own choices.

For example i am a regular marijuana user. You may call that a biased opinion but i could say the same for you. I am extremely healthy/athletic/I have friends. Weed works for me and many others, If everyone had your approach we would never obtain the real facts about drugs.

Again, Serial, you just don't want to take me on. How you could possibly say I'm a 'Right winger' is just absurd. If you spent some time outside of this forum, talking about something other than your advocacy of drug use, you'd see that. Rather, the issue is your position and where that comes from. And therefore your relevance as a source of 'unbiased' info.

Your position on drugs is based almost exclusively on your judgement to use them. That's fine for you, but not necessarily for those still impressionable, who come here for information, not opinion, and certainly not experience. There might be a place for that, but I think it's important to clearly state that disclaimer whenever you offer any words on the subject.

Drugs have been around much longer than you, and have been the subject of extensive research. Those studies have very consistently shown the damage (both mental and physical) of the various drugs out there. Go find them, do a Google search. What you believe to be a good choice for you today based on those criteria you've selected doesn't necessarily mean it's true, just because we want something to be Ok, and we feel no negative effects, doesn't mean that they're not accumulating.

The larger issue, though, is your continued insistence that drug use is basically OK, and that's based more on your behavior and this fantastical view that because of that, it must really be Ok. Unfortunately, the body of science out there does not support your conclusions.

That's the message people should get.

(and Elliot, that is NOT based on a 'legal' view, it's pure science, and therefore pure fact).

[byee]

(OOps! D/p)

[CaptainObvious]

Chill out man, everything going to be alright. With Marijuana it's hard to know the truth about everything I heard the same thing he's talking about in school they pounded it into my head 100x times "you'll get addicted" "Take one puff and it can ruin your whole life"

I don't blame you for getting a bit untamed but you don't have to lash out on sam, he's a great guy.

I was blunt, maybe too much so, but I stand by what I said. Almost every single thing he said in his post was factually incorrect. From heroin being natural (it's not, it's synthetic), to pot not being good for your body or mind (this is only true with heavy chronic use; with occasional use no effects have been shown and there are also positive effects, meaning pot is basically neutral with occasional use), to his opinion being based on science (it's not, it's based on third hand iffy information - if it were based on science he would have read the medical literature, and would've found that things are by no means as clear as he thinks).

For the record: I spent extensive time writing a research survey paper on marijuana's neurological effects for a neuroscience class. I am intimately familiar with the medical literature surrounding the drug - and I'm not talking about "Google searches" either. I'm talking about the actual peer-reviewed research, from databases like PubMed and MedLine to journals like The Lancet and others. There is no conclusion about how harmful marijuana is as of yet, except for confirmed mental and functional defects in heavy chronic users. This is unequivocal, and IAMSAM is not correct in his assertions.

The fact that you heard it in school that marijuana is bad means nothing. I got that drilled into me too. But teachers are not drug specialists or up-to-date neuroscientists (unless you have a pretty sweet school), and the information they pass on is based on the exaggerated popular view, driven by goernment anti-drug agencies. Read a book about the genesis and continuance of marijuana prohibition; read the medical literature; read the arguments on both sides of the aisle; read the Congressional hearing transcripts regarding marijuana and medical use, and then come back and we can have an informed discussion.

[byee]

I was blunt, maybe too much so, but I stand by what I said. Almost every single thing he said in his post was factually incorrect. From heroin being natural (it's not, it's synthetic), to pot not being good for your body or mind (this is only true with heavy chronic use; with occasional use no effects have been shown and there are also positive effects, meaning pot is basically neutral with occasional use), to his opinion being based on science (it's not, it's based on third hand iffy information - if it were based on science he would have read the medical literature, and would've found that things are by no means as clear as he thinks).

For the record: I spent extensive time writing a research survey paper on marijuana's neurological effects for a neuroscience class. I am intimately familiar with the medical literature surrounding the drug - and I'm not talking about "Google searches" either. I'm talking about the actual peer-reviewed research, from databases like PubMed and MedLine to journals like The Lancet and others. There is no conclusion about how harmful marijuana is as of yet, except for confirmed mental and functional defects in heavy chronic users. This is unequivocal, and IAMSAM is not correct in his assertions.

The fact that you heard it in school that marijuana is bad means nothing. I got that drilled into me too. But teachers are not drug specialists or up-to-date neuroscientists (unless you have a pretty sweet school), and the information they pass on is based on the exaggerated popular view, driven by goernment anti-drug agencies. Read a book about the genesis and continuance of marijuana prohibition; read the medical literature; read the arguments on both sides of the aisle; read the Congressional hearing transcripts regarding marijuana and medical use, and then come back and we can have an informed discussion.

This is all very articulate, but factually incorrect.

Since you've written a paper for a class and now feel expert doesn't actually qualify you as one, regardless of how self important you might feel, and how aggressively you pursue your points. Certainly, if you've spent time reading those scientific journals (like the Lancet), you've come across the studies of the chemical analysis of marijuana (as well as other drugs). How you could continue to say that they are 'harmless' only speaks to either your own misunderstanding of what you've read, or the power of your own denial to justify your own behavior. 'Occasional' MJ use over time HAS been linked to health problems, it's not the frequency of use, it's the accumulated effects of the drug over time that cause the problem, you're minimizing the health effects for your own purposes. And, for the record, heroin is semi synthetic, it is made from opium, which is from the poppy plant, but there is a process used to convert it to heroin. Which makes both 'natural'.

I'm not one to argue, I frankly don't care what you (or any one else) does with themselves and their own free time. However, do not think it OK to present yourself as an 'expert' in something when it is clear that your 'expertise' amounts to (yet again) someone who has taken the time to find data that supports their own behaviors while maligning sources that don't. You don't look intelligent, you are not at all pursuasive, you look like a jackass. And a rather nasty one at that.

[CaptainObvious]

This is all very articulate, but factually incorrect.

Since you've written a paper for a class and now feel expert doesn't actually qualify you as one, regardless of how self important you might feel, and how aggressively you pursue your points. Certainly, if you've spent time reading those scientific journals (like the Lancet), you've come across the studies of the chemical analysis of marijuana (as well as other drugs). How you could continue to say that they are 'harmless' only speaks to either your own misunderstanding of what you've read, or the power of your own denial to justify your own behavior. 'Occasional' MJ use over time HAS been linked to health problems, it's not the frequency of use, it's the accumulated effects of the drug over time that cause the problem, you're minimizing the health effects for your own purposes. And, for the record, heroin is semi synthetic, it is made from opium, which is from the poppy plant, but there is a process used to convert it to heroin. Which makes both 'natural'.

I'm not one to argue, I frankly don't care what you (or any one else) does with themselves and their own free time. However, do not think it OK to present yourself as an 'expert' in something when it is clear that your 'expertise' amounts to (yet again) someone who has taken the time to find data that supports their own behaviors while maligning sources that don't. You don't look intelligent, you are not at all pursuasive, you look like a jackass. And a rather nasty one at that.

I am extraordinarily confident that having read much of the scientific literature on marijuana, both pro and con, I have a pretty good grasp of the state of the scientific debate. You may disagree. I welcome you to post links to the abstracts of the studies you have read that lead you to believe conclusively that marijuana is harmful in all quantities. I have a number as well. Your accusations that I have simply chosen sources that I agree with is not only incorrect and insulting (and also not something you could know unless you're so confident that marijuana is horrible that anyone who disagrees must be ignorant of the "real sources") but is also a criticism you're extraordinarily open to as well, since a number of peer-reviewed studies have shown no (or very minimal) harmful effects. Do you discount those? Or do you just deny that they exist?

But before we get into throwing studies at one another (assuming you have some that you're willing to provide) tell me which of the following statements you disagree with:

Marijuana has been shown to cause executive function deficits while under the influence, but these deficits do not last substantially longer than the impairment itself and do not become permanent unless the user is a heavy and long term user.

While marijuana metabolites remain in the blood up to 30 days after smoking, they have not been conclusively shown to cause functional deficits more than a day after impairment ends or thereabouts.

While marijuana delivers more tar per weight smoked to the lungs, studies conflict on whether or not long-term use causes cancer like tobacco - the largest study to date (the UCLA study) shows no epidemiological association between lung, mouth, neck and esophageal cancers and marijuana use, but another recent New Zealand study suggests that risks are indeed increased.

Marijuana is not physically addictive, with no tolerance, dependence or withdrawal (largely) but can be psychologically addictive.

I'm interested in what exactly your opinion is based on. My knowledge of the state of the scientific debate, by the way, doesn't come from me having written one paper and going "look I've read 5 articles and now know everything). I've been taking advantage of my parents' (both profs at a medical school) access to read medical literature for a long time; I read the bulk of the marijuana literature long before I started the paper and have continued to afterward. Does that make me an expert? No, but I know my stuff. Dismissing my knowledge is a cheap substitute for having to substantiate your own.

As for heroin, btw, once you use a chemical process to create it it's synthetic. Everything comes from natural sources if you go far back along the chemical chain, but as soon as a human manufacturing process chemically changes the drug, it becomes synthetic. Technical point, but still true.

[Rutherford The Brave]

+ rep sam <3,

You should try to avoid it, it has its consequences. Plus it can lead you down a wrong road, I don't want that to happen to you.

[byee]

I see you and I are not not going to get along.

I think you confuse your 'extraordinary confidence' with pure arrogance. It's unfortunate that you cannot see how that interferes with your credibility. Confidence comes from a grasp of the facts. Arrogance is an unpleasant personality characteristic that masquerades as true ability. What you've got is a bad attitude that comes from not liking others disagreeing with you. It is threatening when someone challenges your beliefs, huh? You're still justifying your drug use here.

Since we're throwing around credentials, both of my parents are doctors, with professorships in Ivy med schools. I have the same high energy genes, and the same resources available to me when it comes to finding and understanding the data on drug use, or anything, for that matter. I invite you to search my posts, they speak to that quite accurately. However, I think our disagreement isn't so much an intellectual one, but rather one of perspective. I look at the same data as you, and draw a much different conclusion. You minimize the known health impairments and effects of drug use (cognitive impairments of 'only' an hour, health effects with 'chronic' or 'sustained' use), in order to justify your own drug use. The point being that an 'impairment' is not a good thing to have for any amount of time, and it's certainly nothing to minimize to those who have never experienced it. Likewise, damage from 'chronic' use is an adult understanding, but what of those on the other side of that divide, who can't really conceptualize the potential effects of their actions many years after they start something 'casually'? Is it responsible to minimize these effects to those who cannot often think past today? I don't think so, hence my perspective on that same data. Sorry if I keep saying this, but your credibility in reporting and assessing the facts would be much better if your judgement wasn't influenced by your choice to do drugs. Or at the very least, if your audience was over 18.

The point is, unless you can say without qualification that any drug has no short or long term health effects, than they are, by definition, dangerous. Or at least the potential for them to be so is significant. If this is incorrect, if there is a drug out there that has been shown thru repeated study to have no harmful effects, please list them.

Until then, if you wouldn't mind staying off the road that I drive on during your one hour of cognitive impairment, i'd really appreciate it. That, and maybe changing your tone.

[Whisper]

Annnd were done..