I'm a Good Person and I smoke Weed

[Piff]

33 minutes ago, Verge said:

99% of the league does it already, it's just a matter of not doing it before an upcoming test.

Truth. I know a few players in the league who smoke and they've all said the league notifies their agents when test are coming up. 

[CPcavedweller]

5 hours ago, RenoCarolina said:

Topical to Panthers due to both recent arrest of Cox and Long's mention of Eric Reid.  Good talking points here as states around the nation look at not just legalization but NORMLization of pot.  Big fan of Chris Long, so articulate and thoughtful but just a beast on the field.  So, does anyone really think that Cox is the only Panther to carry around a stash?  As Long points out, being tested for marijuana is a once per year window.  Totally not on par with random tests for PED's like Reid is going through.

Growing up (I am old) I always thought the incredible market value of hemp products would be the key to the legalization of marijuana.  Now it appears the opposite is true as the recreational drug use value of weed could (hopefully) open more market doors for the incredible value and variety of usage of the hemp plant.

talking points?

1) usage of weed in the NFL and specifically the Panthers?

2) legalization possibility in the Carolina's? 

3) positives benefits?  (less usage of alcohol)

4) negatives (kills motivation long term or short term?)

5) how does our new owner view usage?  I think we all believe our old owner would have cut Cox on the spot.

When pot became legal in Colorado I visited my son there and it was amazing to see pot sold in stores.  Not similar at all to how I procured it in the late 70's thru the 90's.  Personally I stopped everyday usage a long time ago and not a fan of the high-strength stuff anyway.  But it is fascinating to me to witness such a taboo subject become commonplace.

 

 

I've witnessed two psychotic episodes resulting in hospitalization from weed and only weed before. Panic attacks so bad the people had a break from reality. Hard to watch. One of those people ended up getting into stimulants following that due to a prescription, had a psychotic break, committed suicide. 

It may seem harmless but it really isn't. There is plenty of evidence of negative effects that potheads generally ignore.  

[DaveThePanther2008]

5 hours ago, TheRed said:

Finally, a decent thread.

Legalize it.

This forum has gone to hell in a hand basket. 

We're a week and a half before game one and "Finally A Decent Thread" and it's about weed.

Should be in Rant and Rave. Super weak to tie this to Cox an the NFL and make it Panther related just so it can be posted here.

I do agree it should be legalized but should not be utilized outside the home. Those caught driving under the influence should face heavy fines and insurance increases.  Those caught at work should be fired.

I am certain the US Military will keep it banned.

[45catfan]

18 minutes ago, arbnranger said:

Would you be fine with it being taxed at or around the same rate as alcohol? 

Don’t quote me but I believe the excise tax raised on cannabis is 3X the amount as alcohol in the states that have legalized it. 

It depends how it will equated to alcohol in terms of say a DUI.  If it is persecuted the same as alcohol, then I say it's fine to tax the same as alcohol.  For whatever reason the common perception is it's safer to drive stoned than drunk.  If I drive after 3 beers, legally I'm drunk, but a dude gets behind the wheel that smoked a Cheech and Chong blunt is somehow the safer driver?  Again, same rules, same taxes.  I just doubt it would be.

[arbnranger]

10 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

I've witnessed two psychotic episodes resulting in hospitalization from weed and only weed before. Panic attacks so bad the people had a break from reality. Hard to watch. One of those people ended up getting into stimulants following that due to a prescription, had a psychotic break, committed suicide. 

It may seem harmless but it really isn't. There is plenty of evidence of negative effects that potheads generally ignore.  

Not diminishing your personal experience at all . 

Just offering a perspective. 

No sensible person advocates the use of recreational drugs for minors, including alcohol. 

When someone is referred to as a “pothead” that could be equated to an alcoholic in some perspectives. I don’t think many are advocating that. 

Most things in life are not “harmless” but do we base our judgement in making decisions on ....the very small percentage or the overwhelming majority ? 

Wasnt trying to change your mind, just a couple of penny’s . 

[arbnranger]

9 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

It depends how it will equated to alcohol in terms of say a DUI.  If it is persecuted the same as alcohol, then I say it's fine to tax the same as alcohol.  For whatever reason the common perception is it's safer to drive stoned than drunk.  If I drive after 3 beers, legally I'm drunk, but a dude gets behind the wheel that smoked a Cheech and Chong blunt is somehow the safer driver?  Again, same rules, same taxes.  I just doubt it would be.

Yea good point. I believe that some device can easily be developed through testing and research. If some time an energy is allocated to creating a “DUI device” that can detect levels of THC ...that would give everyone a base line level and expectations regarding the law.

Trouble is though, I believe that because it’s not legal on the federal level, testing and research is not allowed so therefore no real progress is made in regards to that. Kind of like the government is behind the power curve . Weird I know. 

[CPcavedweller]

8 minutes ago, arbnranger said:

Not diminishing your personal experience at all . 

Just offering a perspective. 

No sensible person advocates the use of recreational drugs for minors, including alcohol. 

When someone is referred to as a “pothead” that could be equated to an alcoholic in some perspectives. I don’t think many are advocating that. 

Most things in life are not “harmless” but do we base our judgement in making decisions on ....the very small percentage or the overwhelming majority ? 

Wasnt trying to change your mind, just a couple of penny’s . 

I never said this person was a minor, and they weren't. And marijuana doesn't only affect a very small percentage of people that way. I bet if you ask many people around 50% or more would say they've experience some sort of panic attack while high. It is what it is. Legalize it, if you'd like. I'm torn between what seems to be the right thing to do and what is the sensible thing. I can't get behind the arguments that advocate groups like NORML use though.

Primarily, "Support Bernie, he will make it legal". Democrats had a super majority and did nothing between 2008 and 2010. Would've given farmers another cash crop, grown a new industry, and acted as a natural stimulus package for at least a portion of the economy. 

[Riverboat Ron]

How many marijuanas do you inject daily?

[TheRumGone]

36 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

I've witnessed two psychotic episodes resulting in hospitalization from weed and only weed before. Panic attacks so bad the people had a break from reality. Hard to watch. One of those people ended up getting into stimulants following that due to a prescription, had a psychotic break, committed suicide. 

It may seem harmless but it really isn't. There is plenty of evidence of negative effects that potheads generally ignore.  

Really sorry that happened but those are extreme outliers with people who have preexisting or predisposition to mental disorders. It is VERY rare compared to the overall numbers of people who use marijuana.

I’ve seen people “freak out” on weed. Get paranoid, be uncomfortable and anxious. Easy to talk those people down and refocus their attention/let them know it passes/reassure them everything is ok. But full blown dissociation is extremely rare. It’s obviously not for everyone. Everyone is wired differently.

[arbnranger]

Just now, CPcavedweller said:

I never said this person was a minor, and they weren't. And marijuana doesn't only affect a very small percentage of people that way. I bet if you ask many people around 50% or more would say they've experience some sort of panic attack while high. It is what it is. Legalize it, if you'd like. I'm torn between what seems to be the right thing to do and what is the sensible thing. I can't get behind the arguments that advocate groups like NORML use though.

Primarily, "Support Bernie, he will make it legal". Democrats had a super majority and did nothing between 2008 and 2010. Would've given farmers another cash crop, grown a new industry, and acted as a natural stimulus package for at least a portion of the economy. 

Cool. I hear ya . What percentage would you say were effected by alcohol? But to be honest, that’s not a good argument. Abuse of anything is a defo-no-go. Same can be applied to both “drugs”.

Not really familiar with NORML and haven’t been into politics for about 10 years but I’m sure you could make a valid discussion one way or the other so I get that aspect. 

[CPcavedweller]

8 minutes ago, TheRumGone said:

Really sorry that happened but those are extreme outliers with people who have preexisting or predisposition to mental disorders. It is VERY rare compared to the overall numbers of people who use marijuana.

I’ve seen people “freak out” on weed. Get paranoid, be uncomfortable and anxious. Easy to talk those people down and refocus their attention/let them know it passes/reassure them everything is ok. But full blown dissociation is extremely rare. It’s obviously not for everyone. Everyone is wired differently.

I've known two people to have "psychotic" or dissociation episodes. I've known more who had complete panic attacks. Sure it depends, and the number is low, but I think the panic attack that doesn't require medical care is more common than people think. 

There is some chemical cause of it as well but I don't recall exactly what happens to cause the dissociation. 

[TheRumGone]

13 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

I've known two people to have "psychotic" or dissociation episodes. I've known more who had complete panic attacks. Sure it depends, and the number is low, but I think the panic attack that doesn't require medical care is more common than people think. 

There is some chemical cause of it as well but I don't recall exactly what happens to cause the dissociation. 

Weed can push things to the surface that is hidden in the subconscious. I’ve always thought weed was LSD lite. Like if you’re in a bad state of mind. Anxious, depressed or like I said before have a predisposition or preexisting mental disorder it can trigger a negative high. But at the same time for some people it helps with anxiety and depression. Everyone is different.

Best thing I can say is know your tolerance level and what you are putting into your body if you fall into this category. Who you smoke around, where you smoke. All plays a hand in this. Which is where legalization and regulation come in. There are strains of weed that are not heady and affect the body more. And there are strains that are total head highs. 

[Mr. Scot]

3 hours ago, Piff said:

You're very good at backpedaling. We may need you for DB depth this season.  

Riiiight.

That's... not... backpedaling, but if you're not getting it at this point, I'm not sure it's gonna happen so...okay 

[pantherphan96]

7 hours ago, RenoCarolina said:

This is something I would have scoffed at in the past but more studies are reaching the same conclusions.  Again the problem seems to stem from the high-potency strains.  Home-grown's alright with me.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/19/704948217/daily-marijuana-use-and-highly-potent-weed-linked-to-psychosis

The study found that those who used pot daily were three times more likely to have a psychotic episode compared with someone who never used the drug.

Those who started using cannabis at 15 or younger had a slightly more elevated risk than those who started using in later years.

Use of high-potency weed almost doubled the odds of having psychosis compared with someone who had never smoked weed, explains Di Forti.

And for those who used high-potency pot on a daily basis, the risk of psychosis was even greater — four times greater than those who had never used.

 

few things here:

the existence of a correlation between cannabis use and psychosis does not imply causation of psychosis due to cannabis usage. it could just as easily be explained by those with a predisposition for psychosis to be more likely to use cannabis, potentially as a form of self-medication, albeit sometimes with negative effects.

the biggest thing left out from these types of studies is that in every major study, following short-term cessation of cannabis usage, those who had previously used were not found to be significantly more likely to suffer from psychosis or any form of quantifiable "brain damage" than the control group of non-users.

similar to the studies linking cannabis usage in developing brains to other negative results (short term memory recall difficulty, etc.) it has been found that there is no permanent damage done and that any negative effects are reversed following a short period of abstaining from usage-- something that cannot be said for use of other legal drugs such as alcohol.