Does marijuana make you stupid?

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Praxius Then how are you going to come to an actual accurate answer?

A prospective study conducted by an unbiased group.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Praxius Just for debate sake... where are the unbiased studies on this effect? I've got uncles and family members who've been smoking long before I was born and they're just as capable as anybody else I've met to do and remember things.

Perhaps your family is more resistant to the effects, or perhaps you would be even smarter without it?

Dunno...

Folks speaking from personal experience seem to deliver conflicting testimonies. Maybe the difference lies in the type used, as one poster suggested earlier?

[kubedawg]

Quote by: another day Yep exactly... Another thing that drives this popular misconception is that people often LOOK stupid when they are stoned. There eyes droop, they may be grinning, etc. But that doesn't mean it makes you stupid, not at all. It definitly does not kill brain cells. Alcohol on the other hand does a great job of that, and WILL make you stupid and fried. And athena, NIDA is nothing but a propaganda machine. I wouldn't trust most of the stuff on there if I were you.

Which is why the government bans marijuana. They want stupid sheep to do whatever the hell they want.

[Osborn F Enready]

To the original question:

Does marijuana make you stupid?

No, but the propaganda the "gubbmint" pushes about it can.

I think the answer should be clear by page 2, thanks to the Volconvo well informed readership.

Hemp and the "scraps" from recreational marijuana are great sources for alternative fuels, that is why it is illegal. Ford did it in the 40's......

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Osborn F Enready To the original question: No, but the propaganda the "gubbmint" pushes about it can. I think the answer should be clear by page 2, thanks to the Volconvo well informed readership. Hemp and the "scraps" from recreational marijuana are great sources for alternative fuels, that is why it is illegal. Ford did it in the 40's......

I am inclined to believe that, as with everything, too much can be harmful. Who would we trust to conduct an unbiased study of this issue?

[Jack]

Having smoked off and on for over 30 years (now only socially), and having a room-mate who smokes daily, All I can say is...

the thread should have been titled, " Does marijuana make you more stupid than you already are?"

[Osborn F Enready]

Great tip Isherwood.

I have known many a dumb ass who smokes too.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Isherwood Having smoked off and on for over 30 years (now only socially), and having a room-mate who smokes daily, All I can say is... the thread should have been titled, " Does marijuana make you more stupid than you already are?"

So, has your roommate's intelligence, motivation, attention, etc..., been affected?

[Jack]

No, in fact at 50 he went back to school to get his Masters in psychology.

[Captain Chaos]

Does he get stoned daily, or just use a little bit to relax on daily basis?

[Jack]

I don't ask, he doesn't tell. :)

[Captain Chaos]

um...

Surely it would be apparent?


I am just asking because I am trying to see if these daily pot users who are high-functioning are just casual users as opposed to pot heads - akin to a person who drinks two glasses of wine per day vs. an alcoholic.

[Jack]

He smokes daily. How much, I don't know. He doesn't "act" stoned at all.

[rez]

Quote by: Captain Chaos um... Surely it would be apparent? I am just asking because I am trying to see if these daily pot users who are high-functioning are just casual users as opposed to pot heads - akin to a person who drinks two glasses of wine per day vs. an alcoholic.

Although the effects of pot smoking are subjective, it can be said that all pot smokers suffer from the THC wearing off, therefore, becoming "burnt out". I would say when I am "burnt" I become tired and lazy, which may mean I am NOT high-functioning.

I think pot affects everybody’s normal way of thinking. In my case, I know I say things I would not normally say. My experience with pot over the past six years has been quite interesting. Throughout my journey I found that the effects of pot should be taken as serious as any other hallucinogen such as mushrooms, LSD, salvia, morning glory seeds etc. One might not actually visually hallucinate, but mentally hallucinate. Obviously, paranoia is a clear example of this as well as having emotional sensations when discussing topics such as science and religion (at least, to me, anyway).

I would also suggest that pot digs into one's subconscious. I feel as though this can be attributed to research that has been conducted recently.

This all really depends on one's willingness to dive into the power of Mary Jane. One should ask, "how critical of a thinker am I" or "am I using this drug solely for physical sensation or mind sensation? Over analyzing things can be an important factor in determining how pot can affect a person's experience.

[Praxius]

I usually split about 2 grams a day between myself and my girlfriend, spread out through the evening. A little puff after eating.... a little puff when we watch TV, a little puff before I goto bed..... of course this varies, and isn't a religious thing we do. When ever we got nothing too crazy to do in the rest of the day, it's like a glass a wine a day scenario. We don't try to get completely brain hammered, just enough for a buzz to chill.

In about an hour or an hour and a half, I'll completely sober up and I'm back to my normal self. I'm not stupid during this time.... rather.... I don't take things as seriously as I might sober. In other words, marijuana helps me from worrying about things I have no control over..... if there is a problem, I can think of a solution and move on..... without dwelling on it and worrying.

[The Sexorcist]

As a functional pothead who smokes about six or seven tiems a day, I can say it depends on the person. Me, I can puff a bowl and do some chores, read, do something physical. I hold down a great job that pays well and with great benefits.

On the other hand, my roomate is a complete idiot of a smoker. He can't get off the couch when he's stoned, is lazy and apathetic and basically has no motivation to do anything but the same thing every day; get high and giggle at cartoons.

It all depends on you, your psersonality, your discipline and how you smoke.

[Praxius]

Quote by: rez Although the effects of pot smoking are subjective, it can be said that all pot smokers suffer from the THC wearing off, therefore, becoming "burnt out". I would say when I am "burnt" I become tired and lazy, which may mean I am NOT high-functioning. I think pot affects everybody’s normal way of thinking. In my case, I know I say things I would not normally say. My experience with pot over the past six years has been quite interesting. Throughout my journey I found that the effects of pot should be taken as serious as any other hallucinogen such as mushrooms, LSD, salvia, morning glory seeds etc. One might not actually visually hallucinate, but mentally hallucinate. Obviously, paranoia is a clear example of this as well as having emotional sensations when discussing topics such as science and religion (at least, to me, anyway). I would also suggest that pot digs into one's subconscious. I feel as though this can be attributed to research that has been conducted recently. This all really depends on one's willingness to dive into the power of Mary Jane. One should ask, "how critical of a thinker am I" or "am I using this drug solely for physical sensation or mind sensation? Over analyzing things can be an important factor in determining how pot can affect a person's experience.

A ligit response, thanks. Marijuana is a very flexible substance for mental and physical experiences. I have noticed that my experiences with other drugs, some of their traits have been adapted into my weed use.... ie: traits from shrooms, LSD, E, and other drugs, sometimes give me flashback effects when I smoke weed, as if I was using them at that moment.

Weed for me, is not just something for relaxation or medicinal purposes, it's something that helps you look within. Of course you can do that sober, but with weed, I find it helps you to think outside of the box at times.

[GHook93]

Quote by: another day I definitly don't think it lowers your mental capacity..if that's your personal experience then perhaps it affects certain people differently...Or maybe you just convinced yourself of it. As for the idea that if you smoke it daily you will always have bad short term this is wrong. I smoke it almost daily and find no such effects. I'll trust personal experience over baseless anti-drug propaganda.

I am not coming from government propaganda, I am coming from my own experience.

I smoked nearly everyday starting Senior year in highschool and Freshman and Soph year in college. I still was able to talk to people and get very good grades. But come on to think that it doesn't have any effect on lowering your witts is just kidding yourself.

When/if you stop smoking for a prolonged period of time, say 3 month+ you will see a difference.

It is definitely not the drastic effects that the anti-drug ads protray, I agree with that.

I still have some buddies that still smoke heavily and do extremely well in high paying jobs.

[Athena]

Quote by: Captain Chaos So... If you use it every day, your short term memory will be affected all the time. Not unlike a person who is always drunk.

Or has dementia.

This thread is a very good example of the height of human stupidity. First off it is posted in the Science forum, and then there is an objection to turning to science to know what we can know. The people most interested in the subject are the ones who do not want to be scientific about the effect of substances on the body and brain, and will deny information they do not like.
Heck, I smoked for over 30 years and know how an addict thinks. Our bodies are amazing and can take a lot of abuse before the damage becomes obvious, so we can believe our lies.

Personally the closest people in my life are addicts, and I spend one day a week doing art with people in a detox center, and I used to write convicts, some of whom were stunned to end up prison because of what they did under the influence of a substance. Sugar is one of our most danagerous substances, and I don't think I am being biased when I say consuming many substances in like playing Russian Roulette. Our bodies differ and so the effect of these substances, not until we experience the accumulated effect will many of us know if we are the lucky ones or not.

Very important is the development of character and because many get addicted before developing strong character traits, the consequences of substance abuse can cost a person many years. The painful truth for many of these people is, their lack of character building all those years they used a substance is a worse problem than the physical addiction, making life without the substance a very frightening prospect. It is not fun being as mature as an 18 year in a 40 or 50 year old body.

[Athena]

Quote by: Praxius A ligit response, thanks. Marijuana is a very flexible substance for mental and physical experiences. I have noticed that my experiences with other drugs, some of their traits have been adapted into my weed use.... ie: traits from shrooms, LSD, E, and other drugs, sometimes give me flashback effects when I smoke weed, as if I was using them at that moment. Weed for me, is not just something for relaxation or medicinal purposes, it's something that helps you look within. Of course you can do that sober, but with weed, I find it helps you to think outside of the box at times.

There are different lines of marujuana with different effects. That is, the effect of the marujuana you are smoking will depend on which line it is.

, I have no troooouble thinking outside of the box. I am very right brain. Some of us should be on medication. I sort of feel like I am cheating when I speak about substance abuse, because I can have all the experiences of drugs without doing them.

Come to think of it- perhaps the very high tendency to do drugs is our culture's excessive focus on left brain thinking.:eek: We have become so bloody ridged since ending liberal education, our talk of liberty and freedom is a pathetic joke.