"What does smoking weed every day for decades do to your mind?"
I spoke to a dude who use to be my best friend in the world from college and after and dude sounded just off. Just spent alot of time talking about strange shit and shit from the past that just sounded a bit crazy to me.
Now I can remember him as being a normal level headed dude but I would say the main thing that always stood out about my man is that he smoked every day. Like wake and bake.
When I was young I didn't think about it alot because I was as big drinker (though never a daily drinker) and we all had our own poison of choice.
I talk to dude now and he just sounds stunted in his growth and development and I wonder the role weed has to do with it (not even thinking it's causation but more co-relation).
Anyway I wonder if folks think there is any significance to someone having the desire to smoke every day?
Would the smokers even deny that doing that every day for decades would alter you.
I know there are smokers here so I am really not trying to get at or judge but I am really curious about the mindset around it.
I think the good thing is that as a nation we are past the "should weed be criminalized" phase of the discussion and on to the next more nuanced discussion of the impact of it on people.
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
Movies I need y'all bastids to see so we can discuss:
1. "I'm curious as to what makes one a "burn out"" In response to Reply # 0
I wonder if it's being an early teen stoner or (when your brain is still developing) or what the fuck.
I smoke. I know lots of people that do. I used to smoke with PhD'd college professors on the regular. So I know that smoking doesn't make you dumb or anything like that. But the burnouts make me question that sometimes.
--
"You can't beat white people. You can only knock them out."
18. "yeah i know two rich ass criminal defense attorneys" In response to Reply # 16
the one guy stopped smoking now but at his peak he smoked every day. dude still polishes off bottles of wine like he was andre the giant; he's an old head now. the other dude is kind of an upstart, just went private and dude is pulling almost 50K a month in his own practice. he's burned every day since he was about 14 and still does. IMO as long as you can stay focused of when to tune in and when to tune out, you're 100% fine.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
71. "Because he gave the irs all his money in the 90s " In response to Reply # 69
And still stays having to pay lawyers to get him out of trouble. Lol. He smoked himself stupid a long time ago and has had emphesyma since the 80s when his lungs started collapsing. He's got millions so he can afford drs to keep him alive and handlers to make sure he gets from point a to b. Most ppl would be dead. Not working in their 80s in his physical or mental condition.
8. "I have to ask if you've EVER seen him function for a prolonged period" In response to Reply # 0
without weed. I guess some people just enjoy weed enough to smoke everyday. But some people use it to medicate, or to cover up other issues they are dealing with. So whatever he's dealing with may have already been there, but the weed only served as a short term solution. I used to drink heavily in social situations when I was younger, but I realized it stemmed from having a social anxiety issue, so I cut back dramatically.
9. "Naw dude came to campus complete straight edge. No drinking, smoking." In response to Reply # 8
He picked up drinking and smoking like many of us did in college. We were all kind of all on the same level back then. It's just a thing for me to see now because everyone else I know has dramatically cut back from those days.
But I have not known him to not smoke daily for the last decade +.
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
Movies I need y'all bastids to see so we can discuss:
legsdiamond Member since May 05th 2011 79545 posts
Fri Oct-09-15 11:12 AM
10. "if you smoke and chill all day then sure... " In response to Reply # 0
but if you smoke and then do creative shit or do things that stimulate your mind I do,t think it's a problem.
also need to remember some people never move on from college...
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
13. "depends on the person...doesn't have that impact on some folks" In response to Reply # 0
i have friends who never quit and still smoke daily and multiple times a day and they can handle it...they don't sound spaced out. me on the other hand...once i stopped smoking regularly i now get destroyed by smoking. i can't handle that shit anymore.
17. "I hear you 100% though you can be successful and still be a wreck" In response to Reply # 14
Did you ever read "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs? Kind of random but it's an example, ostensibly the guy was doing awesome, inside he was an alcoholic who was basically dying inside.
Not saying that applies to you or most weed-smoking professionals, I am just saying that professional success does not always mean everything is totally fine.
Personally I think weed is a great way to unwind when the day is done or deal with little aches and pains (maybe big ones in some cases). It's mild, it's safe and it's fun. But I do think there are times when maybe I have seen people cross the line with it or become psychologically dependent, too.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
33. "uh huh. sure." In response to Reply # 32 Fri Oct-09-15 02:07 PM by SoWhat
i've already made up my mind too - based on my own experience and those of several ppl i've known over the last couple of decades. i'm convinced that one can smoke weed daily w/o suffering negative consequence. sure, some ppl can't but some can. of course, one is taking a risk by smoking b/c one doesn't know which type of person one is until after having smoked the herb on the regular. it's a crap shoot. some think the benefit they get from smoking is worth the potential risk. others disagree. it's all good either way - unless one suffers negative consequence, i guess. LOL
48. "Help me understand. What's the benefit that outweighs the risk?" In response to Reply # 33
> some think the benefit they get from smoking is worth the potential >risk. others disagree. it's all good either way - unless one >suffers negative consequence, i guess. LOL
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
Movies I need y'all bastids to see so we can discuss:
74. "That's not hard to believe at all." In response to Reply # 68
I mean, to say "every day" literally every day without fail, no. I am sure there was some break or a time when he was traveling and couldn't find any or something. But if you smoke 300+ days out of the year for 20 years, sure, I believe that. I know a lot of people who have done it for 10-15, and that's mainly because I am not quite old enough for my peers to have been smoking weed 20 years. And I do know some old heads that are way past the 20-year mark.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
15. "It depends on what else you're doing and your brain chemistry IMO" In response to Reply # 0
I know people who have smoked their whole lives that are very well-adjusted, with it and accomplished. I know others who in a shorter time frame got pretty weird. Most people are somewhere in between, like they are doing just fine but they could probably do better without the herb. Of course that is always a tradeoff because it has other benefits for some people.
I do think it increases slightly your risks of isolation, anxiety and depression, but perversely it also treats very effectively those conditions, especially if they are not severe.
Overall I would say it's definitely the mildest effect and often there is little effect at all. Like people I know who have done blown or meth or heroin or even E regularly for any length of time, that shit changed them in a way that was marked and, in some cases, permanent. The same goes for big drinkers, which isn't to say there are not functional users of all those drugs, too.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
19. "Well this is what I am thinking. " In response to Reply # 15
>I do think it increases slightly your risks of isolation, >anxiety and depression, but perversely it also treats very >effectively those conditions, especially if they are not >severe.
What I am thinking about is that my dude was self-medicating for isolation, anxiety and depression, and the herb over time has excerbated those very same issues.
>Overall I would say it's definitely the mildest effect and >often there is little effect at all. Like people I know who >have done blown or meth or heroin or even E regularly for any >length of time, that shit changed them in a way that was >marked and, in some cases, permanent. The same goes for big >drinkers, which isn't to say there are not functional users of >all those drugs, too.
I've done a couple of things and I know that they have changed me (even doing shrooms once), but the odd thing is that it was in a positive way.
********** "Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson
Movies I need y'all bastids to see so we can discuss:
35. "yeah i mean weed has a ton of positive effects" In response to Reply # 19
IMO it's good for a variety of ailments but it's like advil, it's not a cure it just alleviates the symptoms. Of course there are some diseases for which it's basically a cure but thank God I don't have any of those yet.
And other drugs, too, I think like you said hallucinogens and empathogens can take you to places in your mind that had previously been inaccessible. But those drugs don't really lend themselves to habitual or constant use.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
What I am thinking about is that my dude was self-medicating for isolation, anxiety and depression, and the herb over time has excerbated those very same issues.
That's how so much addiction works. I spend alot of time with other people in recovery and it's such a common thing. 'I was drinking to alleviate my social anxiety'. But then get 90 days clean and voila....the social anxiety is actually much better than while the person was drinking. So they were delusional in thinking that it was helping.
21. "it's not for everybody" In response to Reply # 0
i know smokers that smoke everyday but don't smoke a lot...
basically buzz maintainers
then i know complete burnouts...who not only smoke daily but smoke themselves stupid daily...
i know plenty of the former that function at a high level and most of the ones i know that aren't at a high level seem to be self-medicating with varying levels of success. The latter seem to be way less likely to be high-functioning...
im pretty sure you can smoke yourself retarded but i think it's more an issue of moderation lol
shit, im pretty sure i smoked myself retarded for a few weeks...cant imagine being like that for years
Let me sport my Air Hyperbole 2010s in peace. (c) ansomble
22. "Weed can be an effective study aid" In response to Reply # 0
Friend of mine was roommates with two neurology phds Dudes would smoke then stay up all night programming data sets in R/Julia I know a ton of engineers and those types who are weed heads as well I'd have some concern that weed may have exacerbated some latent mental illness issues your friend may have had
>Dudes would smoke then stay up all night programming data sets >in R/Julia >I know a ton of engineers and those types who are weed heads >as well
I think getting high and coding stuff go together cause coding is the type of thing you gotta zone-in and focus completely to do really well. And nothin helps me focus better than some of that good.
28. "I know a few high functioning stoners. I'm not one of them" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Oct-09-15 01:30 PM by Mynoriti
Hasn't seemed to hinder their success. It's just like oxygen. For me though, I was never the type that smoked, and then went to the gym, or to work. If i smoked, i wanted to be in front of the tv, or at the movies, or camping, or at a concert. anything leisurely, but nothing that requires me to be at my best. I stopped smoking regularly at least 10 years ago. It just killed my ambition.
30. "back when i used to" In response to Reply # 28
my rule was i only smoked after i'd finished all of my necessary activity for the day. so like when i was in school (college and law school, both) i only smoked after class and after i'd finished studying. when i was working i only smoked after work. it was purely a leisure time activity. it didn't impact me (much) when i wasn't smoking it. i did quit smoking regularly for about a year and i didn't notice any change in my activity level or in my amount of 'ambition'. based on that i went back to smoking it when i wanted.
but it affects everyone differently. i am fortunate (i guess) that it doesn't have any serious impact on me - when i look back i can't see any negative impact other than $ spent and exposure to potential criminal liability. of course it had some negative impact on my lungs and my gums, teeth, throat...etc. it's smoke, after all.
31. "Everyday for a lot of people would be a problem. Some can" In response to Reply # 0
but if you're not built for that life, it could easily make you into a delusional burnout. It's one of those things (same as alcohol or any other drug, i guess), that it really depends on the person, their mental health, and brain chemistry. The reefers don't affect everyone the same way.
In a generation of swine, the one-eyed pig is king. -Hunter S. Thompson
36. "depends on the person and the type of weed" In response to Reply # 0
if i could, i WOULD smoke everyday...like high 50% of the time. i happen to be extraordinarily productive when i smoke. like weed is a performance enhancer for me. there are some types of weed that put me in a stupor, but they are few and far between.
my ex boo was an MD that smoked all the time, except at work. dude would wake up and smoke, talk to his boss high and be super on point. it was amazing to watch.
43. "indica versus sativa and when to use them" In response to Reply # 36
during the day straight sativa and then gradually ease toward the heavier stuff. that is the lick. if i can only have one strain at a time (*cries*) then i'd go for a balanced hybrid, like 60 indica/40 sativa.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
GriftyMcgrift Member since May 22nd 2002 20414 posts
Fri Oct-09-15 10:56 PM
47. "taking intoxicants every day effects the brain" In response to Reply # 46 Fri Oct-09-15 10:56 PM by GriftyMcgrift
probably negatively in some ways but maybe there's some benefits
but see there's this whole scheduling hurdle getting in the way of legitimate research so i guess we'll never know will we? we'll be relegated to anecdotes on message boards.
52. "why ask when there is reliable research?" In response to Reply # 49
Weed doesn't have a negative effect on brain development, in fact it is pretty healthy for your brain cells. It is not like alcohol. The drawbacks are more social or more toward the exacerbation of things like anxiety and depression later in life if you already had a tendency toward them. The main thing is that your brain gets used to the rush of cannabanoids and becomes reliant on the drug to produce them. In this sense I guess there is a minor chemical dependency but nothing like we see with harder drugs (meth, opiates, booze, etc).
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
64. "I'm talking about adults though" In response to Reply # 60
I think your brain in its formative stages probably doesn't need LSD or booze or even weed. And its formative stages extend past when most people start using, sure. I still think as long as you're not using very heavily at a young age, you won't see a huge impact.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
70. "For adults it shrinks the brain, lowers iq, and increases risk of psycho..." In response to Reply # 64
I mean if you're a lawyer you can prob spare those 5-10 iq points. Average person not so much. I'm sure you've seen the psychosis, ppl isolating themselves and living in their own little world, anxious and delusional.
75. "it does not shrink brains, lower IQ. That is questionable, outdated info" In response to Reply # 70 Sat Oct-10-15 08:53 PM by ConcreteCharlie
it does increase risk for various disorders later in life, especially for those with a predisposition to them already.
there has been some demonstration of brain volume decreasing but more recently two things have been shown, first that when volume decreases, connectivity often increases to compensate, and second that the volume decrease is due more to genetics than marijuana use. these are all studies that come out in the past 18 months.
the IQ-lowering thing mostly came from a Duke publication that all but retracted its findings six months later, and was also discredited by subsequent studies.
the major risks are for people with existing issues. at the age when most people start smoking marijuana, especially for men, schizophrenia and other serious disorders begin to manifest (basically late teens to mid 20s). marijuana can seriously exacerbate those conditions. beyond that, i mean sure moderation is always a good approach to anything, but i hardly see marijuana as a guarantee of all these problems in later life.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
63. "i'll admit to being a pothead" In response to Reply # 0
everyone will come thru with the "i smoke weed everyday and make 6 figures and separated conjoined twins!" so i guess i gotta balance things out
i smoke damn near err day from 18-25 and i eventually got burnt out and lagged behind in school and general accomplishment.
was def self medicating, and tried to do the wake and bake thing but in retrospect i couldn't handle it.
SoWhat's way of toking is the best way. Only on weekends or after the day's work has been done. Being perma stoned isn't the move, we not all built like Wiz or your stoner PHD friend.
------------------------------- If life is stupendous one cannot also demand that it should be easy. - Robert Musil
67. "yeah it's best as an end-of-day release. being high all the time ..." In response to Reply # 63
takes the fun out of it, honestly, everything becomes kind of a gray area of being tuned in or tuned out and apart from the first puff of the day you never *really* get stoned anymore.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
81. "It's not that hard, I know plenty of people who do it" In response to Reply # 79
In fact it's kind of how I choose who to chill with, I'm too old to roll with these guys who just smoke all day. If they are kids, like the dudes I hoop with, whatever, I can't blame them. I was the same way at like 20. But old heads that are still staying high all the time? That's weird to me.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
78. "I started smoking around 12." In response to Reply # 0 Sun Oct-11-15 07:34 AM by denny
By the time I was 15 it was everyday until I was around 30. Not in large amounts and not in the morning time though. After 30 it became a couple times a week.
It definitely effected me negatively when I smoked everyday. I was always tired and lethargic because of it.
My imo.....For around 5 percent of the population, weed exacerbates mental health issues like bi-polar, depression, anxiety and identity disorders (schizophrenia and the like). For everyone else.....the worst drawback it has is stopping you from dreaming. Dreaming is important for the brain. That's what causes the subtle haze that an everyday smoker experiences. They usually don't recognize or acknowledge it until after they quit and the haze is lifted. Not the end of the world but certainly not good for you.
The worst part of withdrawals are the nightmares. I got headaches for the first couple weeks too. But after I identified the nightmares as withdrawal symptoms I started taking it more seriously. It's not as harmless as a lot of weed advocates make it out to be. On the other hand...I'm in total agreement that it should be used for anything it's found effective for. I have a friend with MS who says it's the most important medicine for him. I've heard that Aids patients get relief from the side-effects of the meds they have to take. There's no doubt that it can play a role with certain illnesses and conditions.
82. "The dreaming thing is real, extra real lol" In response to Reply # 78 Sun Oct-11-15 09:23 PM by ConcreteCharlie
I remember roughly one dream a week. Not having dreams also means not getting deep sleep, although for me that is offset by being able to sleep through the night when I usually cannot. Sometimes I will skip a day or two for whatever reason, maybe I am on the road or I am so tired from work or basketball that I just clunk out on my own. I have vivid dreams on those nights usually, though I have never had nightmares like you described.
The whole "subtle haze" thing can happen but for me personally I don't feel it. Maybe from wax if it was a bunch of dabs but my advice is to take it nice and easy with that stuff. That idea is that a little dab will do ya, right? Overall I feel like I can stay pretty sharp as long as everything is in moderation.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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