Attn Potheads

[Warpe]

worth watching

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natu...ownsideofhigh/

The Downside of High, directed and written by Bruce Mohun, tells the stories of three young people from British Columbia who believe - along with their doctors - that their mental illness was triggered by marijuana use. All three spent months in hospital psychiatric wards, and still wage a battle with their illness. Today's super-potent pot may be a big part of the problem. Modern growing techniques have dramatically increased the amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana - ramping up the threat to the developing teenage brain.

But there's an intriguing twist to the story: in the process of cultivating more potent strains of pot, growers have also been breeding out a little-known ingredient called cannabidiol that seems to buffer the effects of THC. So today's high-octane pot actually contains a double-whammy - more psychosis-producing THC, and less of the protective CBD or cannabidiol.

[Jack Sawyer]

Jamaica should be one giant psychiatric ward if this is actually true.

[ttanaka]

Interesting... one thing I notice when I smoke out is that I like to floss... so while I suffer mental damage, I improve in dental hygiene... meh wash.

[kiwiMark]

Is this going to be different from the videos shown to me in my fourth form Health classes?

[mixchange]

this is silly

[flomo]

new sig

[Warpe]

Jamaica should be one giant psychiatric ward if this is actually true.

they're talking about high-test hydroponic pot, not that rope you guys smoke in the islands

[RichBrunson]

Mainstream balderdash!
You wouldn't expect them to say any different..I suppose

[zook]

I'm too lazy and paranoid to click the link.

[Warpe]

Is this going to be different from the videos shown to me in my fourth form Health classes?

this is silly

Mainstream balderdash!
You wouldn't expect them to say any different..I suppose

u guys are funny. watch the doc. this isn't Just Say No propaganda. it's based on recent research.

[wufwugy]

Chemical manipulation via selective breeding could easily create serious problems

[CoccoBill]

It has been quite well established for years that heavy cannabis use can trigger pre-existing dormant mental disorders. On the other hand, no study has shown in any way that it causes mental disorders in healthy persons. On the contrary, there's some preliminary studies to suggest it might even be helpful in treating schizophrenia.

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004837.html

Also, pot being somehow remarkably more potent now than it used to is not true. The THC content of commercially grown crops has probably somewhat gone up due to better equipment and improved cultivation methods, but we are talking on the order of a few percentage points. There is also statistical data on cannabis potency dating back to the 1980s which is more reliable than present methods of detection, and that shows little or no increase.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi...is_myth2.shtml

u guys are funny. watch the doc. this isn't Just Say No propaganda. it's based on recent research.

I watched it. None of the research in it is recent, unless mid 90s and early 2000s qualifies as that. The spin it puts on the research is also not new, but has been used widely in the mainstream media for years.

Now, I'm not in any way suggesting cannabis is harmless and everyone should be smoking it 24/7, but purely from a fact based standpoint, its negative effect are often greatly exaggerated while there are far more dangerous legal drugs.

[rong]

I & many of my friends have smoked a hell of a lot of seriously good tweed in our time. What I've found is those who were a bit fucked up before all the grugs are even more fucked up now, but those of us who were reasobnably stable to begin with have had no real problems.

I think if you have certain tendencies, then there's quite a few drugs likely to bring them out, good weed being one of them, acid & mushrooms being some more. But I also think people use drug use as an excuse for weak minds to collapse.

It's no different to alcoholics losing their mind a bit, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't get pissed or that a bong a day will rot your brain away.

[Warpe]

Also, pot being somehow remarkably more potent now than it used to is not true.

While this is anecdotal evidence, from personal experience, I'd have to disagree. There was nothing like the stuff that's around now back in the 70s and, trust me, I had good sources. I find it interesting that it is the pro-legalization groups that are all trying to dispute that it is stronger. They have a vested interest in saying so.

[d0zer]

Also, pot being somehow remarkably more potent now than it used to is not true.

While this is anecdotal evidence, from personal experience, I'd have to disagree. There was nothing like the stuff that's around now back in the 70s and, trust me, I had good sources. I find it interesting that it is the pro-legalization groups that are all trying to dispute that it is stronger. They have a vested interest in saying so.

I can't imagine it NOT getting stronger. Selective breeding by corksniffing growers who are trying to produce the next super-potent strain will inevitably succeed.

I used to get some mail-order bud from budmail.biz before they went down, and they had three categories of strains: regular, high quality and SUPER HIGH QUALITY. I'd obviously order the best of the best, and it was truly some potent shit. But instead of getting so baked I couldn't feel my hands, I'd just end up smoking far less for the same effect.

That being said, the average stuff people get on the streets is usually just average potency stuff, because apparently the super potent strains are tougher to grow, so growers trying to make the most opt for the high volume strains, not the high potency strains.

[CoccoBill]

Also, pot being somehow remarkably more potent now than it used to is not true.

While this is anecdotal evidence, from personal experience, I'd have to disagree. There was nothing like the stuff that's around now back in the 70s and, trust me, I had good sources. I find it interesting that it is the pro-legalization groups that are all trying to dispute that it is stronger. They have a vested interest in saying so.

I wouldn't say the erowid link I offered is anecdotal, nor is it by a pro-legalization group.

[kiwiMark]

He's saying his evidence is anecdotal, not yours.

[givememyleg]

I'm too lazy and paranoid to click the link.

haha

[Warpe]

http://www.ukcia.org/research/Increa...offeeshops.pdf

[gabe]

good post, interesting

[CoccoBill]

http://www.ukcia.org/research/IncreaseInTHCInCoffeeshops.pdf

The study shows that Dutch weed rose in potency from 2000-2004, but it also shows that the potency of Dutch hash, imported hash and imported weed from the rest of the world remained static. How does this prove that pot around the world has been getting stronger around the world since the 70s?

"The present study indicates that the average potency of some cannabis products has increased in the past 5 years. The data also show that the increase is not as extreme (10 – 40 times as high) as is sometimes suggested (Collins, 1999)."

[bode]

Also, pot being somehow remarkably more potent now than it used to is not true.

While this is anecdotal evidence, from personal experience, I'd have to disagree. There was nothing like the stuff that's around now back in the 70s and, trust me, I had good sources. I find it interesting that it is the pro-legalization groups that are all trying to dispute that it is stronger. They have a vested interest in saying so.

yeah, idk why it wouldn't be stronger? Just the same as agro-engineers making different strains of corn and soybeans produce more yield/acre through gene manipulation, it seems standard that they could do the same type thing with pot.

[bigred]

When will people learn that violent videogames are the source of our problems?!?!?!?!

[drmcboy]

I mean I'm stunned that more than 0 % of people had a problem with a drug.

[CoccoBill]

"Negative effects can include paranoia, dry mouth, respiratory problems and nervousness/racing heart. Other effects may be negative or inconvenient in certain settings or situations including reduced ability to concentrate, impaired memory, tiredness, and confusion. Side effects tend to increase with lifetime use: as users age, they often report the anxiety-producing and uncomfortable effects increase and the euphoria decreases.

Contraindications #
Avoid Driving - While there has been little formal study into the effects of cannabis on driving, it is generally a good idea to avoid driving while under the influence of any psychoactive or intoxicating substance. Several studies have shown that drivers who use alcohol and cannabis in combination are far less capable than when taking either substance alone. Some studies have shown that cannabis causes impairment in driving performance, but that users often are aware of the impairment and compensate by driving more carefully.

Addiction Potential #
Regular use of cannabis can lead to psychological habituation for some people making it difficult for them to quit. Studies have estimated that between 5 and 10% of those who try smoking cannabis will become daily users sometime during their life, but most of these smokers will have given up the habit by age 30 and few remain daily smokers after age 40. Most people do not experience signs of physical addiction, but with regular daily use use, mild to medium withdrawal symptoms usually occur for less than a week, but can extend for as long as 6 weeks.

Long Term Health Problems #
The most common negative health impact of regular cannabis smoking are lung and throat problems including: coughing, increased frequency of throat and lung infections, and reduced lung capacity. There are concerns about possible long term carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects of cannabis smoking, but the results are still somewhat controversial. It can be safely said, however, that health risks increase with frequency and duration of smoking anything.

Risk of Death #
There are no confirmed, published death reports from cannabis-only poisoning. Especially given the wide use of cannabis, it appears that fatal reactions are approximately unheard of. There are a small number of people who report serious cannabis allergies which cause unexpectedly intense reactions, throat & lung irritation, etc.

Heart Issues #
Because cannabis increases heart rate, it could potentially increase risks of heart problems in those at risk of heart disease. One study found that cannabis use increased the risk of heart attack in men over 40, but its findings were weak and based on a very small number of individuals. In a large study of 65,000 individuals in California by Sidney et al in 1997, cannabis was not found to increase mortality rates among users under 50.

Mental Illness #
For those with schizophrenia, paranoia, or symptoms of psychosis, the use of cannabis, alcohol, and other recreational drugs can contribute to worsening symptoms and a decline in normal functioning. It is less clear whether cannabis causes asymptomatic--or otherwise healthy--people more than temporary paranoia and anxiety, though several major studies have documented an association between the use of cannabis by young people and later diagnosis of psychotic disorders. Those with a family history of psychotic disorders or who are otherwise predisposed to mental illness may be at increased risk of problematic mental health issues if they use cannabis."

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabi...s_health.shtml

Now compare those to say alcohol and make your own risk-based decisions:

"Health Problems #

* Increase risk of oral, throat, colon, liver, and breast cancer [Boffetta P. 2006]
* Cirrhosis of the liver [Leon DA. 2006]
* Fetal alcohol syndrome if used by pregnant women in large quantities [Willford J 2006]
* Injuries from accidents, falls, motor vehicle accidents, etc
* Fatty Liver Disease [Surernti C, et al. 2003]
* Very high doses can lead to acute toxicity, coma, and death. [Yoon YH. 2003]"

[flomo]

[rong]

When will people learn that violent videogames are the source of our problems?!?!?!?!

It's not video games, it's education!

Less education means less enlightened people, therefore less people to care about, cos nobody cares about the poor and the ignorant. Hence why nobody cares enough about poverty in parts of Africa and Asia to do anything about it. If you are educated, you tend to bitch more, cos you become aware of how relatively shit your lot is. If you bitch enough people are obliged to care (even if they just pretend to care to shut you up).

So the important point here, stop educating people. Education is the cuse of us being aeware of other peoples problems!

[Jack Sawyer]

Jamaica should be one giant psychiatric ward if this is actually true.

they're talking about high-test hydroponic pot, not that rope you guys smoke in the islands

WTF is that, it sounds like techno witchcraft!

[Warpe]

yeah, idk why it wouldn't be stronger? Just the same as agro-engineers making different strains of corn and soybeans produce more yield/acre through gene manipulation, it seems standard that they could do the same type thing with pot.

I don't know what's worse; organized crime continuing to control the bulk of the marijuana trade or Monsanto getting into the genetically modified pot business.

It's obvious though that it is a relatively simple matter to use traditional plant breeding techniques to select for stronger strains.

[drmcboy]

i don't understand how you can be an intelligent person re: drugs, which it seems like you are, but not see how stuff like this only adds to the taboos which help keep the drug war alive and well

[rong]

I don't see how any government, anywhere, doesn't see the taxable benefits of drugs, cum in there pants & immediately start producing.

[Warpe]

i don't understand how you can be an intelligent person re: drugs, which it seems like you are, but not see how stuff like this only adds to the taboos which help keep the drug war alive and well

Is there something wrong with being more knowledgeable about the risks associated with something you ingest? The scientific evidence re: increased risk of psychosis was not available when I was younger. My cousin, who is seven years younger than me, was diagnosed as schizophrenic in his first year of university and used marijuana extensively. Did the pot trigger it? We'll probably never know. Did he know the risk? No. At that time the pro-marijuana groups were positioning pot as completely harmless, and still do to a large extent today, even though that is patently untrue.

If you supress negative information then it's not an honest discussion, but, rather, a propaganda war. The "drug war" is a strictly American invention - other societies that are more liberal about recreational drug use get better societal outcomes by legalizing and regulating, and are probably perceived as more credible when they are communicating about the risks.

[d0zer]

Let's not forget that the 4x increased rate of schizophrenia in young users is a correlative relationship. No causal mechanism has been found yet, so it could be that those with genetic predispositions to schizophrenia are more likely to become pot users for whatever reason.

Warpe is absolutely right in that we need an honest discussion, and claiming that pot is completely harmless is dishonest.

That being said, I believe that even if a causal relationship between schizophrenia and pot was found, that it's still less harmful in general than alcohol.

[Luco]

Skunk is fine. It's cannabis oil that's the real nut buster. Oh man, tasty shit.

[drmcboy]

maybe logic and reason wins the day in canada. here nope, and we should do whatever we can. Once they are legal we can regulate potency and do much better research, until then kids are going to keep doing lots of spectacularly dangerous stuff, not just smoking weed. So imo it's worth keeping a few things on the down low. They have been lying for 30 years and it's worked really well.

You may think are drug war won't effect you, but just wait until we start sending more troops over the border. once we take mexico canada will look fat and tasty.

[Warpe]

you'll hate the winters