Which is worse, booze or pot?

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Possibly, although it is pretty easy to figure out who is a "heavy user" by simply watching or verbally interacting with them. It might not be permanent but there is, at the very least, an effect that lingers well beyond the intended one.

The brain has an amazing ability to heal itself even from those drugs that do harm it. Even from heavy meth use the brain will be back to normal dopamine production within a year. Marijuana does not kill brain cells or inhibit production of any hormones. If someone has retarded their social skills through isolation and lack of education you may want to lay that at the door of one aspect of their life, I put it where it truly lies, choice... unless they were born limited. Then marijuana use would not have made a difference.
As stated by another here, the larger town next to me has a city planner, someone I know, who smokes daily, and has since his teens. One of the most articulate, intelligent and outgoing men I have ever known.
The "pot-head" being created by smoking is a myth and always has been.
Hell, I have known people who were competative bodybuilders (before the days of rampant testing) who smoked before they worked out. Not a choice I would have made, but to each their own. He said it helped him to calm down and relax.

[Toymented]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

The brain has an amazing ability to heal itself even from those drugs that do harm it. Even from heavy meth use the brain will be back to normal dopamine production within a year. Marijuana does not kill brain cells or inhibit production of any hormones. If someone has retarded their social skills through isolation and lack of education you may want to lay that at the door of one aspect of their life, I put it where it truly lies, choice... unless they were born limited. Then marijuana use would not have made a difference.
As stated by another here, the larger town next to me has a city planner, someone I know, who smokes daily, and has since his teens. One of the most articulate, intelligent and outgoing men I have ever known.
The "pot-head" being created by smoking is a myth and always has been.
Hell, I have known people who were competative bodybuilders (before the days of rampant testing) who smoked before they worked out. Not a choice I would have made, but to each their own. He said it helped him to calm down and relax.

So you recommend it and ascribe benefit?

Originally Posted by Toymented

Sorry you can't see it. Do you fear being labeled?

Not remotely, people that do that are ignorant and should be ignored.

Originally Posted by Toymented

So you recommend it and ascribe benefit?

Depends on the individual, how and why they use it.
For me, I use it for medical benefit. Due to my pain level I do not get high off of it, so yes, for that absolutely. There are days that go by when I could not eat without it. It also reduces muscle spasms drastically for me and affects of nerve damage.

As for recreational use, it is very relaxing and fun and does not have the lasting negative affects that alcohol has. Between the two there is no choice IMO. Though this is no longer an option for me and I had long stopped using it for that when I became very ill, I never felt it was a bad thing.

As for the above statement, there is nothing in marijuana that is physically addictive. Some may become mentally dependent on it, but they would become so on something anyway.

[Toymented]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

Some may become mentally dependent on it, but they would become so on something anyway.

Wow, that is quite crass and dismissive for such an enlightened fellow.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

The "pot-head" being created by smoking is a myth and always has been.

The more I think about this, the more I agree with you. I think I've probably met a lot of people who could be classified as "heavy users" that didn't show it and, therefore, I never knew it. I think the group I'm thinking of tends to conform to the myth, itself, and actively play the part.