This is a curious thing to me, this handwaving as it’s ONLY psychologically addictive. According to the link and my experience there are very real physical effects when a heavy smoker is withdrawing. The symptoms are mild (it doesn’t feel mild when you’re going through it, I assure you) but they exist. Are body pains, poor temp regulation, sleep difficulties, and nausea or loss of appetite all in the mind? Maybe but it SUCKS, especially when you’re told you couldn’t possibly be feeling what you’re feeling because pot isn’t physically addictive.
I moved to California a few years back where “medicinal” marijuana is legal. Basically, you go into a “doctor’s” office, tell him you have insomnia and get a card. It takes five minutes. So, I gave it a shot and started smoking pot at the age of 35. I smoke once a week or so after the kids are in bed. I probably wouldn’t do it if it was illegal, as it’s just more of a pain in the ass. Now that I can walk down the street to the legal dispensary, it’s removed that hurdle for me.
What you’re talking about are known as psychosomatic symptoms, and these are known to occur to people in a wide variety of circumstances. The vast majority of people don’t experience anything like that when ceasing use of pot (I certainly never did, and had times where I used it extremely heavily).
I wouldnt smoke it but would like to try the brownies. Do you get the same high?
Different, some would say better, but less manageable without the ability to titrate. If I take a puff I can stop there or I can choose to take another. If I eat a cookie, the dose is unpredictable (at least at my level of cookery). I’ve been with people who, after eating weed experience the “I’m higher than I wanna be and still getting higher…” thing.
As far as “addiction”, an anecdote follows.
I smoke daily, and have for years. Last week we were leaving for St Martin for our yearly vacation. I normally eat a whopper brownie right before going through security, then quaff a Bloody Mary or two right after. This year I skipped the brownie (shocking my gf).
I then decided to try an experiment and stay weed-free for the entirety of vacation. Wouldn’t you know it, everywhere we went my island friends asked if I needed any and I politely declined. I usually burn through a 3/4 of an ounce or so, mainly puffing on the beach.
Vacation was as enjoyable as usual. I had intense, vivid dreams, an effect I’ve experienced before during withdrawal. Other than dreaming (which I count as a positive effect) I had no withdrawal symptoms. Vacation was different, but excellent, and there was a boost to my self confidence. Course I toked up the minute we arrived home. It was two a.m.; one puff and I was wrecked.
Hmm… ok… Actually I’ve never been high before but its on my bucket list. I would want to make sure its in a controlled situation where my kids wont find out and I wouldnt have to do anything dangerous like drive.
Same here.
Yeah, edibles make it harder to control the dose, plus an inexperienced consumer might take a bight or two, not feel anything and then eat a bunch more. It’s a slower build and a slower decline than smoking.
Yes, just not as fast. Some say it’s a little more intense and prolonged.
:: shrugs ::
Eh. To quote the great American philosopher Reggie Noble, I’ll bee dat.
Not happening.
- As a lifelong asthmatic who grew up in a house with two smoking parents, the idea of deliberately inhaling smoke is just beyond comprehension
- Ingestion would be an option, but I don’t enjoy the side effects of legitimate prescriptions such as narcotics, and I can’t imagine pot brownies would be any better. While doctor-administered stuff (nitrous for dental, sedation for other medical stuff) is very briefly pleasant, a big part of that is that I know it won’t last long, is instantly reversible, and is being managed by someone reasonably trustworthy
- It is still a Federal crime, and if the feds decided to be jerks I could get into legal trouble
- Partly related to 3: my employer explicitly forbids use of such by its employees because of the federal restriction . 'Tain’t worth risking my job.
- Similar to my attitude re alcohol: if the alcohol doesn’t taste good, why drink it? and if it does taste good but I could get the same taste w/o risk of impairment, why bother with the alcohol? If a decadent brownie is delicious, I can’t imagine adding pot to it would make it any tastier so why bother?
My company does random drug testing and a positive test is cause for termination, regardless of the substance’s legality in a given state. While I disagree with the policy, it’s not the hill I want to die on.
I’ve done it while it was illegal, why wouldn’t I if it was legal?
Asthmatic. No.
Nah. I smoked back in the day, but it started making me feel paranoid and sick after awhile, so I stopped. Also, I wouldn’t want it in my bloodstream when I came back to my home state. I can’t think of a reason anyone would want to test me, but still.
I enjoyed it in college a long time ago. My wife says I couldn’t do it while the kids still lived here, but at some future point I could see trying out an edible to see if I still like the effect.
Hee Hee Hee.
Smoked ACRES of weed between the ages of 15 and 30. It was vitally important in my development of cookery skills, musical taste, and musical performance. Made me a far better person than I would have been without it.
Quit at 30 when little Pianola was born…she’s now 25 and an enthusiastic toker in her own right. “Hey, Pop! Want to get high with us?” “No, thanks, sweetie…it don’t have anything else to learn from it.”
Little Banjo is now 20 and he’s never taken a hit in his life. Part of the “rebellion against the older generation” thing I suppose, the lil’ shit.
I totally understand that not being the hill you want to die on … we still have crazy/stupid drug laws in Georgia, and that’s why I don’t smoke pot. But I wonder if what your employer is doing is legal. Seems wrong for your employer to be able to proscribe your use of a legal drug when you are not on duty.
Yes, the younger generation, so rebellious!
Depends on the job. Alcohol is legal but a driver is still subject to DUI/company policy.
Just because a drug is legal (think opiates) doesn’t mean you won’t be impaired.