# Pot is a legal drug, opinions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699 "2017-04-18T13:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/21 "2017-04-18T15:14:04Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > Smoke your self sober - or smoking more (within reason) doesn’t make you higher? > > The second is absolutely plausible/possible/true (at least for some people) and isn’t limited to pot. > > I’m not saying for all effects, but I’ve noticed this and for some drugs - such as Ritalin - I’ve confirmed with an expert on ADHD (psychiatrist that specializes in ADHD and doesn’t published research in addition to seeing patients) > > I’m pretty sure for opiates this is true. I know people that use Oxycodone recreationally- and I have used it before and the “buzz” you get the first time (say you take it at noon) will kick in about 1pm and last for 3-4 hours. Taking another dose at 2PM - I’d feel nothing pleasurable. > > NOTE. I AM NOT SAYING IT DOESNT EFFECT YOU - IM SURE IF YOU TOOK OPIATES EVERY 30 MINUTES - YOU MIGHT NOT GET "HIGHER’, BUT YOUD ALMOST CERTAINLY STOP BREATHING > > I react similarly to Oxycodone as with other people, but not with pot. > > That being said, there is no way I could use it every day - it simply doesn’t work for me if I take it multiple times a day - or every day. It does something, but it is very much diminished. > > I don’t think that is a rare experience. > > From talking to the psychiatrist about Ritalin - he was telling me there are different types of tolerance - the one most people think about where you need more and more to get high, but there is also a sort of intra-day type tolerance. > > This is one of the reasons that Concerta was invented - it’s time release mechanism is designed to help avoid this infra-day type tolerance. > > Note: I’m not sure if “tolerance” is the technical name for the intra-day thing. I believe he used another word, but I can’t remember what it is. Thank you, you addressed exactly what I was talking about. It seems more like saturation than tolerance. I am very systematic about my approach and always have been. I find I have a very short time window to adjust my high, less than 1/2 hour. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/22 "2017-04-18T15:29:11Z")
Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/23 "2017-04-18T15:36:19Z")
Also depends on which variety you prefer. I’ve always disliked the general effects of most Indica strains, makes me tired, requires frequent updates…then just doesnt seem to work as well . Sativa strains have worked better for me, for endurance tasks in work, (labor) or for hiking or surfing. The strains from the past were much weaker as well…(my time) and its difficult for me to figure out the new strains…plus…nowadays…at 63 yrs old…it makes me feel weird!!! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/24 "2017-04-18T15:36:49Z")
I just never got into it or enjoyed it all that much so I’m a bad person to ask but my basic feeling is its somewhat like alcohol; different people react differently to how much or when they indulge. I can keep a nicer buzz going with a couple shots now and then than a full bottle of Jack over a weekend so your results with pot don’t surprise me much. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/25 "2017-04-18T15:42:30Z")
I smoke a little 1-2 nights/week. When I smoke with that frequency, it doesn’t take much for me to get the desired effects. However, if I smoke 3 nights/days in a row my tolerance is significantly increased. That’s all it takes. If I take a couple days off, my tolerance level is reset. Never have I been able to smoke myself sober. In my youth, I tested that theory regularly. 🆒 And like the poster above, I prefer sativas. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/26 "2017-04-18T16:00:44Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I smoke a little 1-2 nights/week. When I smoke with that frequency, it doesn’t take much for me to get the desired effects. However, if I smoke 3 nights/days in a row my tolerance is significantly increased. That’s all it takes. If I take a couple days off, my tolerance level is reset. > > Never have I been able to smoke myself sober. In my youth, I tested that theory regularly. 🆒 > > And like the poster above, I prefer sativas. 😃 ``` I mix the sativas and the indicas. My day is very predictable. I tend to start off the morning writing and going in and out of a few forums I frequent. After about 3 hours I tend to drift more into doing research and that might last a couple hours then I usually wander out and start doing some physical things like wood working or gardening. By about 4 pm I am ready to go back home and just settle in. Decent high last about 5 hours and very pleaseant for another 3 or 4. ``` ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/27 "2017-04-18T16:36:04Z")
Now that it’s legal, can you grow an outdoor garden in your backyard that produces enough that it’s basically free? As I understand it, the indoor grow lamps, which are expensive to buy and run, are needed to maximize production in secret. Now that you don’t have to worry about that, couldn’t you till up a your whole backyard and just sorta sprinkle the seeds around? Maybe throw some fertilizer on there once when you start and then just let it all grow naturally? Basically, make up for your laziness with volume. If a packet of seeds costs you $100, you’d be able to get a year or 2 of smoking weed every day for a modest upfront cost. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/28 "2017-04-18T16:43:46Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Now that it’s legal, can you grow an outdoor garden in your backyard that produces enough that it’s basically free? As I understand it, the indoor grow lamps, which are expensive to buy and run, are needed to maximize production in secret. Now that you don’t have to worry about that, couldn’t you till up a your whole backyard and just sorta sprinkle the seeds around? Maybe throw some fertilizer on there once when you start and then just let it all grow naturally? > > Basically, make up for your laziness with volume. If a packet of seeds costs you $100, you’d be able to get a year or 2 of smoking weed every day for a modest upfront cost. Outdoors you have to deal with the vagaries of mother nature, pests (insects and mammals), airborne pollen from male plants growing elsewhere, theft, etc. There is no control over day length outdoors. Some long season sativas cannot be finished before temperatures drop. An indoor garden, run efficiently, is worth every penny spent on supplies, nutes, electricity, and time. Clones taken from a mother plant do away with the need for seeds. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/29 "2017-04-18T16:45:22Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Now that it’s legal, can you grow an outdoor garden in your backyard that produces enough that it’s basically free? As I understand it, the indoor grow lamps, which are expensive to buy and run, are needed to maximize production in secret. Now that you don’t have to worry about that, couldn’t you till up a your whole backyard and just sorta sprinkle the seeds around? Maybe throw some fertilizer on there once when you start and then just let it all grow naturally? > > Basically, make up for your laziness with volume. If a packet of seeds costs you $100, you’d be able to get a year or 2 of smoking weed every day for a modest upfront cost. It is only a small number of plants allowed, I think it is 6 and I don’t know if that is per household or per individual in the household. Under light they can complete a cycle in 3 months where i takes close to double that for outdoor growing. I think I have heard a yield is one gram per watt. 150 watt build going for 3 months equals about 6 oz pot at a value of 250.00 per ounce. I think the electric for that period would be about $80.00. major savings! ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/30 "2017-04-18T17:10:17Z")
The whole cannabis thing is really interesting, I find. I usually smoke some every day, depending on what I’m doing. I spend only a couple hundred a year on weed, and I think that’s really a cheap high. When marijuana was legalized here in Oregon, I was surprised at how cheap it was, even for the top-notch sativa that I prefer. I assumed that when it was legalized I would smoke more, but that hasn’t been the case at all. I haven’t made a spread sheet or anything, but there are some days when I don’t even think about it – actually “forget” to get high. That didn’t seem to happen when I had to go get it from the pusher, er… I mean my pal Dick. The thing about weed compared to alcohol is there is no qualitative difference in the drunk you get from different kinds of alcohol. Cannabis is a complex stew of chemicals that have different effects according the the strain and the unique metabolism and emotional state of the user. I know people who smoke marijuana – daily – in amounts that would render me incapacitated. Maybe I am a lightweight, but I really find the high I get from a couple of bongs of high-grade just right. For me. And then I know people who find a couple bongs of high-grade just too much for them. So it’s a very individual thing. I find edibles even more interesting. The high is different, the time lag between ingestion and high is at least an hour, and it’s really easy to overindulge. OK, I gotta get ready for work. What were we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/31 "2017-04-18T17:17:26Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > Now that it’s legal, can you grow an outdoor garden in your backyard that produces enough that it’s basically free? As I understand it, the indoor grow lamps, which are expensive to buy and run, are needed to maximize production in secret. Now that you don’t have to worry about that, couldn’t you till up a your whole backyard and just sorta sprinkle the seeds around? Maybe throw some fertilizer on there once when you start and then just let it all grow naturally? > > Basically, make up for your laziness with volume. If a packet of seeds costs you $100, you’d be able to get a year or 2 of smoking weed every day for a modest upfront cost. Yeah, save your money and just grow it yourself. You only need a couple plants. Not legal to grow in all states where it is legal to buy it, and in areas where it is legal to grow you need to keep it out of public view. Fortunately I live on a private road with 2 neighbors that are not near, so I just planted 2 plants in my vegetable garden. I am allowed 4 plants in Oregon but wanted to start out conservative. From those 2 plants of Pineapple Fields strain I threw all of the large leaves right on the compost pile, harvested 4 one gallon zip lock bags of top and middle leaf. Gave one of those away to someone who wanted to make ‘butter.’ The rest of the leaf will probably go to compost too. And I _still_ have 12 one pint mason jars full of buds. No way that will all get smoked. Gardening is a hobby of mine and I am good at it. This year’s seeds for Tailspin variety are ready. Very interesting plants to grow. Very little cost for much, much more than I can personally use. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/32 "2017-04-18T17:19:16Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > What were we talking about? Ummm, pass to your left. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/33 "2017-04-18T18:10:10Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Fortunately I live on a private road with 2 neighbors that are not near, so I just planted 2 plants in my vegetable garden. I am allowed 4 plants in Oregon but wanted to start out conservative. > > From those 2 plants of Pineapple Fields strain I threw all of the large leaves right on the compost pile, harvested 4 one gallon zip lock bags of top and middle leaf. Gave one of those away to someone who wanted to make ‘butter.’ The rest of the leaf will probably go to compost too. > > And I _still_ have 12 one pint mason jars full of buds. No way that will all get smoked. It is a literal “weed”, right? A plant that is fairly robust and willing to grow in lots of conditions. It seems like the problem here is the arbitrary government limitation of “you cannot have more than X plants” is the only reason why the hydro grow room thing is even still a thing where it’s legal. That, and perhaps the quality is higher if you grow it under controlled conditions. Still, the long term prediction is that once it’s legal at the Federal level and there are no longer all these expenses and fees the dispensaries have to pay, it shouldn’t cost more on the free market than a quality tea product. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/34 "2017-04-21T15:38:17Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I cannot cross my eyes far enough for each eye to see the other pupil. You’re not smoking enough. > [@](#): > > **Pot is a legal drug, opinions** It’s about damn time. Just make the stuff legal at the federal level. Yes, some people will abuse it - BFD. Smoking yourself sober strikes me like drinking to kill a hangover. Pot’s not good for you, but it isn’t as bad as alcohol, so maybe it isn’t as bad, but it’s not a good sign. I’ve not partaken of the Dread Killer Weed for thirty years or more, but I probably would if it was legal. Easier on my liver than booze, I suppose. It’s pretty much worthless as medicine, it won’t save the economy or generate enough revenue to balance the budget, and smoke is bad for your lungs, but if people want to get toasted on something relatively harmless, they’re not hurting anyone else so it’s none of the government’s business. My $.02 worth, and cheap at half the price. Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [April 21, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/35 "2017-04-21T16:05:52Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > It’s pretty much worthless as medicine, > > Regards, > Shodan A friend’s dad was miserable during chemo, and just wanted to die. His _doctor_ told my friend that although he couldn’t prescribe it, marijuana might help. I set the guy up with some weed and a pipe. It made his last six months on earth more pleasant. ETA: when his first half ounce was gone, he wanted more. He asked me if he was “addicted”. I pointed out that he had used less than I had during the previous month, and I was just using it recreationally. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/36 "2017-04-21T16:16:33Z")
Anecdotes != data, but I don’t think it should matter. People should be able to use the stuff whether they got cancer or not. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/37 "2017-04-21T17:12:49Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A friend’s dad was miserable during chemo, and just wanted to die. His _doctor_ told my friend that although he couldn’t prescribe it, marijuana might help. > > I set the guy up with some weed and a pipe. It made his last six months on earth more pleasant. > > ETA: when his first half ounce was gone, he wanted more. He asked me if he was “addicted”. I pointed out that he had used less than I had during the previous month, and I was just using it recreationally. My dad died in 1976 of lung cancer, slowly, painfully, over the course of a year. And pot was the only thing that counteracted the nausea of chemo. My older brother supplied him, and at one point there was none to be had, anywhere at any price. My dad had been a cop, and when my brother told him, my dad made a phone call, and 30 minutes later a police car showed up with an evidence bag of pot, and a message to just call when he needed more. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/38 "2017-04-21T17:17:50Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > My dad died in 1976 of lung cancer, slowly, painfully, over the course of a year. And pot was the only thing that counteracted the nausea of chemo. My older brother supplied him, and at one point there was none to be had, anywhere at any price. > > My dad had been a cop, and when my brother told him, my dad made a phone call, and 30 minutes later a police car showed up with an evidence bag of pot, and a message to just call when he needed more. Your dad sounds like he was a good guy, and was lucky to have good kids. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/39 "2017-04-21T19:04:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Your dad sounds like he was a good guy, and was lucky to have good kids. And some good friends on the Force. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699/40 "2017-04-21T19:15:27Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > And some good friends on the Force. The fucked up thing is, those same cops were probably at DARE meetings later in the 1980s, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-is-a-legal-drug-opinions/784699.md?page=1)