MonarchX

My parents are highly educated (in Soviet Union) physicians and I can't prove to them that marijuana will not degrade my personality and isn't THAT unhealthy. They just won't listen and don't believe that there are any big university names (like Harvard) that conducted research that shows positive effects of MJ (except for pain removal).

Besides they don't even speak English...

Just what do you do about that? They seriously start looking at me as some drug addict and they are telling me that if I keep going smoking it then nobody can help it.

They don't even consider the fact that I quit toking because I need a job so I want to pass al drug tests. I tried to explain it to them that I felt ZERO withdraw effects.

They mostly hate the point that I stand STRONG for legalization and use by choice. It makes them think that its over if you stand strong FOR use of MJ.

And my dad drinks 1-2 shots of some semi-easy liquor and does it for his heart (he is of age). Isn't that more unhealthy?

Buzzby

In other words, stop pressing the issue. If you feel the need to preach legalization, find an audience that is willing to listen.

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Feorge Gorman

...some people feel very educated when it comes to marijuana, ONLY because they've come to trust experts that have NO business "educating" the masses! The DEA & FDA are the worst offenders IMO...disseminating information about MJ that is laughable, to say the least!

It sounds like your parents won't be easily swayed towards MJ legalization. You might want to have some documents ready for the next discussion. Papers you can show them regarding the safety aspects...maybe NORML can provide you some stuff. Also, if they'd be up to it, play the documentary 'Grass' for them. It's very informative and really tries to dispel some of the older 'anti-marijuana' propaganda.

I'd suggest not pushing it too much though...you might just anger them more. Give it some time and maybe they'll at least talk about it with you on a mature level one day.

Also...I think this thread would fare better in the 'People & Places' forum, so I'll move it there for you.

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feorge

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THC Fiend

You have about as good a chance convincing them as they have convincing you.

If that made sense.

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"Nietzsche is dead."
-God

brevity is... wit

MonarchX

Thank you very much for support. My parents do not care about legalization. Small amount possession is legal in Russian Federation (even for recreational use).

Their concern is health and life style. They believe that a person who does it once in a while eventually starts doing a lot of it, which degrades their life style. Unfortuantely (or not) I witnessed more people who fit this stereotype. As physicians they are in contact with Narcotics physicians (in Russia, not America, so all this DEA information is useless there). Who comes to physicians? People who need help, people who can't control themselves, people who have "fallen" due to drug use. They don't see responsible MJ users. MJ can lead to loss of motivation and change of life-style where MJ use is so important that people refuse to quit toking (for a while at least) to get jobs they truly want, or go only far enough to make enough money to buy MJ. I agree that MJ CAN impede one's progress in life.

But I am different. Thats where the problem stands because those MJ users whos lives were negatively affected by use/abuse of MJ ALSO say "But I am different. I can quit anytime"

Why do I consider myself different? I went from 220lbs almost obese to 175lbs small-time model. And believe me, working out as much as I do is much harder than saying "No" to MJ. My parents know that.

Obviously, the final consensus thus far is that MJ is not harmful, but its not harmless either and psychological addiction does exist.

But MJ doesn't ruin people. People ruin themselves because they can't control themselves. I am almost positive that MJ did not exist, all those super addicted to it would find something else to get addicted to.

My parents just do not want to listen. Its much harder to convince older people. They aren't open to new things. They aren't forcing me to not do it, but they are "disappointed" and don't want "<their> sun to be a drug addict."

Whats bothers me is not their opinion, but its how they look at me...like I need help!

Richi

Have you told them everything you said in your last post?

This would be a good start. Explain your experience with marijuana and how it has NOT ruined your life, and how you've always been able to control it. Explain that you are still motivated, goal oriented and intelligent - while being a marijuana user, not abuser.

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MonarchX

I did, but they believe that my abuse will go up once I live in my own place where I do use it without worrying about getting busted (I'm in college dorms now) and without worrying about getting a job.

It didn't really help or they didn't really listen to what I said or didn't believe me.

Richi

Then all you can do is prove them wrong. You could throw the truth at someone, but it will bounce off every time if they don't want to listen.

Your marijuana use could impend your getting a job if it requires you to preform a drug test, but this is another matter.

Jake

If you've said all of that, there's not much you can do, really. It's time to stop telling, and start doing. If they don't believe that you can smoke buds and stay productive and healthy, show them that you can.

Richi's right, you just gotta prove them wrong at this point. if I were you, I wouldn't even bring it up anymore. Make like you quit...but if they ask a direct question, tell the truth, you know...

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Burnin Kush

Your best bet would be to drop the subject, and move on. If you've already given them so many legitimate reasons why smoking isn't hurting your lifestyle, and they still won't listen, then it's a losing battle. Continue to do well in life, and be honest about what you're up to. Actions speak louder than words, and if you're experiencing success after success, it'd be very hard to argue that smoking a little weed is hurting you.