4 ms·

Could you be more descriptive about the "close call" you had "with the boundaries of perception"? I've been using cannabis daily for over a decade to be a norma

Could you be more descriptive about the "close call" you had "with the boundaries of perception"? I've been using cannabis daily for over a decade to be a normal person, having found that it removes my anxiety, and allows me to operate as a normal individual in society. When I am not using, I become a terrible anxious mess who can't even talk to clerks in stores. Also your last sentence seems incomplete - did you intend to complete your thought, or at least use punctuation?

cmrdporcupine 9y ago
The problem with cannabis is its extreme variance of effects. Some people like yourself seem to have very positive effects. Myself, I've consumed a whole wack of different drugs including the usual psychedelics plus various dissociatives over the years and cannabis is easily the most unpleasant in its effects on me. Paranoia, very unpleasant thoughts and paranoia, sad feeling, accentuated body pain (I have chronic back/hip pain), headaches, anxiety. It's basically the opposite of what THC advocates seem to describe. And I've consumed quite a bit of it. Hopefully along with legalization we can see a lot less proselytizing and some more realistic and scientific analysis.
- stephengillie 9y ago
  Which terpenes are in the plant can have a subtle but powerful impact. And THC can leverage terpenes in other foods too. Some are very calming. And then there's the non-intoxicating CBD parts, that are becoming popular for those who want the relaxation, but not the head high. Alcohol has a very broad scope as well, ranging from toxic cleaners, to light dessert wines, to tripel beers and "four loco" drinks. It's very easy to have a bad trip, or a fun night turn deadly.
- empath75 9y ago
  Most of those feelings are pretty common if you smoke too much pot. I have a very low tolerance for it and while I had a few good times with it, I had what you describe happen more often than not. But the feeling you have while on drugs generally goes away when you’re not on them. I wouldn’t assume that because taking a drug gives you a feeling that approximates a psychological problem that it would necessarily be a cause of that psychological problem beyond the time you were intoxicated.
  - cmrdporcupine 9y ago
    I don't make that assumption at all. But I've also seen many people, including family, go down a road with the drug that did in fact lead to pretty severe emotional and life function difficulties that went away after the cessation of the drug. All of this applies to alcohol as well, surely... but that is hardly a high bar. I was a lot more tolerant of cannabis advocacy before I had kids and before legalization came on the agenda here in Canada. Now that it will be legal I hope the emphasis shifts away from advocacy and to education for responsible use.
    - RHSman2 9y ago
      Yes, when kids come around you view it in a different light. There are consequences of both and I'll advise my kids differently around both.
    - empath75 9y ago
      > did in fact lead to pretty severe emotional and life function difficulties that went away after the cessation of the drug. I did in fact say that the psychological problems go away when you stop using the drug. Obviously if you're on drugs all the time, you're going to have problems.
- ionised 9y ago
  > Myself, I've consumed a whole wack of different drugs including the usual psychedelics plus various dissociatives over the years and cannabis is easily the most unpleasant in its effects on me. I'm the same. Cannabis is easily the most unpleasant drug for me these days (don't do them so much anymore though). It just gives me paranoia and anxiety and makes me totally unable to hold a conversation or even relax. Compare that with LSD, MDMA, DMT where I generally have positive experiences. The only bad ones I've had are when I've foolishly taken them when not in the best of moods.
RHSman2 9y ago
Took drugs. Got scared about my mental health as my thoughts were very powerful. Others around suffered worse which compounded fact. I was very, very lucky to have survived and have turned that experience into knowledge (which has only come in the last year after 20 years).

cmrdporcupine 9y ago

The problem with cannabis is its extreme variance of effects. Some people like yourself seem to have very positive effects. Myself, I've consumed a whole wack of different drugs including the usual psychedelics plus various dissociatives over the years and cannabis is easily the most unpleasant in its effects on me. Paranoia, very unpleasant thoughts and paranoia, sad feeling, accentuated body pain (I have chronic back/hip pain), headaches, anxiety. It's basically the opposite of what THC advocates seem to describe. And I've consumed quite a bit of it. Hopefully along with legalization we can see a lot less proselytizing and some more realistic and scientific analysis.

stephengillie 9y ago
Which terpenes are in the plant can have a subtle but powerful impact. And THC can leverage terpenes in other foods too. Some are very calming. And then there's the non-intoxicating CBD parts, that are becoming popular for those who want the relaxation, but not the head high. Alcohol has a very broad scope as well, ranging from toxic cleaners, to light dessert wines, to tripel beers and "four loco" drinks. It's very easy to have a bad trip, or a fun night turn deadly.
empath75 9y ago
Most of those feelings are pretty common if you smoke too much pot. I have a very low tolerance for it and while I had a few good times with it, I had what you describe happen more often than not. But the feeling you have while on drugs generally goes away when you’re not on them. I wouldn’t assume that because taking a drug gives you a feeling that approximates a psychological problem that it would necessarily be a cause of that psychological problem beyond the time you were intoxicated.
- cmrdporcupine 9y ago
  I don't make that assumption at all. But I've also seen many people, including family, go down a road with the drug that did in fact lead to pretty severe emotional and life function difficulties that went away after the cessation of the drug. All of this applies to alcohol as well, surely... but that is hardly a high bar. I was a lot more tolerant of cannabis advocacy before I had kids and before legalization came on the agenda here in Canada. Now that it will be legal I hope the emphasis shifts away from advocacy and to education for responsible use.
  - RHSman2 9y ago
    Yes, when kids come around you view it in a different light. There are consequences of both and I'll advise my kids differently around both.
  - empath75 9y ago
    > did in fact lead to pretty severe emotional and life function difficulties that went away after the cessation of the drug. I did in fact say that the psychological problems go away when you stop using the drug. Obviously if you're on drugs all the time, you're going to have problems.
ionised 9y ago
> Myself, I've consumed a whole wack of different drugs including the usual psychedelics plus various dissociatives over the years and cannabis is easily the most unpleasant in its effects on me. I'm the same. Cannabis is easily the most unpleasant drug for me these days (don't do them so much anymore though). It just gives me paranoia and anxiety and makes me totally unable to hold a conversation or even relax. Compare that with LSD, MDMA, DMT where I generally have positive experiences. The only bad ones I've had are when I've foolishly taken them when not in the best of moods.

RHSman2 9y ago

Took drugs. Got scared about my mental health as my thoughts were very powerful. Others around suffered worse which compounded fact. I was very, very lucky to have survived and have turned that experience into knowledge (which has only come in the last year after 20 years).