I don’t have a cite, but I read on CNN a couple of weeks ago about new research into the effects of weed on pregnant women (or more accurately, the developing fetuses). Apparently, the substance that the body produces that binds to the same receptors THC does is important in early development. Ingested THC crowds this out. The upshot: don’t get high if you’re pregnant. While I am at it, don’t drive, operate heavy machinery, power tools or firearms. Also, don’t have anything important to do for a couple of days. But legalize it anyway.
THINGS THAT ARE LEGAL:
[ul]
[li]Sticking your arm under a drill press and turning it on. (The drill press, not your arm.)[/li][li]Inserting a running chainsaw into your anal cavity.[/li][li]Pulling the mask off the old Lone Ranger.[/li][li]Going up to a Crips member and flashing Blood hand signs while dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.[/li][li]Standing outside during a thunderstorm wearing copper armor with your left foot in a bucket of water while waving around a nine iron and yelling “ALL GODS ARE BASTARDS!”[/li][/ul]Clearly, the law was not made to nursemaid the kinds of people who check whether a wire is hot by licking it. So what’s up with all the legalization posts in this thread? They have nothing whatsoever to do with the topic at hand.
I find it fascinating that every time someone asks whether pot is bad for you, the responses stream in about the dangers of inhaling smoke.
Back in my college days it was common knowledge that “magic brownies” produce the same effect, except that it comes on more slowly (as mentioned upthread), produces a mellower high, and seems to last longer. It can also be used as a lasagna ingredient, or ingested in a variety of other ways.
So, given that the smoke damage to the lungs seems to be the most dangerous thing about marijuana, why is it that the vast majority of people that use it smoke it instead of eating or drinking it?
Disagreed. There is a lot of quality information in that article. If Cecil doesn’t have more knowledge than is available to humanity at this point, it disappoints you?
I’d say the first two factors you listed are amongst the reasons, it comes on more slowly (want to be high NOW, ha), and more mellow (don’t always want mellow). Plus, it’s more difficult to adjust the dosage to precisely the level of high one wants.
And there’s always the danger of getting into a ‘feedback loop’. You prepare, say, some brownies and eat one. You end up with the munchies, and discover, “Hey, there’s some brownies!” Eat more. One brownie leads to another and now you’ve devoured 4 ounces of primo hash and you’re on your back on the floor, thinking something profound (like “wow”, or “cool, man…”).
Actually, there probably is one real risk - poor eating habits. You get the munchies and chomp Doritos all night. Then you wind up looking like Flounder from Animal House.
I’ll bet you that being overweight is the primary hazard from pot smoking.
I will look at it from a different angle. Marijuana is illegal. Whether it should be or not is a matter for another thread.
So, the fact remains that marijuana is illegal. If you have a drink of two then you won’t get into trouble. If you smoke a J or two, you probably won’t, but you MAY get arrested and convicted. Then try getting a good job or something similar with a “possession of marijuana” on your record.
I don’t care how much or little you smoke, you will look like Cheech Marin when someone pulls that up. That’s a huge thing there, whether it is right or wrong.
Now, if you are talking only physically, then I agree, smoking weed is far less harmful than tobacco, but then again you are comparing apples and oranges. I know a few people who have a two pack a day cig habit, but I know of noone who smokes 40 joints per day.