# Guys and pot **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 14, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183 "2017-03-14T18:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/41 "2017-03-15T02:09:25Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So money can cure addiction? ok, i see. have a good day. mc ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/42 "2017-03-15T02:14:11Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > ok, i see. have a good day. > > mc wut?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/43 "2017-03-15T02:17:44Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > ok, i see. have a good day. > > mc My point in that response to **ITD** ’s post where she said that if the use of the drug(s) doesn’t impede the life they want to live, they wouldn’t be considered “addicted” was to ask that if someone had enough wealth to not be affected by many of the problems that most addicts face, would they not be considered an “addict” (Keith Richards was my example)? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/44 "2017-03-15T02:28:38Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > So money can cure addiction? Not sure what you mean, here. There are lots of ways lives can be affected (social and family relationships, not meeting personal goals, etc), that has nothing to with income. And remember, this response was for the very narrow hypothetical that asked “Is this person hooked” given these criteria: 1. You personally don’t want to quit; 2. AND you’ve never been in a position to have to; 3. AND having taken true physiological addiction out of the equation In that extremely narrow (and rare) scenario, I suggested that using drugs that otherwise didn’t interfere with a healthy running of your life, you probably weren’t hooked. I’m not really sure how finer a hair you want to split, but I think I’ve exhausted any opinions I’ve had on this. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/45 "2017-03-15T02:44:44Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Not sure what you mean, here. There are lots of ways lives can be affected (social and family relationships, not meeting personal goals, etc), that has nothing to with income. > > And remember, this response was for the very narrow hypothetical that asked “Is this person hooked” given these criteria: > > 1. You personally don’t want to quit; > 2. AND you’ve never been in a position to have to; > 3. AND having taken true physiological addiction out of the equation Well I explained what I meant in my next post. Basically, it boils down to “Is Keith Richards an addict and if so, what makes him one?” And I never took psychological addiction out of the equation. Addiction _is_ psychological in nature. My goal is not to get an answer to an extremely narrow and specific case, it’s to use that narrow case to question what an addict is. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/46 "2017-03-15T02:53:25Z")
I said physiological, not psychological. I have no idea if Keith Richards fit all the criteria I was responding, which was the end of a series of posts between you and I. So to that I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/47 "2017-03-15T02:55:47Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I said physiological, not psychological. Apologies, I misread. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/48 "2017-03-15T04:28:55Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > My point in that response to **ITD** ’s post where she said that if the use of the drug(s) doesn’t impede the life they want to live, they wouldn’t be considered “addicted” was to ask that if someone had enough wealth to not be affected by many of the problems that most addicts face, would they not be considered an “addict” (Keith Richards was my example)? except that you dont know if the taking of drugs impedes their life. it may appear to the outside world like everthing is fine when its not. i dont know keith richards, i dont know about his struggles with drugs - addiction or no. but i do know many addicts, and as you said, life circumstances vary. some may have a rollercoaster ride of it; plunging into the depths, and then struggle their way back to some normalcy for a while only to plunge into the depths again, and repeat ad infinitum. others go from casual use to rock bottom in straight fashion and right quickly. still others can maintain a level of use for quite some time. you cant compare addicts and their addictions. for each it is an extremely personal and individual ride. speaking specifically of marijuana use: actual physical addiction is extremely rare, however psychological dependence is not. its very easy for pot smokers to slip from wanting to smoke to needing to smoke. just recognizing that fact is sometimes enough to prevent trouble. mc ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/49 "2017-03-15T04:55:55Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The best answer is that you will get an occasional male that is a perpetual deviant or adolescent that really likes Mary Jane. That doesn’t apply to the vast majority of us however. And when you throw kids and a non-using spouse into the picture, it doesn’t end well, which is a massive understatement. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/50 "2017-03-15T07:58:32Z")
Only person in our group “hooked” on weed is female. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/51 "2017-03-15T11:34:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What qualifies as being “hooked” on weed? I smoke every single day but I absolutely do not consider myself “hooked”. I smoke everyday because it’s enjoyable _and_ it helps greatly with a few health issues I have. But id still smoke even if there were no health benefits. Because I like it. Dude, we are both hooked because we have monkeys on our backs. You know how when you skip smoking for a day or two you get the sniffles, feel itchy, have aches and pains, and mood swings? Yeah, me neither. I occasionally stop smoking for a week or two just to experience the intense dreams it triggers. When I stop having these amazing dreams I go back to the pipe. As far as “risk aversion” and the ladies, I have noticed this. When I buy weed I contact “the guy” and arrange a meet. I know a few women who smoke a lot. When _they_ buy weed they call _me_ and ask me to get them a bag next time I get some for myself. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/52 "2017-03-15T14:41:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > As far as “risk aversion” and the ladies, I have noticed this. When I buy weed I contact “the guy” and arrange a meet. I know a few women who smoke a lot. When _they_ buy weed they call _me_ and ask me to get them a bag next time I get some for myself. You know how nice it is to walk into a nice, clean store with lots of selection and legally buy? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/53 "2017-03-15T14:43:35Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You know how nice it is to walk into a nice, clean store with lots of selection and legally buy? 😃 STOP that. I already hear it from my Cali and Colorado friends. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/54 "2017-03-15T14:44:01Z")
> [@](#): > > As far as “risk aversion” and the ladies, I have noticed this. When I buy weed I contact “the guy” and arrange a meet. I know a few women who smoke a lot. When they buy weed they call me and ask me to get them a bag next time I get some for myself. it’s still illegal there, right? my theory is that when it’s legal everywhere and all you do is buy it at the dispensary it will become a chore that is more evenly divided. but that’s a WAG. 😛 > [@](#): > > STOP that. I already hear it from my Cali and Colorado friends. SOON!! ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/55 "2017-03-15T14:47:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > STOP that. I already hear it from my Cali and Colorado friends. I forgot to mention that with all the taxes piled on, it is cheaper than it used to be as well. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/56 "2017-03-15T15:14:01Z")
I’m not really sure if there’s a way to definitively quantify the assertion in the OP, but I have my own theory. Of all the frequent female pot smokers I’ve known since college, most of the women quit when they got pregnant and never really went back much after the toddler years. My sister basically quit drinking too, for about 20 years because she never knew when there would be some sort of crisis and she’d need her wits about her. Maybe having kids makes men quit too; but I haven’t observed that. Of the stoners I know, it’s mostly men married to women who have tapered down or quit completely. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/57 "2017-03-15T16:50:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Ok, let’s say that I continue to be a daily smoker for basically the rest of my life, having no desire to quit. Am I hooked? Can one be hooked yet never be faced with a need to quit? Ok, let’s say I’m driving on a circular racetrack and I want to drive in circles for the rest of my life, having no desire to stop. How do I tell if my brakes work? The question is by definition unanswerable. You can’t measure how effective your brakes are unless you actually attempt to use them. So the real answer is that you try to stop and find out. If your refusal to quit, even temporarily, is bigger than your desire to know if you are hooked, then you are hooked. As a side note, if your refusal to quit is big enough that you feel the need to hijack a thread about gender and pot smoking to create unlikely hypotheticals on how not wanting to quit really means you are not hooked, you’re probably hooked. > [@kayaker](#): > > Dude, we are both hooked because we have monkeys on our backs. You know how when you skip smoking for a day or two you get the sniffles, feel itchy, have aches and pains, and mood swings? Yeah, me neither. QFT. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/58 "2017-03-15T17:30:26Z")
The weed-smokers I know are mostly women. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/59 "2017-03-15T18:30:28Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I never considered this but it actually makes a lot of sense. I’m in Washington state where it’s been legalized. My observation is about 50/50 across genders now. Women seem to be more event-oriented usage (e.g. “book club”) oriented though, rather than daily routine usage like men. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183/60 "2017-03-15T19:07:13Z")
Maybe this should have been a poll. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-and-pot/782183.md?page=4)