Marijuana.com

Bhikku

Do I think marijuana is completely harmless? Of course not.

Do I think it is less harmful than any other recreational or socially acceptable drug out there, including nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol? Definitely. I also think it's considerably less dangerous than salt and sugar in excess.

That being said, smoking anything is terrible for your lungs. But ingested cannabis eliminates that particular issue, so I consider it less harmful than cigarettes. You obviously can't eat tobacco. (Well, you could, but it would be a monumentally stupid idea.)

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"Being high is one of the most pleasant sensations available to mankind. Every day is Saturday. It is to be like a child; to perceive events with clarity; to look into the gates of paradise; to completely enjoy whatever you might be doing."

 

yodia206

As has been said many, many times in this post I agree with what seems to be the general consensus of the post: that while marijuana is not harmless, it is still one of the least harmful substances out there, when used in moderation.

I have compiled a complete list of all the (still working) links from this thread which go to sources outside of marijuana.com aka actual news reports and research study reports etc. Kudos to Noeone because most of these came from him/her but as they were a while back in the post I figured I'd make it easier for any newcomers to know these facts-which I found extremely insightful, because I doubt anybody else will actually spend all day reading through this thing and trying all the links like I did (got to do something when on hold at work...). There are also some other links which are of my own discovery, but since I don't know which are which I'm not going to distinguish between the two.

Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use And Lung Cancer
This talks about a study done showing no corelation between lung cancer and even heavy use

http://http://www.sciencedaily.com/r...1023183937.htm
This talks about a study that shows marijuana is a good anti-depressant in low doses but worsens depression in high doses

Tracing Marijuana To Its Roots: Scientists Seek Marijuana's Isotopic Fingerprint
This is somewhat unrelated to the harmful debate but I found it very frightening as it talks about Alaskian scientists who are finding a way to figured out where exactly a plant came from based on its chemical composition--a technology which could prove very detrimental if perfected

SpringerLink - Journal Article
This is a study abstract which concluded marijauna does not increase likelihood for any cancer in cigarette smokers, but slightly increases your chances of getting two specific site-type cancers in non-cigarette users

Marijuana Firmly Linked to Infertility: Scientific American
This talks about a study which believes marijuana causes temporary infertility in men but isn't conclusive because they don't know enough about sperm

Marijuana Extract Fights Brain Cancer in Mice: Scientific American and Cannabis extract shrinks brain tumours - 15 August 2004 - New Scientist
Both talk about a study which concludes cannibinoids help fight brain cancer in mice and humans.

Cannabis compound slows lung cancer in mice - cancer - 18 April 2007 - New Scientist
This talks about a study which shows that cannabis slows lung cancer

ScienceDirect - Addictive Behaviors : Decreased depression in marijuana users
This is a study abstract showing marijuana does not increase risk of depression

CC: US: Pot Shrinks Tumors; Government Knew In '74
This talks about marijuana shrinking tumors and the fact that the government has known for decades

Long-Term Marijuana Use May Impair Lung Function - Forbes.com
This talks marijuana causing phlegm, coughing and wheezing (really...no shit...) but not having any corelation with emphysema

Executive Summary | Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base | Institute of Medicine
This is a really, really long marijuana report put out by our dear government which doesn't seem to be just bs, for once.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1.../spiderWeb.jpg
This I found on stumble, absolutely fascinating: what a spider web looks like under the influence of varies drugs. Notice the difference between the "evil" marijuana web, and the "harmless" caffeine thread. HAH

SO thats what I have complied. Thanks for all the good factoids on this post-I always like learning more about the subject so I can be better educated in a debate against those who have been brainwashed by government propaganda.

I also wanted to ask: can anyone elaborate on how hemp can be used as a building material and car parts?? Those both have been mentioned several times in this thread, and while I know about all the other uses these two are new to me.

And I just wanted to say to frzcold65 that you are exactly what makes all of us look bad. Do your research, and know what the hell you are talking about before you bother to post. If you had even read ONE page of this ELEVEN page thread you would have realized how ridiculous the comment you made was and would never have embaressed yourself, and us, in such a fashion. I do not understand why you would attempt to post a cohesive thought on a long ass thread without even bothering to see what others had said before you. Shame

Freedom_User

As far as the comment goes on Hemp and cars. I was watching a documentary that I was blown away by...

Hemp seed oil..
"Its true than any plant or animal can be used to make oil. However you miss the point its not about the aroma of the exhaust. The Hemp plant is natures richest source of cellulose fiber. Making it the most useful plant for the purpose of Ethanol production." - BCGG420
Car made by Hemp

Henry Ford grew his own Hemp field and farmed his own fuel. I think the video pretty much sums it up.

adam914

actually there are many studies that prove that marijuana while not being harmless, is pretty damn close. most arguments held against marijuana are respiratory, which can be eliminated by vaporization etc. Marijuana does not damage the brain either, it actually increases levels of alpha waves which is what causes the high. all the information I know comes from hours of research that I compiled for my highschool paper on why marijuana should be legalized. I can't say that it is entirely harmless, but I can say that's much better for you than alcohol or cigarettes. can you explain to me why the government funded studies say marijuana is bad while all the independent studies argue the contrary? its because the independent studies don't have a political agenda and the governments organizations (FDA etc) actually do. one word, PROPAGANDA.

Bud&bluntman

hey man chill out, he didnt do anything to deserve being told to shut up. I think it is pretty harmless though, the only thing it really damages are your lungs, and that is preventable via vaporizer.

 

troublemaker_42

He posted that on 9-11-2004, at 05:06 PM. His last activity as a forum member was 09-21-2004 @ 02:01 PM. I don't think correcting him nearly 4 years after his last post is going to have much of an effect, but I may be wrong

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forget the freak, you're just nature
Keep the gun oiled and the temple clean
shit, snort and blaspheme
Let the heads cool and the engine run
Because in the end,
everything we do
is just everything we've done..."Omega" by StoneSour

www.sportsmenforObama.org

stoney_tony676

of corse pot is not completly harmless but it is verry close and compared to aney other mindaltering substance it is verry harmless look u only live once so y live your life in a bubble if i die a few years soner then i should because i enjoyed my life so be it you know what i want pepole to say at my funral not i was scucesfull,ritch,famouse,so on but that i was a happy man who enjoyed life my point is so what if its a little harmfull i enjoy it so im gonna smoke it

bubba259

i am an every day pot smoker and my honest opinion is that it is indeed harmful to a degree. it has definetly damaged my lungs. i now become winded very easily and i dont even smoke cigs. after being high for about 3 or 4 days straight, i find myself becoming depressed. and the lack of motivation as a result of it has definetly been harmful to my school work.

and on a separate note, whoever said ganj is not addictive has definetly never been at a point in their life where they become a burn-out. i have tried to quit but cant. i am currently on my second week sober and i dont know how much more i can take. i'll most likely blaze in a couple days.

my point being if your gonna smoke it, do it responsibly. use moderation. and for all those beginning smokers out there, watch out, it can take hold of your life if your not careful.

damn. i think ill post this on my myspace blog

DamnedSin

I agree bubba. Just because it is "harmless" doesn't mean it's not addictive like cigarettes. A little control now and then doesn't hurt. (It also helps if you do something active on a steady basis.. like playing a sport, or going for a jog with your dog). Just be informed people.

Buzzby

I think we need to make a distinction between psychological dependence and addiction. People can become psychologically dependent upon almost anything: TV, crossword puzzles, games, sex, gambling, etc. The classical definition of "addiction" is associated with drugs that create a physical dependence: your body gets sick if you don't get the drug. Most people can't get addicted to marijuana at all. For those who do, the withdrawal symptoms are less severe than coming off an addiction to coffee.

Psychological dependence is no laughing matter. Changing self-destructive habits can be just as hard as overcoming physical cravings.

That's something that needs to be said much more often. One problem with prohibition is that there are no role models out there to promote responsible use. If celebrities who young people respect could speak out against drug abuse without a prohibitionist speech about total abstinence, a lot of kids would listen and fewer would get into trouble.

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