Jahanshah Javid
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A case for alaf
08-Mar-2009
My father didn't smoke or drink. It was not a religious thing; he didn't believe in god. He just didn't like cigarettes or any kind of alcoholic drink. Of course he had chronic heart disease, but even if he was healthy, he would not have indulged in any of that stuff. My mother drank beer or wine on special occasions. I remember seeing her smoking at parties at our house when us kids were growing up, but even that stopped decades before she passed away.
I mention my parents because I want to make it clear that my enjoyment of marijuana has nothing to do with my upbringing. It has been my personal choice.
The first time I tried pot was in 1978, when I was 16. I didn't even know what it was. I had a summer job clearing wild vegetation around an abandoned mental hospital in Kaneohe, Hawaii. My co-workers were rough and tough Hawaiians whom I tried to stay away from as much as possible. I looked like a sissy and acted like a sissy and I just didn't want to give them any excuse to tease me.
Well, one day at lunch break I was brushing aside some thick, tall plants and accidently walked into their circle. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't turn around; that wouldn't have been cool. So I just stood there. I didn't want to look them in the eye, thinking maybe I'd piss them off or something.
"Do you want a hit?" one of them said.
I was surprised and a little relieved. At least they wanted me join in and share whatever they were doing. But I didn't know what a hit was. I knew it probably had something to do with an illegal drug and would land me into deep trouble, especially if my mother found out (my father had passed away a couple of years before). But there was no way I could say no. That would have proved what a wuss I was.
"I've never tried it before," I said.
"It's cool. Here..." he said and handed me a joint.
I hadn't even tried a cigarette before, except once as a kid, out of curiosity. And I hated it. So I didn't know how to inhale. I took a drag and held the smoke in my mouth and let it out after a few seconds. My co-workers were cool about it. They knew this was my first experience and did not insist on me taking more hits.
Obviously that half-attempt at smoking pot did not make me high. I was actually repulsed, especially by the smell. There was no way I was going to try it again.
Fifteen years passed. I had a girlfriend at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. One weekend we drove to Taos -- a popular ski resort near an Indian reservation. We checked into a hotel and at night before going to bed, my girlfriend asked if I wanted to smoke a joint with her. She said it would make sex ten times better. I told her I had smoked it many years ago and nothing had happened. But I would try it with her. And I did, despite being repulsed by the smell. I got mildly high but it wasn't a life-changing experience at all. I still didn't understand what was the big deal.
Five or six years later, I think in 1998, I understood.
My girlfriend at the time took me to dinner at the home of her friends -- a young Greek-American couple who lived near Washington, DC. After dinner they asked if we would like to smoke a joint. My girlfriend had tried it before and was willing to go along if I did. I said I had only seriously tried it once, and it hadn't really done anything to me. But OK, I'll share a joint.
I took one drag and everything was cool. But after my second, I began to wonder. Something had happened.
"Do my lips look bigger?" I asked my girlfriend.
"What do you mean?" she started to giggle.
At that point I knew I was high -- or something. It was around Christmas and our hosts had a small mechanical Santa Claus doll on their TV which danced when there was a loud noise. I looked at the damned thing and it made me laugh so hard. So hard that I was rolling on the couch for the longest time. I even told my girlfriend to call an ambulance because I couldn't stop laughing. Everything seemed absurdly funny. It was the most fun I had ever had.
When I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2000, pot became more and more available. At parties many of my friends smoked it and I would take a few drags. About a year later I found a guy who sold pot out of his apartment in San Francisco and I became a regular customer until I left for Mexico a few months ago.
Pot doesn't make me laugh like crazy anymore, but it does make me relax and I become a much nicer person. And of course it also makes me more imaginative, which has helped greatly with iranian.com :o) Another important point is that pot is not addictive, not for me at least, and certainly not as much as cigarettes. When I travel I have no access to it and I'm fine. I don't crave it and have no withdrawal symptoms at all.
I'm not bragging about smoking drugs. I know it's bad for my lungs. But there are so many people smoking marijuana without inflicting any significant harm to society that governments must rethink long-standing policies against its production and use.
For many years now, marijuana and a few other drugs have been legal in Holland. Many of you must have heard of "coffeehouses" in Amsterdam. The open and legal availability of pot has not had any negative impact there. People have not rushed to buy or use marijuana on any large scale -- just as many people don't drink alcohol just because they can buy at any corner store.
The Dutch experience has clearly shown that the legalization of drugs does not lead to the breakdown of society or criminal activity. In fact it's prohibition that leads to crime and wasting of tens of billions of dollars on a war that cannot be won.
In Chihuahua, Mexico, where I currently live, there's a major battle going on between drug lords and the military. Just a few hundred feet from my sister's home there is an intersection known as "Death Crossing" -- so named because of the high number of people gunned down by drug gangs and their associates. All because there's a huge demand for marijuana and cocaine in the U.S. and it's massively profitable to produce and export.
If the drugs were legal, just like alcohol, the criminal cartels would have no reason to exist and the mountains of money wasted on the drug war could instead be used for public education against drug abuse. Not only would governments stop throwing away billions, but would actually earn a huge amount by taxing the sale of drugs.
Today local governments in several U.S. states have legalized the medical use of marijuana. California is the most notable, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area, where there are now many licensed marijuana clubs. Of course everyone knows that most of the customers are smoking it for recreational rather than medical purposes. It's only a matter of time before this trend spreads to other parts of the state, and across country. And the sooner the better. This insane, useless and costly prohibition on drugs has gone on for too long.
I leave you with an interview with William F. Buckley Jr, a man who's no fan of drugs by any means. He's of course one of the biggest conservative thinkers of our time who understands the futility of prohibition and explains it with simple logic.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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Alaf and Economy
by capt_ayhab on Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:41 AM PDTCalifornia can lead the Nation out of this Depression by legalizing Marijuana
A grainy black-and-white film fills the dark room. The audience shifts in their seats nervously as a young woman walks into her room and looks in the mirror and suddenly starts to scream! The words “Marijuana Madness” appear on the top of the screen.
The myths are starting to lift like fog dissipating in the light of day. The lies and racist reasons for making marijuana illegal are dropping out of the sky like a steady rain, forming puddles destined to dry up.
Californians, and the other states that allow medical marijuana, have received some good news. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's landmark bill (AB 390) to tax and regulate marijuana just like alcohol and tobacco is being considered by state lawmakers.
This is a legitimate effort to legalize marijuana. The bill would make recreational use of marijuana legal. Users would have to be 21 years old, the same as for alcohol and tobacco. It wouldn't change the medical marijuana guidelines for those involved in that growing industry, according to Ammiano.
Organizations like NORML, who sponsored the bill, have fought for years to achieve the present level of tolerance for pot smokers in America. A recent Zogby Poll said 44 percent of Americans would support taxing and regulating pot. (See www.norml.org ) A February CBS/New York Times poll reported 41 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana>>> Full text
-YT
i'm surprised this hasn't caused greater dispute!
by anonymous fish on Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:12 AM PDTfor the most part, comments have been fairly mild. at least it's not about politics and religion. :-)
i think some people are mistaking JJ's intention as being a blanket approval or endorsement of smoking pot and it's not. it's a very legitimate approach to the legality of pot. making pot legal doesn't mean people are going to go around smoking a doob with lunch... anymore than it did before. people are going to be just as responsible as they are NOW. it's simply going to reduce the crime involved with importing and selling an illegal drug. tax the hell out of it! i'd pay a huge tax for the advantage of buying it legally.
different people have different reactions. it's no different than drinking. some people can drink 1 beer and be buzzed. others have a larger capacity. it's said that gin has an adverse effect on women. (i think that's true... ask me about my suitemate in college... whew!)
people who don't smoke aren't going to start just because it's legal and people who DO smoke aren't going to start smoking more. it's just going to be a safer industry.
no different than abortion. whether you are pro or against, it is a fact that legalizing abortions has saved lives. jeez... that doesn't sound right. but you know what i mean... back alley "doctors", etc.
prohibition did NOTHING to curb drinking. it just became another illegal industry. we learned from that mistake.
i told my son and i meant it... i'd rather him smoke pot than smoke cigarettes.
party on....;-)
Pass the dutchie on the left-hand side
by Niki Tehranchi on Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:39 AM PDTEnjoy:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtLONl4cNc&feature...
It's a matter of cultural understanding
by Abarmard on Mon Mar 09, 2009 08:15 AM PDTDrinking might be more harmful than Alaf but the culture of drinking is well established in the United States. Of course making things legal means solves many problems that we have but the US is a conservative and religious society.
dar golestaneh
che booyeh alafi miyamad
aaaahhhh ;)
Interesting comments!
by curly on Mon Mar 09, 2009 07:30 AM PDTWell, I like to start by saying that it takes guts to admit to stuff that you do on line in front of lots of people.I have to say that I am more amused by the comments than you smoking pot! dear JJ, no matter how much you try to justify it , and saying that by smoking the pot you are helping to stop drug wars , you are still hiding your pain by self medicating. I strongly believe and science supports it too that use of mind altering drugs , or even over, and under eating, shopping, and gambling .... the list goes on and on are all symptoms of something else. if you do not believe me psychology 101 will have it.I know why your talking about your private stuff, it is to open up dialogues about taboos and I admire it but please this one I don't know??Too many lives have been ruined by innocent MJ use which leads to stronger stuff.
Comments are interesting, they go from intellectualizing it, to happily embracing it and name calling you. I do not agree with any of them. Addiction is a symptom of an underlying pain which needs to be addressed ,not glorified, intellectualised or condemned.
On "Drugs, Society, And Human Behavior"
by Monda on Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:41 AM PDTWritten by Charles Ksir, Carl L.Hart and Oakley Ray. Best I have read on the topic. Most recent research findings on the effects of drugs, pros and cons on legalization, etc.
I happen to have 2 copies of the same edition (11th), I'll bring you one in case I can find you on the 25th.
Good blog topic!
Pulmonary consequences of marijuana smoking
by facts (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:28 PM PDTBased on previously published studies, this review describes the pulmonary CONSEQUENCES of marijuana smoking. Smoking of marijuana is significantly associated with chronic BRONCHITIS (cough and phlegm), but it has not been firmly established whether it also leads to a REDUCTION IN LUNG FUNCTION. Both epidemiological studies and case reports suggest that regular smokers of marijuana have a higher risk of developing MALIGNANCIES in both the upper and lower airways. Smoking of marijuana contaminated with fungus spores has been reported to lead to PULMONARY ASPERGILLUS infections in immunocompromised patients, and sharing of marijuana water pipes has been associated with transmission of TUBERCULOSIS.
Ugeskr Laeger. 2006 May 1;168(18):1743-6.Links[Article in Danish]
Pfeifer AK, Lange P. H:S Hvidovre Hospital, Hjerte-Lungemedicinsk Afdeling, Hvidovre.
//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16729923?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed
You look like the kid from
by jakarta on Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:56 PM PDTYou look like the kid from Superbad in that picture haha
JJ jaan, Puff puff pass, my
by Fellow Stoner (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:11 PM PDTPuff puff pass, my brother, cause time’s a’ wastin’…
You have made absolutely valid arguments for MJ, in my opinion, and I would second, third,…and nth them!...
About and for MJ, I just want to go on tangent a bit and share a few thoughts.
I suspect that a fascinating relationship between humans and MJ has existed since time immemorial. I mean start with the King Solomon, if not earlier (they say he understood the language of animals!), then follow on to Jesus the Masih with his healing ointment made with cannabis that he used in trying to massage prople into wellness, the Hassan Sabbah abusing it to psychologically manipulate his young recruits and followers, and down to our contemporary Darvish and Soufi and the “Dough-e-Ma’refat” and what not.
I even suspect that throughout at least the written history, in an spirit of exclusion, there has been an intentional effort to keep masses ignorant of the knowledge of, and away from MJ’s divine and wisening properties. Can’t every body have the logon to life’s memory bank of thoughts, visions, inspirstions, and yes, revelations, some may argue.
I agree. Not every one is going to be lucky enough to able to dig MJ, early enough in their lifetime, for it to have its absolutely fundamental but wonderful life changing effect.
Those who are in the quest for leaving the maximum number of “untainted” neurons for the worms to eat, I hundred percent support your position. Do stay away from MJ. It will do you no good.
But those who have safely brought the vessel of their life to their fourties and are learned academically and secure in their positions mentally and financially, and want to now educate themselves in the realm of the real “Truth” and bring out their inner Sage, they need to consider legal means of definitely starting to get schooled by her highness, Mary Jane. I understand the real mecca where one can accomplish that is established and functioning now in our own state of California. Pilgrimage anyone?!...
Check out the links below, for starters, and I leave you with a poem from one of them.
Peace.
خلقت شاه دانه
این شنیدستم که روزی سوی دشت
وان سلیمان پیامبر می گذشت
دید رسته یک گیاهی از زمین
نزد رنگ او زمرد خوشه چین
نارون آسا حباب انداخته
عطر او قدر از گلاب انداخته
تاج و برگش همچو نرگس پر ز ناز
هرگیاهی را به سوی او نیاز
با تحیر آن نبی تاجور
رفت پیش اش تا بگیرد زو خبر
گفت ادرکنی ای گیاه نیک خو
شرح سر خویش را با من بگو
نطق دادش خالق از بهر کلام
شرح سر خود بگفت بعد از سلام
گفت سابقم من بر نباتات جهان
شرح سر من نیاید بر زبان
خون هابیل آن جوان نازنین
ریخت قابیل چون بر روی زمین
او شهید از ضربت یک بیل شد
خلقت من از پی هابیل شد
من سلوک سالکان سر خوشم
من سکوت ناطقان خامشم
من دل ازادگان هامون کنم
عیب و بخل و کین را بیرون کنم
همدم رندان بی سامان منم
مرهم زخم دل افکاران منم
میشناسد سر من را ای کیا
هر که داند سیمیا از کیمیا
لیک اگر یک ناکسی از من کشد
آبروی دین و دانش می برد
نه پی تحصیل دانش می رود
نی به دنبال نیایش می رود
زین سبب تخریم گشتم در جهان
که به من نزدیک نایند ناکسان
ناکسان را خانه ویران می کنم
عارفان را نور یزدان می کنم
عاشقان را می رسانم بر وصال
عارفان را می رسانم بر کمال
نیستم من جز ملک اندر جهان
ای سلیمان پیامبر این بدان
Marijuana and King Solomon
Cannabis and the Christ
JJ you make me sick
by Kiomars Tehrani (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:00 PM PDTJJ I used to respect you, but not any more. YOu bloody, sissy, rich boy smoke pot! What do you think really?
JJ, Iran doesn't need imaginative men, high on drugs. Iran needs real men ready to sacrifice their lives and to think properly. Don't think you are very intelectual. No way, there are more Iranians inside Iran high on drugs.
You guys are far from realities of today's society in Iran, REALY far. I mean it. You and many of the contrbutors of Iranian.com are far way from realitie sof today's society of Iran. May be it is becaus eyou have lived too many years in the west. Whatever it is, I am realy disappointed with you.
People inside Iran work day an dnight to make ends meet, and you guys roam around with no worries in life and prescribe remedies for today's society. It is a shame JJ.
True Iranians are those who died in war front, those who built Iran empty handed in these 30 years and those who are jailed to defend freedom and democracy without being high and without living in Mexico for fun!
alarming finding about drugs!
by erunee 1 (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 07:43 PM PDTI was watching a programs on an Iranian channel and a lady doctor was saying that people who use drugs have personality changes.The lady doctor was saying that because in Iran dealers add dried up dog's blood and lead to their drugs in order to make it heavier and more profitable , peoples and use them contract all kinds of diseases.
video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lw5UekabhI
JJ aziz, As someone who
by Anonymous- (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 07:31 PM PDTJJ aziz,
As someone who works in this field, I can tell you that smoking pot is not good for you. Please refrain from doing so.
I hate alcholol, and cigarettes. Tried them both as a young teen, "ogham gereft!" ewww
Never tried anything else.
My addiction? chocolate
Legalize It!!!!!!
by Khar on Sun Mar 08, 2009 07:26 PM PDTBob marley-Legalize marijuana
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=l23lxYFpu3c
Legalize it don’t criticize it
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYkLGXSM3xQ
WHAT??
by Parham on Sun Mar 08, 2009 06:29 PM PDTThey have internet in Mexico?
Just kidding. Go on, go on...
War on drugs never works and will never work
by Anonymousx (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 04:37 PM PDTThe best thing to do is to legalize drugs. For those who are doing sensitive jobs there should be random test of drug use; nobody wants to see a surgeon is performing surgery while he or she is high, right?
JJ Care for a Bite ? Its Pure Stuff ;0)
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Mar 08, 2009 04:39 PM PDTBet you haven't tried this one. If you want to have hallucinations, I have some Pure Stuff ... ;0))
This is what I see when I go for a Space Cake ... ;0)
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=efJYDSQH3HU
Debra Paget in Fritz Lang's The Indian Tomb (1959)
Full original scene Here
Bruce gave it a try the other day too but he risked an overdose ... LOL
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccNDWEoQGHI
Cigaar or Cigaari,that's the question....
by ebi amirhosseini on Sun Mar 08, 2009 03:17 PM PDTJJ jaan,
sepaas for sharing your experience .
I believe Holland is more successful in the battle against drug abuse ,than many countries such as America,Iran...
Good old days, I chose Cigaar over Cigaari some 22 years ago!.
BTW:
Marijuana, Memory, and the Hippocampus
Marijuana's damage to short-term memory seems to occur because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. Laboratory rats treated with THC displayed the same reduced ability to perform tasks requiring short-term memory as other rats showed after nerve cells in their hippocampus were destroyed. In addition, the THC-treated rats had the greatest difficulty with the tasks precisely during the time when the drug was interfering most with the normal functioning of cells in the hippocampus.
As people age, they normally lose neurons in the hippocampus, which decreases their ability to remember events. Chronic THC exposure may hasten the age-related loss of hippocampal neurons. In one series of studies, rats exposed to THC every day for 8 months (approximately 30 percent of their lifespan), when examined at 11 to 12 months of age, showed nerve cell loss equivalent to that of unexposed animals twice their age.
//www.nida.nih.gov/researchreports/marijuana/Marijuana3.html
Ebi aka Haaji
.
by Flying Solo on Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:15 AM PDT.
I am not into alaf
by IRANdokht on Sun Mar 08, 2009 02:11 PM PDTbut I think it should be legal.
Way too much negativity is attached to it unnecessarily. It doesn't hurt anyone more than alcohol and cigarettes would. These are all addictive and should be used in moderation, but that's not the job of the government to decide or dictate. (hypocrite republicans take notice: smaller gov. should mean less gov. interference in people's personal lives too, be in their lungs or their bedrooms)
Some of my nicest friends smoke pot and I don't see anything wrong with it.
Live and let live
IRANdokht
Problems
by Jahanshah Javid on Sun Mar 08, 2009 01:41 PM PDTbob! nobody said pot does have any impact on a user's health. It most certainly does. But so does alcohol. So do cigarettes. But neither alcohol or cigarettes are illegal. By making pot illegal, you create a black market for it and allow criminals to profit.
mmmm NO!
by bob (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 01:30 PM PDTi work at a university and i know people researching this topic. studies have shown and studies from holland have shown that this drug can lead to mental problems in the long run. there are many cases of people developing mental problems as a result of this drug. just because there is a problem does not mean you should try to justify it. if something is wrong then it is wrong. whenever there is a problem one should not just tax it. it causes mental illness dude.
is it not sad that people need drugs to help them be happy? shouldnt life make you happy?
That's a first!
by Jahanshah Javid on Sun Mar 08, 2009 01:13 PM PDTTsion! Here's one thing we both agree on. Bring out the peace pipe! :o)))
Another interesting topic.
by Princess on Sun Mar 08, 2009 01:01 PM PDTFollowing the thread, I guess I agree in principle with JJ's point. Like Flying Solo, I have never tried pot or any other drugs, for the fear that I might like it. I believe I have an addictive personality and could easily get hooked to things.
By no means am I an expert on addiction or drugs, but gathering from what I have read on this thread there are different kinds of addiction, and in one kind - I hope the experts will correct me if I am wrong, - the addiction is about lacking the self-discipline to resist the temptation of indulging in the substance when it is readily available, while the same person would feel perfectly normal as long as he/she is not exposed to "temptation." If that's one definition of addiction, in the sense that we are not completely in control of our actions, then JJ you might want to reconsider your definition of addiction. :)
Just thought to share my understanding so far. I shall now sit back and continue watching.
Drugs must be free
by tsion on Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:49 PM PDTIt is no business of any government. The only thing this stupid policy of banning drugs has done is to create an international black market and drug mafias, the same way prohibition (of Alcohol) gave power to mobs across the United States in 20th century.
Zion
Not good for you
by Jahanshah Javid on Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:23 PM PDTmaryamnn, as I said, if I had access to pot right now in Bay Area or here in Mexico, I would buy it and enjoy it. But I do not have access and I'm not feeling ANY adverse effects.
To me addiction means you can't live without something, you would do anything to get it, and have severe physical and mental symptoms from withdrawal if you don't have it. I feel none of that.
However, I respect you as an expert who works in this field. I'm sure there are others who have severe problems from using pot or withdrawing from it.
And I want to emphasize again that I am not glorifying pot or claiming that it has no impact on a user's health. It clearly does damage the lung and has other physical and mental side effects that are not good at all.
But criminalization of pot production and consumption is a futile/costly exercise and a major factor in encouraging criminal activity by those who produce and distribute it at huge profit.
Most addictive substance
by maryamnn (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:06 PM PDTMost addictive substance is NICOTINE. It is more addictive than heroin.
Pots,start of hard drugs!
by erooni (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:59 AM PDTThis is what I read about pots.It is 10 times more potent than cigarette and people who are doing hard drugs have started from smoking pots.This may not be true for everyone,but this is what studies show.
Making diagnosis needs interview
by maryamnn (not verified) on Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:52 AM PDTI work in this field and observe the detrimental effects of MJ and alcohol abuse in adults. You may be exceptional and I do not know much about your personal or professional life. Most often people deny their dependence. I bet you will start using MJ if you comeback to bay area.
Good post ;-)
by Souri on Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:43 AM PDTBased on our discussion at facebook, I find this blog is the best thing you did in the way of expression!! Just loved the blog and loved your idea and times spending.
I agree with many things you have said. A few ideas of other friends which opposed your opinion, were also very interesting and sound very right. So......the conclusion??
I don't have any!!
Let see, all I agree with totally:
JJ : If the drugs were legal, just like alcohol, the criminal cartels would
have no reason to exist and the mountains of money wasted on the drug
war could instead be used for public education against drug abuse. Not
only would governments stop throwing away billions, but would actually
earn a huge amount by taxing the sale of drugs.
FS: I think you can legalize any 'vice' to a community that has been informed and educated on its pluses of minuses....There is a whole industry associated with the trading and distribution of 'drugs'.
IVA: I am not sure legalizing everything is solution to all ills that
society faces … as one reader suggested, EDUCATION, starting from very
young age, is the key to problems with alcohol, drugs, etc. and until
major percentage of society members understands the consequences and
affects of drugs, including alcohol, there must be checks and balances.
Maryam: Pot causes psychologic addiction and decline in school and work performance.
My own opinion is that Addiction is bad. Addiction to anything is a sing of weakness...and I hate weaknesses. Drug addiction is as bad as alcohole or internet addiction.
Now, we have some product like alaf, which dosen't cause addiction but will damage the physical and mental health...(and JJ, don't tell me it does not damage the mental health, because i know it does when you consume it on a regular basis) and the first thing I can observe in this regard is the "decision making" which get lost in the way. People who smoke Marijuana regularly, even if they are not addicted, they become too cool :-)) in a way that they can't make a fast right decision. They also become more influenced by others, because they can't trust their own judgement. Thus, the result of their non-addiction interest, is not so brillant in the long run.
Personally, I've never touched it. But I have been witnesses of some friends health degrading when I was young student at a dormitory in Paris. It was a horrible experience for me. Some of those girls, I really liked them and we were friends at first. Then little by little they became moody, up and down, angry and agressive sometimes and too needy for affection at some other times. All those images are still in my mind and made me hating those things which change people's behavior and interaction.
As a mother, I was so worry about that matter, when my eldest got 12, I made him watch the DVD of that excellaent movie "The Basketball Diaries" with the excellent performance of DiCaprio.
That movie is one of the best. DiCaprio being the idle for the young people, played a very sensitive role, so great, that even astonished myself!!
That movie is a ritual thing in our home:-)) I made both my sons, watch it at least 4 times, in different occasion. I believe it had a very great influence at the boys!! It really worked!!
All in all, on durg:
As a mother, I worry for my children.
As an adult, wanting to live my life wholly and let others live, I think it is not that bad to try in once in a while, in a small party (not the big big one which is a complete disaster!!).
And as a responsible member of the society, I would rather to give a chance to the legalization of the soft drug.
Addiction?
by Jahanshah Javid on Sun Mar 08, 2009 11:23 AM PDTMaryamnn, I was a regular user in San Francisco by choice. Just as one would drink wine or beer on a regular basis for personal enjoyment.
I do not have access to any drugs here in Mexico and I am not miserable or anxious or have any uncontrollable urge to find some. So where is this supposed "addiction"?
Would I enjoy it if I had some pot? Yes, very much so. But there's no problem if it's not available and I'm functioning just fine.