Thread: Dangers of smoking marijuana

We've got a reeealy big thread on this one. http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=81027

As for the schizophrenia concerns, no, cannabis has not been conclusively proven to cause schizophrenia. It is known that those who have mental disorders already present are more likely to show their symptoms. Her friend may have just never shown his/her symptoms before taking up cannabis.

Originally Posted by Odd_Nonposter

We've got a reeealy big thread on this one. http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=81027

As for the schizophrenia concerns, no, cannabis has not been conclusively proven to cause schizophrenia. It is known that those who have mental disorders already present are more likely to show their symptoms. Her friend may have just never shown his/her symptoms before taking up cannabis.

Is this also true about claimed links between LSD and schizophrenia?

Originally Posted by Odd_Nonposter

We've got a reeealy big thread on this one. http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=81027

As for the schizophrenia concerns, no, cannabis has not been conclusively proven to cause schizophrenia. It is known that those who have mental disorders already present are more likely to show their symptoms. Her friend may have just never shown his/her symptoms before taking up cannabis.

Big thanks for the link.

As for schizophrenia... Any sources? Internet or books you would recommend on the subject?

It is common to have these 'dying' experiences if you smoke too much weed. It's just some people are more timid than others so they let it get to them. I think if it gets any more than that you just pass out don't you?

Originally Posted by Nick89

Big thanks for the link.

As for schizophrenia... Any sources? Internet or books you would recommend on the subject?

As a general resource, The Emperor Wears No Clothes is probably one of the best books on the subject of cannabis out there. He doesn't talk much about schizophrenia except for a short blurb in ch.15. More of it is focused on industrial hemp, but it's still a fantastic resource.

I keep up with the wide world of weed through 420 Magazine, especially with their news sections. This particular post discounts most of the myths out there, but these two address the issue of psychiatric illness and cannabis use directly. Both seem to conclude that the notion of cannabis use causing psychiatric illness cannot be supported by existing studies. This study basically says that even though cannabis use has increased tremendously in the UK over a nine year period, the incidence of schizophrenia has been either stable or declining. This one, says that THC causes chemical changes in the brain consistent with schizophrenia development, but this study contradicts their findings using similar methodology.

Mods-If linking to another forum is non-kosher, then please delete.

Yes whities can be horrible but i wouldn't say its a danger to you..you recover very quickly. Also if you that worried about burning plant material get a vape its a much more healthy way to smoke and it makes your stash last for longer :]

Originally Posted by Idolfan

I think if it gets any more than that you just pass out don't you?

yup, you'll most likely feel really drunk, fuzzy vision, no balance. if that happens, just go lay down and pass out. you'd be fine in an hour or so. For me though, if i drink a lot of pop and smoke a blunt or some really good danks, my heart starts beating really fast and gives me chest pain. but again, thats only if ive been eating or drinking lots of sugar, or energy drinks.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Is this also true about claimed links between LSD and schizophrenia?

Yes. There had to be an underlying mental disorder in the first place.

Originally Posted by will.i.am

yup, you'll most likely feel really drunk, fuzzy vision, no balance. if that happens, just go lay down and pass out. you'd be fine in an hour or so. For me though, if i drink a lot of pop and smoke a blunt or some really good danks, my heart starts beating really fast and gives me chest pain. but again, thats only if ive been eating or drinking lots of sugar, or energy drinks.

Makes sense, marijuana increases the heart rate to begin with. I never understood how some of my friends could get high and then drink coffee, it always made me feel really uncomfortable.

The only dangers of the drug that I can see myself are:

1) being arrested because its illegal
2) stealing to supply yourself with more when you run out of cash
3) becoming habitually addicted
4) Eating too much food when stoned
5) minor lung irritation and cough
6) slight memory recall issues, foggy brain (I notice this when I smoke too much although my memory never really goes away, its sharp even when high)

the only real danger is getting arrested; the plant and its effects are harmless.

Originally Posted by Idolfan

It is common to have these 'dying' experiences if you smoke too much weed. It's just some people are more timid than others so they let it get to them. I think if it gets any more than that you just pass out don't you?

if you're talking about ego-death, i guess some people are unable to have such a meaningful experience without so much unnecessary fear and vanity (and not condemn the plant because of their own foolishness).

Well its not ENTIRELY harmless to everyone, alot of people do stupid things when high, but theres a correct way to make sure that doesn't happen.

Firstly, don't smoke and hang around in public like a fool, go smoke at a friends house or something, or sneak a bowl/blunt at night when your parents goto bed.

Never smoke in the car, especially when driving...don't make me tell you why.

Always be level headed when smoking, never smoke when angry sad or agitated.

Also, try to lay off the caffeine when high, because ive read SO many times of people having a racing heart coupled with paranoia because of the racing heart, coincidentally this causes the heart to beat faster and causes more paranoia...you just need to learn to prevent this altogether, like...no smoking when mad or sad.

Occasionally I've noticed that cannabis can make my lower legs feel weak or stumbly...like im losing my balance...this usually happens when im dead tired or sleepy and I smoke....I try not to but i smoke at night mostly which gives me this dizzy off balance sensation.

Trust me, its not fun to be dizzy like the world is spinning round.

anyone else ever get that feeling when tired when smoking?

i guess you're right guerilla, but i believe it's nearly impossible for tripping to be dangerous if you are in nature. but i guess only people who have done this can reify it.

Originally Posted by cygnus

i guess you're right guerilla, but i believe it's nearly impossible for tripping to be dangerous if you are in nature. but i guess only people who have done this can reify it.

Well some people (like me) prefer tripping indoors, im more of an indoor videogame type...i hardly go outside because I become uncomfortable when stoned outdoors for some odd reason, I used to not be this way. anywho every individual is different and has different effects person to person so wherever you feel at home or safe, and comfortable, thats where it should be smoked.

i am a high school senior and i know i may not have the most credibility when it comes to statistics and what not. but hear me out. sure weed is great, its a pain reliever, it's not more addictive than nicotine etc. etc.

but the main, i repeat MAIN reason its not legal has some genetic applications. Each of us has about 30,000 genes on our genome (DNA), and when DNA replicates itself during human development (children developing around 0-3 years of age), certain genes are turned on and off. Basically, for those who haven't studied biology, the DNA is like a switchboard in one respect. The genes that get turned on allow the individual to express that gene, and the genes that do not get turned on or even that get turned off, are not expressed phenotypically (physically).

With that intuition, the main reason that weed is illegal is that it turns off certain genes of your children, if you decide to have kids (assuming ur a stoner). the scary thing is that we don't know which genes it turns off. hence, it is a double edged sword, you can go get high, have a great time, but when a your child is born, God forbid that they would be born with a genetic disorder like trisomy 21 (down syndrome) or they may not express some other genes.

so you must be thinking that the stoner parents of the 70's till today have had "normal" children. be that as it may, as in dihybrid crosses only 25% of the f1 generation actually show the symptoms and about 75% of the f2 generation show the symptoms. with that logic, one can expect, with the continuing widespread use of weed, that sooner or later, people will see the true tip of the double edged sword.

I'd like to see evidence that it effects dna

add to that, how many people around (children or older) do you think had stoner grandparents (hint hint, me).

Marijuana Dangers

Marijuana dangers are usually listed as they affect the physical body and mind and marijuana dangers are often associated with emotional problems as well. Marijuana dangers are often reported in fluctuating waves. Some say there are more marijuana dangers than ever right now due to the increased potency of the drug. Others say marijuana dangers aren't as bad and can even be used for medical purposes (see our medical marijuana page). This page isn't going to convince anyone of the marijuana dangers. Our intention here is to help those who are already suffering the consequences of marijuana dangers and are wondering where they can find help.

Millions of people use marijuana habitually and many are quite addicted to the drug. Addiction is a disease and like any disease, tears away at the mind and body of the sufferer. Many pot smokers did not fully understand marijuana dangers as they began to smoke the drug early in life. Some pot smokers find themselves using the drug more than they would like and find it interfering with school, work and relationships with family and friends. This cycle can feed off of itself in a negative way causing more use of the drug and further consequences.

Many studies of marijuana dangers associate repeated use of the drug with lower test scores and academic abilities. On the job, workers who smoke pot often miss more work, have more accidents and are more likely to lose their job.

On emotional level marijuana dangers include isolation, depression and an increase in anxiety. Uncomfortable feelings and fear also lead to more use of the drug that can make for more problems. Studies show that over time, individuals who become physically and/or emotionally dependent on marijuana can find that they are falling behind on basic fundamental life skills that are being acquired by peers in the same age range. This can lead to self-esteem problems as self-reinforcement abilities deteriorate and confidence diminishes. So why doesn't the pot smoker stop smoking pot?

Another one of the marijuana dangers is physical dependence on the drug. Many people try to stop over and over but are overwhelmed by anxiety, irritability and sleeping difficulties. Physical dependence is marked by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is removed. The marijuana dangers include the bodies' adaptation to an almost continuous presence of the drug in its system. The brain adapts to the pain reducing reaction to the drug and its other analgesic effects like inducing sleep. Those who have only tried smoking pot once or twice might be amazed that anybody could function on the drug at all. But those who have been smoking the drug for months and years have become accustom to its effects and can often hide the fact that they are high at all.

This tolerance to the drug is yet another one of the marijuana dangers. Pot smokers who must smoke much more of the drug to feel the same affect that just a little used to provide. This leads to more intake of smoke which can cause more damage to the lungs and respiratory system.

Over 11 million people smoked marijuana last month. Many may not have severe marijuana side effects from taking the drug but many people will. Marijuana side effects include physical problems like breathing difficulties and deteriorating physical abilities. Despite a popular belief, marijuana side effects speed up the heart, blood and breathing rate. The body is taxed more and this speeds up the aging process just like methamphetamines do. The marijuana side effects from this extra exertion on the body include a higher risk for lung cancer, heart attacks and strokes.

Marijuana side effects also wreak havoc on the brain when the drug is used habitually. The natural chemical balance of the brain is disrupted affecting the pleasure centers and regulatory systems. The ability to learn, remember and adapt quickly to changes is impaired by marijuana use. Depression often occurs with marijuana usage, which feeds into the cycle of more drug use to treat the pain created by drug use. This cycle of addiction is very powerful and users soon find that they cannot stop using the drug even if they want to.

Marijuana addiction is a progressive disease and marijuana side effects include withdrawal and obsessive thought with the drug when it is not made available. Addiction is identified as a compulsive, uncontrollable craving for the drug even with pending negative consequences. Often users will attempt to stop smoking marijuana for an important event such as a job interview or court hearing and find themselves using very close or just before the event. This act goes beyond a flexing of willpower. This describes being enveloped by a disease that has taken control and needs to be treated.

http://www.marijuana-addiction.net/

Would like to note on the "feel like dying" experience. I would attribute this to a panic attack. I've only ever experience a panic attack on psychedelic drugs (2c-e was the one that got me) but I know plenty of people that have had panic attacks while smoking weed. Someone people even have them sober and will often cause someone to feel like they are dying and that the world is caving in around them. Panic attacks suck, but they are not harmful.

As for the tripping outdoors, I'm will guerilla. I don't like the outdoors very much. It's dirty, cold, and uncomfortable. I love my creature comforts, and since tripping intensifies feelings I much prefer to have blankets and a nice couch to chill on.

As for marijuana addiction - I don't have any hard facts for you, but my anecdotal evidence is as follows. I smoke weed every day, usually just a small bowl for myself. Whenever I go dry for awhile I'm a little bummed at first but bounce back to not caring pretty fast. To me, it's just habitual. It's the same thing as someone who comes home everyday and pops on a video game. If someone took their video game away from them, they'd probably be pretty irritable for awhile until they got used to the change. I don't see it as a problem, but this is very likely different from person to person.