Should I Start Smoking Pot?
Hi, Julius.
I have a small problem (or a big one, depending on how you see it.). I love being around groups of people who smoke weed, and I love the environment it creates, and it's honestly the most fun I've ever had. Just being in a group in the woods by the river, and hours fly by. The problem, then, you ask? I myself have never smoked or ingested Marijuana in any way. I have the opportunity, and I want to, but I hesitate and then deny that I want it. Can you possibly help me overcome this fear? I just cannot seem to do what I want to do, even though it's one of the things I love being around or involved in most of all!
This is probably not the response that you were imagining getting from a pro-marijuana site, but here goes:
No. I'm not going to talk you into smoking. I can certainly tell you all the reasons that I (and many others) think cannabis can be a safe, effective drug. I could tell you the statistics that would give you an impression of the drug's safety. But I'm not going to do that -- not in my response to you.
It's not that I don't think that people should learn about marijuana, I certainly do, but more importantly than that I want people to make the choice about what drugs they choose to do on their own. I want people (yourself included) to look at the evidence, assess the risks, analyze the benefits, and make the decision for themselves.
So no, unfortunately, I won't be able to help you overcome this fear -- at least not directly. My only advice is this: read up on the drug. Learn about how cannabis works, paying particular attention to the active cannabinoids. Look for authoritative information (the sort found in medical journals, not in newspapers) on the safety and efficacy of the active compounds. Weigh the risks and benefits on your own and make the choice for yourself.
I'll end this post with a quote from our Site Policies page:
- The Straight Toke does not endorse the use of marijuana in jurisdictions where its possession, manufacture, sale, or consumption is illegal.
- The Straight Toke does not endorse the violation of any laws.
- The Straight Toke does endorse the use of legal, nonviolent means in an attempt to change drug policy.
Your Brother in Peace,
Julius
If you liked that post, then try these...
The Stoner's Toolkit on November 13th, 2007
The Rules of Drug Use on January 21st, 2008
Quick Tip: Pot Snacks on March 27th, 2008
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November 5th, 2008 at 1:30 am
Smoking weed is a lot like eating at Burger King. If you eat at Burger King seven days a week then it is going to mess up your life. You will not be happy and you will feel like you can't live without it. If you eat at Burger King once in awhile with friends and you eat there when you want then it is just part of your life and not your life. Smoking Cannabis is no different then eating too many burgers or drinking too much coffee. Well you can overdose on Coffee the same can't be said about Cannabis.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:34 am
"Well you can overdose on Coffee the same can't be said about Cannabis."
That's not quite true. Like coffee, it is indeed possible to consume enough that it is lethal. Much like coffee, however, it is extremely difficult to do this, and trying to do so would be so unpleasant that you'd really have to to try quite hard in order to do so.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
You should start smoking weed! Its better than drinking! Just dont get caught by the cops.. Pretty soon I think Weed will be legal
They are already dicriminalised it in MA.
If I were you I would start smoking weed!