The bad the good and the weed?

[Veggiesbrendis]

I am confused!! Just want to know what everyone thinks here about smoking Ganga ... Is it good? Bad? Evil? Pure? Meant to be? What's your take on it? And does it affect anyone who is trying to lose weight ?

[KatieKava]

Personally I think it's pretty disastrous - spirituality wise. I'm not pro or con law wise, but I've come to the conclusion over several decades of intense spiritual studies that it can do some permanent damage to your aura.

And to be honest, I've never met a long term user that hasn't had some kind of bad side effects. My advice is to stay away from it. You need those brain cells. You don't want unwanted psychosis and your aura is fine just the way it is.

[elucidate]

The only way it will effect you if you are trying to lose weight is to weaken your resolve and make you put on more weight from getting the munchies.

Weed isn't evil or pure in my opinion. It's a plant and it has an amazing effect on the human mind initially, but just like anything, if you abuse it it will mess you up.

Respect it and you'll fly.

I would agree with the poster above me to a degree though. It can blast holes in your aura which makes it vulnerable to all sorts of things floating around, supposedly, though I don't agree that the damage is permanent.

Meditation will help you progress spiritually without weed, but that's not to say you can't also learn alot from it.

I smoked it for years and in the end it messed with my head. I have known heaps of people who don't even know how messed up they are from it, because they are too busy escaping their issues instead of dealing with them.

It was fun for a while, and it's good to enhance sex definitely, but just be aware.

[Clint Cora]

It's almost embarrassing but even though I have been around other people who smoked weed as I played in rock bands during my high school and college years, now at 50 years of age, I have NEVER even touched a joint. In fact, I have never done ANY illicit drugs in my entire life.

So I can't tell you from any personal experience. I know there's an on-going legal debate up here in Canada whether to keep allowing those who benefit from its effects from a medicinal basis as well as legalizing it for everyone else, but I'm pretty neutral on the issue as long as it stays in the house and doesn't hurt any other innocent people, ie., don't drive a car afterwards.

[Merr]

I've never used it but have known people who have and it seems that long-term, heavy duty, regular users get pretty messed up in one way or another. It destroys their ability to live happy and productive lives and their relationships with others. It's not just because of the effects of the drug itself either, but because of the cost. It's not exactly cheap in some places. The cliche comes to mind here about everything in moderation. A spliff here and there is no big deal but using it too much probably isn't going to be such a great idea.

[firenexx]

Marijuana is not really very good for you, especially in the long term. As with any substance like that, it gives you a boost in the present at the expense of the future. If you want to be burnt out and paranoid all the time and have erectile dysfunction and constantly be risking arrest, smoke weed for many years. Also there is the fact that you are inhaling smoke. Not good for lungs.
In my opinion, chronic marijuana use is a bad idea.

[nzmegs]

Smoking anything at all is harmful to your health - who cares about your spirituality if you are stuck in a cancer ward...?

Avoid all smoke of all types and people who smoke around you. it just isn't healthy.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by nzmegs

Smoking anything at all is harmful to your health - who cares about your spirituality if you are stuck in a cancer ward...?

Avoid all smoke of all types and people who smoke around you. it just isn't healthy.

You can have it in brownies as well...

[Johnny Metal]

The benefits of smoking are yellow finger nails (if you smoke joints), cracked lips, cold sores on your lips, inflamed gums, sensitive teeth, yellowing/darkening of the teeth, sore throat, random pains in the lungs, chronic cough, dry sinuses, nose full of thick, sticky phlegm.

Life is too short to live like that. Whoever claims that smoking marijuana is harmless is a fool.

[codenamesmiley]

Originally Posted by KatieKava

Personally I think it's pretty disastrous - spirituality wise. I'm not pro or con law wise, but I've come to the conclusion over several decades of intense spiritual studies that it can do some permanent damage to your aura.

And to be honest, I've never met a long term user that hasn't had some kind of bad side effects. My advice is to stay away from it. You need those brain cells. You don't want unwanted psychosis and your aura is fine just the way it is.

long term user..no side effects..and I can guarantee it has not spiritually damaged me. Just my two cents.

[codenamesmiley]

Johnny what you describe sounds more like a harsh chemical drug addiction..not marijuana. Are you sure you didnt know a crackhead that claimed to only smoke pot?

[Johnny Metal]

Yes, I am sure. It's not the marijuana, it's the route of administration. Smoke is harsh to the body, that's why you feel a hot burning sensation in the mouth when you toke, that's why you cough. Smoking anything is also damaging to a beautiful voice one has, it is really bad for the health.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

Yes, I am sure. Smoking anything is also damaging to a beautiful voice one has, it is really bad for one's health.

Then... how about not smoking it?

Basically.... are you against smoking or against marijuana?

[Johnny Metal]

I'm not against smoking, I am breaking the myth that "smoking marijuana is harmless" / "smoking marijuana is good for you", repeated again and again by people with cold sores on their lips, permanently sore throats, 90yo grandpa voice, and chronic cough.

Vaporizing is a better route (though not as harmless as claimed, notice how vaporizer bags get dirty too and must be replaced, can you replace your lungs?), eating/drinking is probably the best choice health wise.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

I'm not against smoking, I am breaking the myth that "smoking marijuana is harmless", repeated again and again by people with cold sores on their lips, permanently sore throats, 90yo grandpa voice, and chronic cough.

Vaporizing is a better route (though not as harmless as claimed, notice how vaporizer bags get dirty too and must be replaced), eating/drinking is probably the best choice health wise.

It depends though on how often you do it....

Once a month will not get you all that. And indeed eating or drinking it won't get you any of that at all.

So you are saying that smoking in general is harmful, weed or other things. Not necessarlily that weed itself is harmful?

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by firenexx

Marijuana is not really very good for you, especially in the long term. As with any substance like that, it gives you a boost in the present at the expense of the future. If you want to be burnt out and paranoid all the time and have erectile dysfunction and constantly be risking arrest, smoke weed for many years. Also there is the fact that you are inhaling smoke. Not good for lungs.
In my opinion, chronic marijuana use is a bad idea.

Not everyone gets paranoid, or erectile dysfunction either. I don't think the OP was suggesting they wanted to become a chronic user at any point.

Burning out will happen if you become a chronic user over time, but not if you are just trying it out for the first time.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Johnny Metal

The benefits of smoking are yellow finger nails (if you smoke joints), cracked lips, cold sores on your lips, inflamed gums, sensitive teeth, yellowing/darkening of the teeth, sore throat, random pains in the lungs, chronic cough, dry sinuses, nose full of thick, sticky phlegm.

Life is too short to live like that. Whoever claims that smoking marijuana is harmless is a fool.

Are you speaking about smoking cigarettes because these things will occur with cigarette smokers, but not weed smokers (at least, I've never seen it in people I've known)...especially if it's only occasionally. Where'd you get your information from there, or has this been your experience?

I agree it's bad for your throat though, and generally inhaling smoke isn't a good healthy option...but it can be fun if you just do it once or twice. It's definitely not harmless though, and I also get annoyed with people claiming that it's harmless, though that's usually what someone will say when they are in denial so they don't have to stop and consider what harm they are doing.

There are plenty of people out there who have done it for years and they don't have any of the symptoms you describe here, infact one lady who used to come here is a singer songwriter and a smoker and it hasn't effected her this way at all.

It really sounds like you are speaking of cigarette smokers here, though weed smoke can be harsh on the throat, no question. I do agree that eating cookies or brownies is the best way to go, and the effect is much more body pleasant, I find anyway.

[Philemon]

Disclaimer: any mind altering substance affects individuals differently. AKA, it's not for everyone.

Here's me. Regular smoker, ingester of the earthly herbal---marijuana. Master's Degree, Full-time employment as an educator, songwriter, poet, NOT paranoid, no legal trouble (knock on wood), no disgusting physical side-effects.

The catch - smoke only the best - crap weed gives me a headache - smoke small amounts at a time - maybe one hit in the morning, two after work, sometimes another later in the evening if I'm going out.

If I have it, I usually smoke it. So it's worth noting that I intentionally don't have it, sometimes for weeks or months at a time, to be sure I'm not dependent or escaping. Also, I like to meditate, and the two don't go hand in hand for me.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

It's almost embarrassing but even though I have been around other people who smoked weed as I played in rock bands during my high school and college years, now at 50 years of age, I have NEVER even touched a joint. In fact, I have never done ANY illicit drugs in my entire life.

So I can't tell you from any personal experience. I know there's an on-going legal debate up here in Canada whether to keep allowing those who benefit from its effects from a medicinal basis as well as legalizing it for everyone else, but I'm pretty neutral on the issue as long as it stays in the house and doesn't hurt any other innocent people, ie., don't drive a car afterwards.

I find it more and more rare to find people who haven't smoked or done other drugs. Even my room mates, who I thought were clean, all of a sudden smoke up. 40 year old parents, smoke up. 12 year old brother of ex, smokes up. Everyone, but apparently me. Lets see if I can last as long as you have

[Clint Cora]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

I find it more and more rare to find people who haven't smoked or done other drugs. Even my room mates, who I thought were clean, all of a sudden smoke up. 40 year old parents, smoke up. 12 year old brother of ex, smokes up. Everyone, but apparently me. Lets see if I can last as long as you have

Not that I never had the opportunity since some of my rock bandmates during high school were into it. But I was already under the martial arts influence by then so I always resisted.

I think after a certain length of time into adulthood, if one never tried, one probably never will as life gets further and further away from the scene where pot is available. I know that for myself, nobody in my professional or social circles are anywhere near pot anymore. I hardly even go to concerts anymore so I don't even smell it around anymore.

The further you stay away from a crowd or scene that has pot, the more likely you will probably never even touch the stuff.

[Andrew Gubb]

Probably not healthy but it's so hard to find nonbiased studies or info on it...

I suspect, somehow, that's it's not as bad as alcohol.

[russianrocket]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

Not that I never had the opportunity since some of my rock bandmates during high school were into it. But I was already under the martial arts influence by then so I always resisted.

I think after a certain length of time into adulthood, if one never tried, one probably never will as life gets further and further away from the scene where pot is available. I know that for myself, nobody in my professional or social circles are anywhere near pot anymore. I hardly even go to concerts anymore so I don't even smell it around anymore.

The further you stay away from a crowd or scene that has pot, the more likely you will probably never even touch the stuff.

My reason is this. My dad said he'd kill me if I smoked pot. My friends ALL smoked pot, and always tried to get me to do it. I have this thing about me, where I have to rebel against pressure from anyone. Luckily, my friends pushed harder then my dad, so I rebelled against my friends. I could sit around a table with 10 people smoking. They'd even pass the bowl to me. I'd just pass it along, or they'd say " oh yeah, oops, my bad".

As far as your access to pot. Maybe your martial arts crowd, but I have grown to find out that even the most professional people smoke. The only difference is, they are professional about it lol

If only you knew half the weird ♥♥♥♥ that your friends and even family are into behind closed doors...

If you wanted pot right now, I have no doubt that you'd be able to find it through one of your friends, easily. Obviously, health conscious martial arts types are much more likely to stay clean, but anyone other then health conscious people, are fair game.

For example, my room mate is a business professional. Manages a large distribution warehouse of one of the largest plumbing ( and other stuff) suppliers in the nation. He goes to sleep with a few shots of scotch. He works out 3 times a week, every single week, for the past 10 years. And, he smokes pot . You'd NEVER EVER guess that.

[aelle]

I smoked on a semi-regular basis for a couple of years (high school and first year of college). Then I sort of lost interest and naturally stopped. I don't say I quit because I never made any firm commitment either way, but the result today is that I have a drag off a joint every few years and turn down way more opportunities to smoke than I accept.

Productivity-wise, I was a valedictorian all these years and several more after, studied for two different degrees at the same time, had a part time job, hobbies, friends, and internships every summer.
Health-wise, I wasn't particularly fit at the time. But I was (still am) a choral singer and keeping a healthy voice was a priority. I could not notice any damage if I didn't smoke the night before practice. Personal development-wise, I found it very interesting to learn to use and not abuse. It was also mind opening to frequent a variety of smokers - parents, professionals, left-brain types, right brain types, people of all social classes - not just your stereotypical pothead.

The smell of cold weed on your clothes may just be the most vile thing in the world, though.

[DoubleMe]

I've stopped smoking weed years ago. The reason was i got panic attacks (don't know if it's related to the cannabis).
The bad thing is that i've got an nicotine addiction now as a result of the joint smoking. So i am smoking cigarettes which are bad to my lungs and probably hard to quit.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

I find it more and more rare to find people who haven't smoked or done other drugs. Even my room mates, who I thought were clean, all of a sudden smoke up. 40 year old parents, smoke up. 12 year old brother of ex, smokes up. Everyone, but apparently me. Lets see if I can last as long as you have

This was the problem I had when I stopped, finding people who didn't use drugs, or who were also interested in stopping and improving themselves. It's taken me literally 15 years to find a handful of people who don't smoke drugs. Literally everyone I've come across in the last 15 years that I've lived with or not, has been a user of some kind. It's so widespread.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

As far as your access to pot. Maybe your martial arts crowd, but I have grown to find out that even the most professional people smoke. The only difference is, they are professional about it lol

This is true. My brother has been training for 15 years and he's a dealer and a heavy smoker, as is his Sifu. Mine was staunchly against weed though, and would have kicked us out if he knew we smoked, even though a few people there did and it was very obvious they were stoners. He didn't have enough people to be in a position to kick anyone out though so I think he tolerated it.

If only you knew half the weird ♥♥♥♥ that your friends and even family are into behind closed doors...

Ooooh yeah. When I first moved to Melbourne, I moved into a lodging house and there was this fellow across the hall who appeared to be your basic aussie ocker into football, fast cars and beer. Then one day I come home from work and go to the bathroom to find him applying his wig and make up for his drag queen performance that night.

If you wanted pot right now, I have no doubt that you'd be able to find it through one of your friends, easily. Obviously, health conscious martial arts types are much more likely to stay clean, but anyone other then health conscious people, are fair game.

Yes, though watch out for the ones who claim to be health conscious but are secretly taking steroids to get an edge for competition time. They may not consider themselves users, but walking around puffed up like a blow up doll doesn't look too good for anyone's health.

For example, my room mate is a business professional. Manages a large distribution warehouse of one of the largest plumbing ( and other stuff) suppliers in the nation. He goes to sleep with a few shots of scotch. He works out 3 times a week, every single week, for the past 10 years. And, he smokes pot . You'd NEVER EVER guess that.

I used to go out with a guy who had a masters degree in website blah blah, and had a respectable job working for the university, so whilst he was a little overweight, he looked so clean but really he used to take Special K and nitrous oxide bulbs like they were going out of fashion.

Heroin is a popular drug of choice for many professionals these days. They have their own kits and everything, and still manage to work full time at the office and appear professional to everyone around them.

Even where I work there are nurses who inject, while on the job. I probably wouldn't feel too safe allowing a nurse who is pinned give me a pap smear or a blood test...but it happens every day at the clinic.

[russianrocket]

Yep, to everything you have said. And, it gets deeper and deeper then that even.

PS lol what happened after you found him? Wasn't your stuff was it?

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by russianrocket

Yep, to everything you have said. And, it gets deeper and deeper then that even.

Yes, I'm afraid I've only scratched the surface.

PS lol what happened after you found him? Wasn't your stuff was it?

It wasn't my stuff no...what happened after that...it's a secret!

Nah, I went to his drag show with him and his best friend who was a lesbian...they shared a room and a bed!

The rest IS a secret!