First of all, I'd like to point out that people smoke weed because they're depressed, not the other way around. It only makes sense that the government, who receives money from drug companies, would put out research that would sell more pills rather than advertise a natural remedy that can do wonders but make them no money. Its so fucked up to think that money has even become the driving force of moral issues these days.
Here is what U.S. government is really thinking: "Let's continue to classify marijuana with drugs like heroin and cocaine and acid even though everybody knows pot isn't even near as destructive as those other drugs. Even though the marijuana plant has medicinal benefits, holds within it the strongest natural fiber on Earth, and hemp seed oil was used in the first automobile, let's just keep it illegal and incarcerate users because we want our pharmaceutical companies, rope manufacturing industries, and oil fiends to continue to reap their profits because this isn't a democracy, we'll just continue to trick the public into thinking that it is."
I smoked weed everyday for fifteen years, as other people have said, it was the only effective treatment for my anixety. However, not without it's own side effects. I have had very bad dental problems, smoking so much would be bad for your lungs and also you do become immune to the stoned feeling, just needing it to beable to sit still in the end.
If it was in tablet form, that takes away the dangers of smoking. Also I think the goverment could legalize it and get a nice fat tax off it.
However, I am older and wiser now, I do think it stops people from having to deal with their problems, and I wouldn't encourage use of any drugs these days. Interestingly, people with severe mental health problems have less hospital admissions if they smoke cannabis! The only reason I wouldn't advocate it's usage is because I think ALL drugs are probably not helpful in the long term. For me, I just wasted alot of my life stoned, I did also use other drugs and ended up with huge dental bills!
I don't get the purpose of pot. I don't think it's as horrible as other drugs but I know there has been research as to how kids get more addicted to this than any other drug, including alchohol. And any addiction is a bad one. It should probably be legal though simply so the government could make money off of it. Considering people do it all the time regardless of the law.
Also, when I smoked pot 90% of the time i'd get more depressed and anxious when I come off of it. And when I'm on it I'm very paranoid so whatever it's not for me. IMO alchohol feels so much better and I don't have to worry about getting arrested unless i'm driving which I never have done or will do.
Also I'd like to note I have a friend who smoked alot of pot and still smokes alot of pot today. He seems like he knows alot about alot of serious topics but he FORGETS EVERYTHING, all the time. Coincidence? Maybe. but this is not an exaggeration I wish I could video tape it cause I work with him. It's very humorous.
Again I must point out that all marijuana is not alike. Most anxiety related medical users will tell you that they achieve their desired effects smoking an indica strain of marijuana, rather than a sativa that could lead to more of a stimulating "heady" buzz (we want a sedative anxiolytic effect, and thats what indica strains bring to the table). If you're going to use any drug at all, I am of the opinion that you should be educated about these types of things beforehand...
I thought this might be relevant to the discussion.
There is a neurotransmitter anandamide, which binds to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Same are marijuana. There is an enzyme called FAAH that breaks down anandamide, similar to how MAO enzymes break down serotonin and dopamine. There are new drugs being developed that inhibit FAAH to raise anandamide levels in the brain, similar to how MAOI antidepressants raise levels of serotonin. These drugs seem like they would have the same therapeutic benefits of marijuana, without some of the side-effects or the need for continual re-dosing.
_________________ "Does anyone in here get hit with inside fever?
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Joined: May 13, 2008 Posts: 34 Location: bolton, ont.
Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:
lucifersam wrote:
There is a neurotransmitter anandamide, which binds to the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Same are marijuana. There is an enzyme called FAAH that breaks down anandamide, similar to how MAO enzymes break down serotonin and dopamine. There are new drugs being developed that inhibit FAAH to raise anandamide levels in the brain, similar to how MAOI antidepressants raise levels of serotonin. These drugs seem like they would have the same therapeutic benefits of marijuana, without some of the side-effects or the need for continual re-dosing.
I did some research on this and it seems that there really aren't many substances that inhibit FAAH, and the few that do are extremely toxic, with the exception of URB597.
And i'm willing to bet that as more FAAH inhibitors begin to show up, they'll probably be really expensive or really illegal (or both)...
However, if these drugs become more developed and mainstream, I think that they will be amazingly useful for treating a lot of different things.
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