LibertyLover

I've been smoking almost every day for four years, and am taking a thirty-one day break this month. I've stopped for a week or two several times, but wanted to take a longer break...

As usual, the withdrawl symptoms were: increased sense of boredom. increased desire to smoke.

They went away after two days.

Craving? More like the occasional thought such as "Hmm, that smells good" or "man, I wish I could smoke right now"...that disappears in about two seconds.

I am anticipating smoking again, but I'm already preoccupied with my hard core drug addiction - coffee.

Without it, I can barely move. I am depressed without it. I feel mildly to severely ill in the morning until I drink coffee. I lose my balance without it and stumble around as though I were drunk. I think about coffee all day every day. I recently had to go two days without coffee as I was very ill with a flu like illness. The first day I was so sick I didn't want any drugs of any kind. The second I was almost entirely over the symptoms but decided not to drink coffee in order to take an extended break. All day I thought about coffee far more and more intensely than usual. I would get very agitated and almost break down and have some coffee. I did have tea in the afternoon on both days as if I don't have at least a little caffiene I go through withdrawals - feeling very pukey and I get the shakes real bad. I did notice I slept much better after not drinking coffee.

I must go now, to go to sleep, to wake up and drink more coffee. I didn't even think about smoking once today. No desire in the least bit. But like I said, I must go now, the sooner I fall asleep the sooner I awake to drink more coffee.

Peace.

Socom420Killa

all this serious talk and I think were all forgetting a major reason to Get HIGH!!! It's Fun!!!! Hee Hee <---------Rips Bong

Just1Perception

Found this pretty interesting, it's from a journal called "Progress in Neurobiology" on Stanford Universities website. Written in 1996 by Heller , the Business Wire Professor of Biological Sciences and associate dean of research at Stanford, and Joel Benington, a Stanford research scientist, it presents their hypothesis based on Neurobiology.

The concept sounds quite logical, would like to see some more recent studies on this which include results of what ions are released during THC effected sleep (ie. +ve or -ve) at various stages of the sleep process. Having this compared to a sleep cycle of a person without THC in their system could help us to understand more about the effects of THC on REM sleep and the sleep process in general.

IsisTor

Hello everyone: I'm a 38 y/o from Canada . . the land of medical marijuana. I'm a member of two clubs, and buy some fabulous bud from a MENU (wow!) with classical music in the background. I wish everyone who needs it - - such hassle-free access to this marvellous plant. I began using recreationally about 8 years ago . . .(I am an artist by profession) and loved the inspired creativity I received from MJ . . .the dreams . . .the new ways of thinking . . the relaxation . .. the non-stop giggling . . the list goes on. Then during and a fairly serious illness 4 years ago (from which I have fully recovered, thank God!) I began medicating frequently. I am a great fan of this lovely bud - - and enjoy my time spent with her and with friends . . .

What I had been noticing for the past several years is a general reduction in creative inspiration . . a 'block' if you will . . .I never would lay this trip on the magic bud, because I believe that in this oppressive atmosphere we live in, blame is misplaced on 'evil illegal drugs' far too easily . . .and these substances become the scapegoat for what the REAL problems are. Basically, my use has been nightly - post 10 pm - during the week and about 2 joints a day on weekends. (with friends). During holidays (xmas, summer) my use would moderately increase to about 1 joint a day, beginning sometimes in the afternoon. It has been pretty consistent, with not many 'missed doses'.

Here I should mention that I have been seeing a therapist for about 4 years . . . One of the things that I have mentioned often to him is that I felt I wasn't dreaming quite the way I used to when I was younger. This was very strange to me . . .I just figured that I had been repressing them, or just not focussing on them. In my twenties I used to keep a dream journal and could often remember whole evenings of dreams. They inspired me, and I awoke the majority of mornings alert and refreshed. No problems sleeping, ever. (in fact I usually slept too much!)

2 weeks ago I went to the Caribbean for a week. No pot. (I vacuumed out my bags and pockets!). I dreamed all week long. It was like the curtain opened again and I could see the players doing their thing. So bizarre. I did not leap to any conclusions that this had anything to do with cannabis. Upon returning home, a friend mentioned off the cuff how a friend of his who is a frequent smoker mentioned that cannabis can suppress your dreams. Bingo.

I no longer smoke during the week (right before bed as I used to) . . . .and my dreams have continued. I feel like I'm getting something back.

Don't get me wrong . . . I still think that good ol' MJ is a fabulous, beneficial plant that should be legal, studied, praised and appreciated . . . but in the way I was using her, she was harming my sleep and stealing my dreams.

I share my story so that others may examine their own experience and arrive at their own conclusions.


Enjoy this fabulous plant in a way that makes your life more beautiful, more joyful, and maximizes your happiness!
Peace.

disheartenedwamerica

Ok, so as an "addicition professional", fanatic says that 'average users' are of low socio-economic class. Perhaps he got this from some other field of psychology, in which, it was claimed, that blacks and inner cities were less intellegent, and most of the time scored far lower on IQ tests then affluent families and other white, suburban areas. It is "science" like this that makes me frustrated and upset and why many people distrust the "findings" of such scientists. I know you like to appeal to authority when you claim your definition of "addiction" is the same as a large number of organizations. Congratutlation, some scientists masquerading as experts, have for the time being, come up with a definition that you most likely learned in school, thus why they would match. I would caution you as a scientist to avoid creating a self-fulfilling prophecy in these people you "claim" to "help". I don't know much about you, and do not wish to make a judgement or your character, but I would like to know, as I have seen a few people ask, but you must have skimmed by the question; Do the people you "help", the addicts of cannabis, come to you by choice, by doctor recommendation, or by the court system through alternative means of prosecution. Judging by most information about marijuana treatment I would assume the last one. According to the government, which I'll give you credit for not citing, aside from the blantly racist study cited above, (not to mention citing governmental studies on marijuana are an essential death sentance to a psychologist, doctor, or any other professional since most if not all of these strawmen studies or rediculously exaggerated claims have been proven false, or based off of completely unsound scientific practices), marijuana is highly addictive. In that case I better stop eating steak. I love steak way more then marijuana, and would venture to guess I spent more money on that than pot, and I've had my share of arguments of food choices, so by your, the DSM IV, and the Federal gov't, I am abusing steak. By the same definition I have also abused and am dependant on coffee, food in general, and the internet. But those aren't crimes so I guess they are ok. Food for thought. In addition, as you are an addiction specialist I find it odd that in all of your posts trying to defend yourself on your stance of cannabis, you rarely if at all mentioned alcohol, a FAR more addictive and dangerous drug. I was just curious why.

My topic I would like to cover infuriates me. I again refer to your quote about the average marijuana user being of lower socioeconomic status and having prior arrests. Yes you could be prejudiced and assume that these inner city people are stupid, drug addicted criminals. Now lets look at the definition of the word crime:

noun an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited

The question I pose to you then is this, who has the right to decide what is against morals. You say you are 24 which is good you still have your whole life ahead of you to learn, much like myself. But be cautious of your direct belief that because a "study says so" it must be true. Then again I'd like to remind everyone of my favorite science-debunked story: The world is flat. We humans used to take this as a fact. Clearly not, but anyone who argued against it much like heliocentrism were deemed as insane, or criminal and persecuted. This is much like a recreational drug user today. As for the crime element, all a crime really is a socially defined unacceptable behavior. It says nothing about the persons character, their environment, not to mention the thousands of parameters that effect daily human life. So of course, it is easy to claim that these lower socio-economic, 'criminals' are too stupid for their own good, but it takes a real scientist to find out the cause, not just the action.

Being a scientist/psychologist, I'm sure you have realized now that this world is not black and white, and that there are shades of gray. Not everything is good or bad, not everyone is smart or dumb, tolerant or ignorant. I would ask you to take better judgement when making such a clearly loaded prejudiced statement. For the record I enjoy cannabis daily, maintain a 3.9 GPA in college, and working full-time to pay for it, have payed internship offers from well known public investment firms, and a job offer contigent on graduation for another. I am 19 and a white male. Do I sound like your definition of a normal user. Or am I just an outlyers, who falls outside the typical range.

Frankly I find most of your conclusions as well as the research you cite flawed, and heavily biased at best. Sure you can counter and tell me I am a drug addicted criminal who doesn't know what he is doing to himself. Quite to the contrary though sir, I know full-well what I am doing, and take great pride in the fact that I am not an ignorant, prejudiced person, who tries to use a field of science to criticize and demonize a normal responsible adult. This is life, not a black and white childhood story. Cannabis is not a demon, nor an angel. It has positive as well as negative properties. It is only now under "TRUE" science that the positives have been allowed to be looked into. As said before, cannabis is illegal, but if it offers cures and other soothing properties, why should such a benificial substance be banned. Yes I suppose you "addiction specialists" who focus on marijuana, DAWN, NIDA, ONDCP, and that fool, John Walters could be out of a job. In addition pharmacuetacals may no longer be able to compete with a low cost plant that could be easily grown and solve multiple problems without a rediculously expensive, toxic pill. Perhaps marijuana is a crime not because of the health aspect, but because of the financial ones placed on the government by lobbyists who are payed by your field of science. (Feel free to show me any study that proves thats not true; but don't give me the rhetoric drug-warrior speech about protecting our kids, or protecting me from myself. Frankly I like the idea of liberty and living for myself. Maybe thats just me though)

O High O

I'm on a break from weed.. I haven't smoked for about two weeks. I have had a dream every night since I started my break.. but when I smoke before bed, I NEVER dream. At least, I don't remember then if I do dream. Anyone else?

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ADIDAS

Didnt read any of this, just wanna note that I never have dreams when I go to bed stoned (which is every night). Well, I shouldnt say I dont have them, I believe that is inevitable, but I do not recall them when I wake up. As soon as Im off the dope for a night, shits crazy in my dreams.

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All Day I Dream About Smoking

O High O

That answers my question. I'm the same way.. Crazy ass dreams I could do without.

ADIDAS

Accidentally answered your question there hahaha. Yea, you arent alone, I hate having those dreams.

princesswahoo

I am not disputing anyone's research, however for your research perhaps you may just wish to hear others experience. I do, have, and will smoke, especially right before falling asleep. What I have noticed is that it is easier for me to recall my dreams in complete detail when I have not smoked for a little while. When I smoke everyday before bed, I do not remember the whole dream, just parts. I still dream and remember, just not all of it. Since dreaming only happens while in REM, I would venture to conclude that I still experience REM. What I notice is the the memory, or lack of it. Fortunately I am an organized person and love post-its.... LOL ......

However I suffer from insomnia most always and can actually get to sleep after I have indulged. It relaxes me enough to fall asleep, even with taking melatonin. So in essence it does help me sleep and get more of it. With that I suppose not remembering my entire dream versus not getting much sleep is a good trade. Ginko Biloba can help the memory.......