I've searched and searched for this group, I'm pretty sure it doesn't exist

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

But heroin will cause users to experience withdrawals. That was my point. If I'm addicted to a hard drug, a "lesser" drug will not fill the void.

Yeah, I just read her post as saying it would be a better substitute for weed, not all illegal drugs. Someone addicted to heroin probably doesn't give a damn that it's illegal.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

true.
Heroin replaces a neurotransmitter in the brain, dopamine, which is reponsible for feeling happy. This happens after only a few shots and the addict is completely reliant on the heroin for happiness.
Weed only alters perceptions, not the brain itself.

I miss my psychology days. Isn't dopamine one of the things they're looking at as a link to depression?

(random, but oh well lol)

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

Yeah, I just read her post as saying it would be a better substitute for weed, not all illegal drugs. Someone addicted to heroin probably doesn't give a damn that it's illegal.

I read it as "If I were to choose to do drugs, I choose ____." I was just pointing out that if someone is on drugs, s/he is probably already addicted to a certain one.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I miss my psychology days. Isn't dopamine one of the things they're looking at as a link to depression?

(random, but oh well lol)



I read it as "If I were to choose to do drugs, I choose ____." I was just pointing out that if someone is on drugs, s/he is probably already addicted to a certain one.

I don't see it that way. There are a lot of people that do drugs recreationally and aren't continually "on drugs". We all knew (or knew of, at least) the kids in high school that smoked a little pot. It doesn't mean they're addicted. IMO that's a whole different ballgame from drugs like heroin. So I read it as her saying it could be an alternative to weed if someone feels that they have to smoke something (since it is legal)...which I don't personally think is a good idea. It seems to me that between those two, marijuana is definitely the lesser evil...it's just illegal and salvia isn't.

Originally Posted by als463

As a Chemical Dependency Therapist, I realize this. What I'm saying is that some people don't care how "bad" their trip is or they wouldn't try some of the drugs they try. If people were more afraid of legal consequences, they might try something that is legal but, also gives them some sort of trip.

In fact, it makes me wonder why Sally D isn't illegal in all states the way that marijuana is. Either way, I don't do drugs and I don't advocate for others to try them. I've seen too many lives ruined by experimentation and it's pretty sad.

Aside from the handful of people I know that have tried things like coke, acid, or ecstacy (which are the "hardest" drugs anyone I know has experimented with to my knowledge) the kids I know who experiment(ed) with drugs stick to weed and pills. It did matter how they'd feel, which is why IMO I've heard so many bad things about salvia (and definitely influences me to never try it, even though it's legal).

As a layperson, I know many people that have had horrible struggles with alcohol and pills. But none that have had problems (health-wise, not legally) resulting from marijuana use. As I've said, I don't smoke it and won't because IMO it's stupid to risk getting arrested. And I certainly don't claim it has no bad side effects or doesn't make it easier for some people to try other drugs. But I find alcohol and prescription drug abuse a million times more frightening than use of marijuana. I'm sure I'm hardly alone here in knowing people that have been killed by drunk drivers, lost their jobs and families to alcoholism, or ended up in the hospital after taking someone else's adderrall or loratab.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I don't see it that way. There are a lot of people that do drugs recreationally and aren't continually "on drugs". We all knew (or knew of, at least) the kids in high school that smoked a little pot. It doesn't mean they're addicted. IMO that's a whole different ballgame from drugs like heroin. So I read it as her saying it could be an alternative to weed if someone feels that they have to smoke something (since it is legal)...which I don't personally think is a good idea. It seems to me that between those two, marijuana is definitely the lesser evil...it's just illegal and salvia isn't.

OK.

We read her reply differently, but my response still stands (in the context that I explained).

[Tulip86]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I miss my psychology days. Isn't dopamine one of the things they're looking at as a link to depression?

True! That's why depression is also associated with diseases like Parkinsons, caused by a decrease in the dopamine production in the brain.

My dad has Parkinsons and the dompamine pills he takes help with both the tremor and the depression.

[AlphaFrog]

I wouldn't care about the legalization of pot, except one thing: a female is born with all of the eggs she will ever have. Women do not "produce" eggs after birth. Women who smoke pot not only cause lower fertility for themselves, but they also cause fertility problems for their eggs (which could potentially be fertilized and become babies). How would it feel for your own child to not be able to have their own children because YOU decided to smoke pot? Men also damage their sperm, which can potentially affect a fetus, but I *think* if I remember right that it's more of a short-term issue...if he stops smoking, he clears up his sperm, depending on how much reproductive damage he has already caused himself.

I know that some potheads would argue that they're not having children, so it doesn't matter, but most potheads are pretty short-sighted (ex: OP), and don't think about the fact that many people change their minds about that kind of stuff when the biological clock starts ticking.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I wouldn't care about the legalization of pot, except one thing: a female is born with all of the eggs she will ever have. Women do not "produce" eggs after birth. Women who smoke pot not only cause lower fertility for themselves, but they also cause fertility problems for their eggs (which could potentially be fertilized and become babies). How would it feel for your own child to not be able to have their own children because YOU decided to smoke pot? Men also damage their sperm, which can potentially affect a fetus, but I *think* if I remember right that it's more of a short-term issue...if he stops smoking, he clears up his sperm, depending on how much reproductive damage he has already caused himself.

I know that some potheads would argue that they're not having children, so it doesn't matter, but most potheads are pretty short-sighted (ex: OP), and don't think about the fact that many people change their minds about that kind of stuff when the biological clock starts ticking.

I've been told the same thing. (About men and women) except for it effecting fertility of future children. Definitely something to take into consideration.

It's also bad for the lungs and does effect brain function after the initial effect wears off. I just think alcohol can be far more dangerous, and it's legal...just let people smoke their weed, and regulate it. At least it would make some sort of dent on the illegal drug trade which is, of course, an incredibly harmful and dangerous industry.