Pot and Society - is it a good mix??

I guess this has been spurred on by the report on Marijuana by Sixty Minutes. I'm looking for people's experiences with pot and everday functionality - is it possible to be a regular pot smoker and carry out day to day activities such a work etc etc.
Does pot suppress one's motivation so much that holding down a job or going to school are not achievable. Does regular pot smoking hinder one's thought and memory process? I have a couple of friends that smoke on a regular basis, actually there isn't a day that they don't smoke - they seem to fucntion fine, holding down jobs and full of life - although I have noticed in one that memory is becoming abit of an issue. The thing that scares me is that they claim they need to smoke to feel normal, life is too much of a strain straight??
Your thoughts and experiences smokers?!
p.s. - Don't move this to drug discussion Tars, it's a drug question in a social context! thanks
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i don't think you will find the answer you are looking for Haste.
When you are a regular smoker, you justify ALL your actions "I SWEAR it doesn't have any adverse affects on my life"
I can only really see negative effects with prolonged pot use. Paranoia, laziness, unmotivated and grumpy (mona's gonna KILL me )
I have so many friends who smoke pot, and are just too fucked up to notice. Its such a counter-productive drug (yes, all drugs are counter-productive, but pot takes the cake I think)
I just think its a drug that is VERY addictive, and largely unbenificial.
That doesnt go to say I dont like the occasional joint!
But regular pot use is not a great thing, in my eyes anyway
*horsey ducks head in order to avoid the flame missiles coming from the shotty of bong heads*

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-=Tribal council has spoken=-

*Sweet leaf throws all the paraphenalia he can find at horsey*
Firstly let me say, hydro sux, natural pot is the way to go.No comparison.Hydro is what turns smokers into dumb-arse lumps of THC deposits.Natural is just nicer
Hmmm, horse , to say that it's very addictive and largely unbeneficial seems very close-minded .
The chilled relaxation of pot is the best thing about it for me . Yes it does make you lazy if you smoke everyday and you've got nothing better to do(or so it seems at the time ),BUT,(and its a big but) if say, pot was fully legalised, and we had ppl able to smoke on the street just like a ciggy, with people walking around smiling at each other and being nicer ( you may dispute that, but to me personally i feel like i'm nicer after smoking pot- not necessarily while i'm stoned, but the next day for example) i reckon oit would be a good mix with society.
To answer haste's q's about regular usage, well, define regular. If it's everyday, well yeah that is too much; if u need a j to get thru the day, maybe it's time to look at yourself and think about where your life is going. But if you smoke when you feel like it( as i do ) ,say, twice a week, ie not to a schedule, then i believe that there's nothing wrong with that. I'm able to have a smoke the night before i go to work , and i function fine.
Most people i know are also able to do this, but , yes there are ppl who smolke 10 cones of chronic gear and just sit in oblivion. Meh*shrugz* to each there own...
So yeah, in my opinion and experience, if you smoke everyday, you DO start to forget things(although NOWHERE near as badly as taking a pill each week) and your head does get a bit cloudy(maybe cos it's full of smoke ), but a few times a week seems to represent no probs at all...
Now, what to do when i don't wanna go out on a monday afternoon? hmmm...
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fly high , but watch your head

It can two ways like evry other drug. I have some friends who are completely fucked after years of over use (1-2 grams every day). I've smoked a couple cones or a joint most days for the last eight. I have a very successful career and good relationships with both friends and family. The key is not smoking all bloody day. I never smoke before work or during for that matter and I'm unlikely to smoke after about 9:30 at night so that I can get some proper sleep. I also have a lot of other friends who are in a similar boat. My point is that if you abuse it your fucked, if you you keep a sense of control then it can be quite a good stress relief and its better than going home and getting drunk everynight.
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Vote for the Party, Party, Party at the next election

sweat leaf: I'm talking about the "have a cone when u wake up routine"
But I also think pot should be saved for the weekends. But i'm not anybodies mum, each to their own. I couldnt manage when i was doing it all the time

Nothin' wrong with a cone in the morning
It's only if you Need one(or 14) that's bad...
so,mm,i guess i'm agreeing on that?

This one probably comes down to priorities. Sure, you can allow yourself to be demotivated while stoned, but if there's something that HAS to be done (like work, deadlines to meet etc.) then one can choose to either do the job and then get stoned, or make a mission of it and do it stoned. It's a lot easier to zone out though and waste time on less important things when totally wasted though. There's a difference too between being totally under a cloud of smoke, and mildly buzzed... which I think depends on the person, and their motivation...
I think that plenty of people allow themselves to postpone or ignore important issues when they're stoned, it depends on their priorities and their discipline to carry on with their day... there are also other people that get used to functioning at a normal level, when stoned.
BigTrancer
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Load universe into cannon. Aim at brain. Shoot.

I had a boring job I hated, so I would smoke in the morning before I went, did the job fine... then I got a more complex job that I kinda enjoyed doing and I never considered smoking before going there (even though I have been a daily smoker for many years)...
If you smoke and can't function it's a problem for you, if you function normally, but smoke to relax at the end of the day, I don't see a problem with that...
I had a friend who smoked heaps, and owned his own business from home... he would choose to get up at 6am every morning to do his work... doesn't sound lazy to me...
(even nonsmokers wouldn't work as hard as he did!) So it comes down to the individuals personality anyway... some people want an excuse to forget their responsibilities... the dope didn't "make" them forget to do something, they "chose" to allow themselves to forget...
I found the absolute best time to have a cone is after a hard days work!!!

"I only smoke at night, after im done with all my business" - Samuel L Jackson, Jackie Brown.
As much as i love pulling a few cones to bring my conscious day to a close, unfortunately I have to say tht smoking as part of your daily routine is not a very beneficial additive to ones health, both long term and short term. To be honest I dont know much about the long term effects of regular use, aside from the fact that ive witnessed alot of my high skool friends waste their lives by taking part in high potency regular use, but from my experience i can say that yes it does make you lazy, unmotivated to do most things (aside from getting more grams), and puts your health at risk.
However, i do believe that it does enhance my social adaptability in that i find it alot easier to talk to ppl, and im not talking about whilst being in state of high, in normal situations. i can think more freely for myself and can express myself alot better, without the worry of untowards reactions from others....i in other words, smoking alot give you a 'i dont care' mentality. So its bad in the majority of cases and can be good in some sircumstances, so all in all id have top say that smoking on a regular basis is NOT recommended. So now cos ive got a new job and have to wake up early in the morning, ive decided to make a conscious effort to cut down on my smoking so that i can function on a higher level.

Guys, I hope this will change your views on smoking dope.
On Friday afternoon my cousin shot his brother in the head then turned the gun on himself. If you think dope can't fuck you up, you're completely wrong. My hands are shaking writing this. My cousin smoked pot for 10 years.... and for the past 3 years he hasn't gone a day without it. It affected his menatality in a huge way. This guy was no dumb idiot either. He had a brain and a half. I noticed lately that when we were having a conversation he'd be completely tuned out-- always forgot things. He used to talk about how he didn't know who he was-- he said his head was so clouded-- that he couldn't find himself at all. A few months ago he started to say psychotic things-- I don't know much about it but people reckon he turned schizophrenic from it. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. I reckon the real Michael died when he got addicted to smoking dope.... cos he turned into a completely different person. I mean, he was two years older than me, we fucken grew up together, yet this was a guy I didn't know at all. I know this may be a pretty extreme case, but please don't fuck yourselves up or let it get to the point where it takes over your lives. I pop, and I used to smoke occasionally, but I urge you, PLEASE look after yourselves and your friends, be smart about taking drugs. I don't want to sound like I'm preaching, cos I'm not, but you cannot even begin to imagine how much pain my whole family is going through. We're all young, and we have our whole lives ahead of us. Have fun, but please just know when to stop.
XOXOXOXO

tikabassa - thank you so much for sharing this - I know how hard it must be for you and your courage has not gone unoticed - thank you
Also thank you for driving a point home - that dope's greatest health risk to people is the tag "soft drug". It is not without risk or danger.
Thank you
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CEO of B.O.A.R
Burnt Out Association of Ravers
....SLIDE BENEATH THE CITY......feel free to visit
Ravers click here for free porn

Tikabassa,
I think I speak for all bluelighters when I say that we feel for you and are deeply sorry to hear about your cousins.
I have to agree. Marijuana, like every drug, can have a very serious effect on people's lives. I grew up in a small, isolated suburb which was saturated with pot use. I smoked heavily throughout year nine and ten and can honestly say that it didn't affect me adversely. My stepbrother and one of my best friends were heavily affected though and I genuinely believe that pot ruined their lives. My friend is near on Psychotic and my stepbrother lacks any motivation whatsoever (he as not gone to school or worked since he was 13, he is now 18). I know I sound very judgemental in saying this but it is the truth.
My friend and I haven't talked in months and we were practically inseparable for years. My stepbrother has caused an unimaginable amount of pain to friends and family alike through selfishness and dishonesty.
I still smoke pot once every few weeks when I go out as well as taking other drugs. I still strongly support the legalisation of drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy as I believe there are worse problems in society that the legal system should be adressing, but I urge anyone who uses any drug heavily to seriously look at the way it affects you and the people close to you. The majority of people that take drugs can control themselves but it is the minority that can't that cause problems. If this is you, or someone you know I urge you to adress the problem.

Tikabassa,
I think I speak for all bluelighters when I say that we feel for you and are deeply sorry to hear about your cousins.
I have to agree. Marijuana, like every drug, can have a very serious effect on people's lives. I grew up in a small, isolated suburb which was saturated with pot use. I smoked heavily throughout year nine and ten and can honestly say that it didn't affect me adversely. My stepbrother and one of my best friends were heavily affected though and I genuinely believe that pot ruined their lives. My friend is near on Psychotic and my stepbrother lacks any motivation whatsoever (he as not gone to school or worked since he was 13, he is now 18). I know I sound very judgemental in saying this but it is the truth.
My friend and I haven't talked in months and we were practically inseparable for years. My stepbrother has caused an unimaginable amount of pain to friends and family alike through selfishness and dishonesty.
I still smoke pot once every few weeks when I go out as well as taking other drugs. I still strongly support the legalisation of drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy as I believe there are worse problems in society that the legal system should be adressing, but I urge anyone who uses any drug heavily to seriously look at the way it affects you and the people close to you. The majority of people that take drugs can control themselves but it is the minority that can't that cause problems. If this is you, or someone you know I urge you to adress the problem.

Tikabassa,
I think I speak for all bluelighters when I say that we feel for you and are deeply sorry to hear about your cousins.
I have to agree. Marijuana, like every drug, can have a very serious effect on people's lives. I grew up in a small, isolated suburb which was saturated with pot use. I smoked heavily throughout year nine and ten and can honestly say that it didn't affect me adversely. My stepbrother and one of my best friends were heavily affected though and I genuinely believe that pot ruined their lives. My friend is near on Psychotic and my stepbrother lacks any motivation whatsoever (he as not gone to school or worked since he was 13, he is now 18). I know I sound very judgemental in saying this but it is the truth.
My friend and I haven't talked in months and we were practically inseparable for years. My stepbrother has caused an unimaginable amount of pain to friends and family alike through selfishness and dishonesty.
I still smoke pot once every few weeks when I go out as well as taking other drugs. I still strongly support the legalisation of drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy as I believe there are worse problems in society that the legal system should be adressing, but I urge anyone who uses any drug heavily to seriously look at the way it affects you and the people close to you. The majority of people that take drugs can control themselves but it is the minority that can't that cause problems. If this is you, or someone you know I urge you to adress the problem.

Seeing as I'm at an internet cafe waiting for a phone call from a friend to tell me where to go to pick me up, I'll post my thoughts (see also : crap).
I smoke a fair bit of pot...a lot more now than I used to...and I have to say (unashamedly) that I enjoy it thoroughly. I've never smoked alone...I always smoke with at least a friend or two so we can always be chatty, do stupid shit and generally go crazy I reckon it's a lot of fun and the music never sounded so good
However. This is not to say that pot is the most wonderful thing ever discovered and that everyone should start smoking cones frequently. Pot is harmful. My chiropractor says he'd rather treat a patient with bones the strength of ginger snaps than a long-term marijuana user because of the effects it has on your bone-structure.
Pot effects different people differently. I've seen people who are nearly always depressed become the happiest people in the world (increasing the risk of addiction and dependance unfortunately) and happy people become really moody and difficult.
Pot is not for everyone. It is my drug of choice (along with BASE!) and the reason for this is because I love the effects of it and it was the reason that I stopped banging my head (now I need chiropractic therapy on my neck) and screaming my lungs out. Pot has done innumerable things for me ever since I was first introduced to it...it prevented my suicide.
Alas, as tikabassa courageously told us, it can make people kill themselves and others. Gotta be careful and in my humble opinion, the only way to ensure that a problem doesn't develop is if you have support. I have support from all my non-pot smoking friends, and I have support from all my pot smoking friends. I don't feel dependant on the drug (most probably a big thanks to the detox week I have each month) and I love life as much when I'm ripped as when I'm straight.
If you have issues off pot, you'll have issues involving it. That is my golden rule of thumb for every drug. Being completely content and happy before taking drugs is (to me) absolutely essential. If I'm feeling sad and depressed, I won't have any drugs at all until I've solved the problem.
Reading back on that it sounds like a load of waffle, laden with completely useless facts and opinions, but I don't care. I'm going to post this anyway
Cheers,
- Vhaerun
p.s. 2 x Technics 1200's for a b'day present! Woo!
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That's death! No need to take a breath...just lie around all day...with not a single bill to pay! Hooray!

Very appropriate signature.
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Bom Shankar!

Vhaerun - thanks for that honest post, it was anything but waffle
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CEO of B.O.A.R
Burnt Out Association of Ravers
....SLIDE BENEATH THE CITY......feel free to visit
Ravers click here for free porn