The smell of cannabis

[Discendo Discimus]

BunkMoreland said:

Never partaken. Cant stand it. Though can tolerate cigarette to a point (but I'd never date a user of either)

Partly cause its a horrible smell, which by its nature makes it anti social (if you want to do it, up to you, but don't inflict the smell on anyone else) and partly because it conjures up memories of waster friends of various South London locations from 25+ish years ago. No one I know whose smoked it for more than a year or so in their teens as a phase is a mensa candidate.

Obviously this is anecdotal. Plenty of my former friends who went for decades smoking regularly, all over time, became more frequent users. Once a week, became a weekend, became during the week "to get over a st day at work" Every single one of them tried harder stuff. So it irritates when the hippies say its not a gateway. Most often Coke, sometmes Billy or pills. And all of them seem to have general issues around concentration and strangely memory loss to a lesser or greater extent. And none of them have ever really excelled at their jobs. Wasted their various talents. A friend was on the road to a good job in IT in the late 90s, but spent more and more time "chilled out" and eventually last I saw was working in a shoe shop. c'est la vie

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

[P-Jay]

BunkMoreland said:

Obviously this is anecdotal. Plenty of my former friends who went for decades smoking regularly, all over time, became more frequent users. Once a week, became a weekend, became during the week "to get over a st day at work" Every single one of them tried harder stuff. So it irritates when the hippies say its not a gateway. Most often Coke, sometimes Billy or pills. And all of them seem to have general issues around concentration and strangely memory loss to a lesser or greater extent. And none of them have ever really excelled at their jobs. Wasted their various talents. A friend was on the road to a good job in IT in the late 90s, but spent more and more time "chilled out" and eventually last I saw was working in a shoe shop. c'est la vie

This mirrors my own experiences. I'm not afraid to admit I've had drug issues in the past, and lots of mental ones now.

My experience and based on conversations I've had with Mental Health Professionals is that drugs usually don't create mental health problems, they can, but usually it's the other way around.

The 'Danger of Drugs' portrayed in the 'just say no' 80s era was false, they'd show some well-liked, confident, articulate and intelligent young man with his whole life ahead of him. But oh no! He's experimented with a drag on a joint in a party and 6 months later he's sucking off dogs for bags of quavers. IME that sort of thing is incredibly rare, if it happens at all.

For me, there are always going to be people, who either because of trauma, tough lives or just genetics are struggling every day and drugs offer a crutch, some drink - there are a LOT of people who have mild alcoholism, I'm sure we all know someone who drinks every day, some smoke weed, some take pills, coke etc. Using substances for fun, probably harmless, using them to unwind / relax at the weekend, again probably harmless, but once it become a coping mechanism it will control you.

Is it a gateway drug? Yes, I'm not really sure how or why. There are so many factors to consider. The illegal drug market is a cesspit, the average 14 year old, daft as a brush, feels immortal and wanting to experiment, can't walk into a pub and buy a beer, but every school has at least one local drug dealer who makes a living selling weed to children, and once that veil of 'drug are bad u'kay' is lifted, well why not try something else? The unstable ones will jsut go wild with it. Equally though, some of the worst offenders in the UK at the moment aren't teenager on Weed, it's 20, 30 even 40 year olds who think it's not a weekend unless they've done 3 bags in the pub with the boys. Coked up pissheads tearing up every town centre.

[jdw100]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Wheel Turned Out said:

Rich Boy Spanner said:

It stinks and so do the paranoid losers that use it, or as somebody else wrote, it is 'the stench of failure'.

Judgmental drivel.

Sorry you are wrong.

When I see someone smoking it, I don't care if you earn DSA or £80,000 a year. Much like users of coke and Heroin on here. You say you are control of it but if its regular it's in control of you.

I’d tend to agree.

If you can’t just stop something for six months then it’s in control of you.

Like the, to my mind, pathetic ‘dry January’ where people struggle to go just four weeks without a drink.

I’ve seen friends hooked on cannabis to the point they were smoking it every night. One couple the wife had a very senior European logistics role with a big global electronics firm.

They couldn’t stop it even though trying for a baby.

As I say if you are taking something and you can’t just stop in for decent defined period or say once a month then you have a real issue.

Another mate found himself doing a line of coke on his own at home on a Thursday night, thought what the bloody hell am I doing?!? Never touched it again.

Smoking, dope, vaping: just pretty scummy really.

[Nomme de Plum]

jdw100 said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Wheel Turned Out said:

Rich Boy Spanner said:

It stinks and so do the paranoid losers that use it, or as somebody else wrote, it is 'the stench of failure'.

Judgmental drivel.

Sorry you are wrong.

When I see someone smoking it, I don't care if you earn DSA or £80,000 a year. Much like users of coke and Heroin on here. You say you are control of it but if its regular it's in control of you.

I’d tend to agree.

If you can’t just stop something for six months then it’s in control of you.

Like the, to my mind, pathetic ‘dry January’ where people struggle to go just four weeks without a drink.

I’ve seen friends hooked on cannabis to the point they were smoking it every night. One couple the wife had a very senior European logistics role with a big global electronics firm.

They couldn’t stop it even though trying for a baby.

As I say if you are taking something and you can’t just stop in for decent defined period or say once a month then you have a real issue.

Another mate found himself doing a line of coke on his own at home on a Thursday night, thought what the bloody hell am I doing?!? Never touched it again.

Smoking, dope, vaping: just pretty scummy really.

As the other poster said judgemental drivel.

One can add alcohol, a range of prescription medications and even caffeine to the list of potentially addictive substances.
Some people are in control of their decisions and others are not but nothing is fixed in life so the ability to remain in control cannot be guaranteed.

I know that after cannabis I don’t feel grim the next day as I have done with too much alcohol.

[Nomme de Plum]

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

Excellent post.

[J6542]

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

What do you do about driving then? Because if your a regular user then you will fail a drug wipe even although it is having no effect on your driving.

[Nomme de Plum]

J6542 said:

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

What do you do about driving then? Because if you’re a regular user then you will fail a drug wipe even although it is having no effect on your driving.

Very similar to alcohol. Drink too much and one will still be over the limit the next morning.

The impact of these drugs including alcohol reduces over time to the level that a particular authority accepts. This will differ by Country and maybe by state.

[J6542]

Nomme de Plum said:

J6542 said:

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

What do you do about driving then? Because if you’re a regular user then you will fail a drug wipe even although it is having no effect on your driving.

Very similar to alcohol. Drink too much and one will still be over the limit the next morning.

The impact of these drugs including alcohol reduces over time to the level that a particular authority accepts. This will differ by Country and maybe by state.

Weed takes days to get out your system unlike alcohol. You can fail a test days after taking it, even although it’s having no effect on you

[RDMcG]

Where I live (Canada) it is fully legal with stores everywhere.Because I never smoked, having tried my mother's cigarettes surreptitiously at 10 and being violently ill, I just never got into it.The smell here is not a rare thing and bears a definite resemblance to skunk. The skunks appear now and then and good to know which is which. I have seen no evidence among the many people I know that social use has any longterm effect. I a not fan of the smell but its not a huge deal.

[Nomme de Plum]

J6542 said:

Weed takes days to get out your system unlike alcohol. You can fail a test days after taking it, even although it’s having no effect on you

There is a contradiction in your statement. If it’s in one’s system surely it will have an impact and I assume or at least hope that legislators base legislation on impact.

When you say fail a test based on what and where?

[kambites]

I quite like the smell of cannabis smoke. Can't stand tobacco smoke though and most people mix them when they smoke it.

[stinkyspanner]

It's mingling, and fully council.

[kambites]

Nomme de Plum said:

J6542 said:

Weed takes days to get out your system unlike alcohol. You can fail a test days after taking it, even although it’s having no effect on you

There is a contradiction in your statement. If it’s in one’s system surely it will have an impact and I assume or at least hope that legislators base legislation on impact.

When you say fail a test based on what and where?

I think what he says is sort of true, but it's more a factor of the nature of the test than the drug itself. Alcohol tests are just that - they test the amount of alcohol in either your blood or your breath. When testing for Cannabis, they don't check for the drug itself, but rather for chemicals which the body metabolises the drug into (usually in urine). Hence you can still "test positive for cannabis" long after there is no actual cannabis left in your body.

I suspect it would be perfectly possible to come up with an alcohol test which still came back positive days after a heavy drinking session, there just wouldn't be much point.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 25th June 21:19

[BigMon]

I smoked it thirty odd years ago in my mate's band practice room. We used to have a few joints and a bottle of wine then go to 'Indie Night' on a Saturday at the Leadmill in Sheffield.

Although I quite enjoyed the buzz, I hated the dry mouth and also, I suspect due to mixing it with alcohol had a few 'whities' which is a pretty unpleasant experience.

I have no objection to people smoking it, or it being legalised, but I do think it smells awful, like a really cheap toilet freshener.

Similar to others I was walking to work the other day and passed a bloke walking his dog who was obviously tooting away at 0820 in the morning. It did strike me as somewhat odd.

[pork911]

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

Agree on legalisation but until then given your reference to cultural and societal benefits now and post legalisation how comfortable are you in personally and directly supporting overtime criminal enterprise and all that entails?

[Nomme de Plum]

kambites said:

I think what he says is sort of true, but it's more a factor of the nature of the test than the drug itself. Alcohol tests are just that - they test the amount of alcohol in either your blood or your breath. When testing for Cannabis, they don't check for the drug itself, but rather for chemicals which the body metabolises the drug into (usually in urine). Hence you can still "test positive for cannabis" long after there is no actual cannabis left in your body.

I suspect it would be perfectly possible to come up with an alcohol test which still came back positive days after a heavy drinking session, there just wouldn't be much point.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 25th June 21:19

Yes I’ve investigated it a bit more.

As yet there is no simple test or much research as to the waning impairment over time.

[Mont Blanc]

J6542 said:

Weed takes days to get out your system unlike alcohol. You can fail a test days after taking it, even although it’s having no effect on you

This.

I can't imagine why anyone would drive in the days following a joint, given the current legal situation. If you get pulled or are involved in an accident, and the Police decide to test for drugs, you are pretty much going to lose your licence, even if you had a joint 4 days ago and were no longer impaired in any way.

[Discendo Discimus]

pork911 said:

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

Agree on legalisation but until then given your reference to cultural and societal benefits now and post legalisation how comfortable are you in personally and directly supporting overtime criminal enterprise and all that entails?

We grow our own, the only criminals that are benefiting are me and my wife. It's not like one of those mad houses with tin foil everywhere either, it's just a small tent in my workshop with an LED lamp and a fan.

[Discendo Discimus]

J6542 said:

Discendo Discimus said:

I'm not looking to argue, but I want to share my perspective. My wife has been using cannabis since her teens and continues to do so. She is a member of MENSA and is highly successful in her career, with a promotion to an executive position at a multinational company on the horizon. I also use cannabis regularly and maintain a great career. Not all cannabis users are lazy; some of us simply prefer it over alcohol. We use cannabis in the same way someone might enjoy a bottle of wine at the end of the day, but without the hangover or grogginess the next day.

Regarding the gateway drug argument, I assume your friends also consumed alcohol? One could argue that alcohol is the ultimate gateway drug, and it's also the most harmful by far:
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/06/2...
None of the people I know who smoke weed have ever tried anything other than weed either (other than mushrooms once but Jesus Christ that's a whole other conversation in itself).

You don't see stoners causing riots or fighting in the streets. Many great musical works were created by artists who were high. I believe cannabis should be legalised, at least in edible form, so people can experience its benefits without the smell and health risks of smoking. Additionally, tax revenue from cannabis could help fund various political initiatives.

I do not condone driving or working under the influence of cannabis, just as I wouldn't support doing those activities under the influence of alcohol. I think many people have an unfair opinion of cannabis, and while I doubt everyone will be convinced of its benefits, I'm more interested in having an open conversation about it rather than continuing some of the insults that have been thrown about in this topic so far.

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 10:31

Edited by Discendo Discimus on Tuesday 25th June 11:07

What do you do about driving then? Because if your a regular user then you will fail a drug wipe even although it is having no effect on your driving.

I get tested regularly for work, if it's a saliva based test you're fine after 12 or so hours. It only registers for longer in blood and hair samples. I tend to have a smoke on a Friday night so by Monday I'm good to go.

[Far Cough]

The stench coming mainly from vans sitting in traffic is rife, even at 5am in the morning FFS as I filter past. It's everywhere ..... Must be about to start a stressful day !!!!