Still think that cannabis is harmless? Here's another reason why you shouldn't smoke pot: scientists found that teenage cannabis smoker are more likely to suffer psychotic symptoms and full-blown mental illness later in life.
Adolescent drug takers interviewed for the largest study of its kind reported experiencing at least three symptoms indicating a risk of psychosis.
These included feeling like something strange or inexplicable was taking place, suspecting they were being influenced or followed and difficulty in controlling the speed of thoughts.
Frequent drug users were more at risk but even youngsters dabbling at an early stage were vulnerable.
The researchers also found taking cannabis in adolescence creates a greater risk of developing schizophrenia than using it when older.
Also, a lot of teenage alcohol drinkers have reported symptoms that may indicate a risk psychosis, such as seeing things that are not there, erratic behavior and a lowered sense of risk.
I would recommend you read something a little more impartial like The UK National Health Service analysis of this same study.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/06June/Pages/Cannabisuseandpsychosis.aspx
which tells us some interesting things about the study, - including:
Importantly, a positive “score” on the PROD-screen questionnaire does not diagnose psychosis. It is used to indicate whether a person is entering the period of early symptoms or changes in function that may come before psychosis. However, even for this, the score is not 100% accurate at predicting psychosis, or even proven as a tool for diagnosing the prodrome. The researchers used a shortened form of the original PROD-screen questionnaire (they reduced it from 21 questions to 12). It is unclear what effect this would have on the overall accuracy of the screening test. If it was too inclusive, i.e. there were a high number of false-positives, the relationship between drug use and symptoms would have been overstated.
oh and name someone thats overdosed smoking pot....or wrecklessly killed other people while high on pot......i'll wait.
Oh, and way to go with the lowest common denominator there by resorting to name-calling.
I had never touched a joint until 19. Prior to this I was a crazy teenager, no life, constantly depressed and out of whack with the rest of society.
Smoking pot opened my eyes to the world. I can truely say that pot saved my mental health and transformed the ugly, sad teenager into a person who is actually productive and happy in life.
Sad thing is, you never hear of the people who smoke pot and succeed. You only hear of the failures. You'd be suprised how many people say that dropping LSD was the best thing they've done in life. Apple's Steve Jobs included.
Alcohol= BAD FOR YOU
Cigarette Smoking= BAD FOR YOU
Pot Smoking= BAD FOR YOU
Get it now?
It doesn't matter which one you put into your body, they're ALL harmful, and they're ALL addictive. Only difference is pot smokers are the WORST in regards to going on the defensive when someone questions their RIGHT to engage in stupid, self destructive habits.
And this is coming from someone who DOESN'T smoke pot but thinks the whole "war" is a bunk what with putting people behind bars for longer terms than rapists, people who beat other people up, and other actual crimes.
1 glass of red wine at lunch = good
5 bongs of super skunk a day = bad
1 joint of pure outdoor weed = good
it's all about being conscious with what you do.
And I don't know if keeping it illegal helps the talking.
it just fuels disinformation on both positions
bad for you? what kind of response is that? just about everything on this planet is "bad for you" in 1 way or another so get off your high horse. its called minding your own business. you dont wanna smoke dont smoke, but dont judge other people when you definately have no idea what your talking about.
It's my business what you do to your body!!!!
We shouldn't stop with weed though. Lets start monitoring all the people that eat to much, because after all, those triple cheeseburger they're sucking down isn't very healthy for them. Just take away everything "bad" for anyone. No more cigarettes for the smokers, no more sugar for the diabetics, no more coffee, soda, pain relievers, or anything else that could possibly hurt someone. And especially no free will.
Can't have people making their own decisions.
"Their findings will bolster the Government's decision last month to restore cannabis to the harsher Class B status against the advice of its own scientists."
I'm guessing this means they deliberately chose to ignore the difference between cannabis causing schizophrenia and people already at risk of schizophrenia being inclined to smoke pot. In other words, they didn't even look to which was cause and which was effect.
Politics as usual: the truth is in the way, so make up a new truth.
Pot smokers ALWAYS bring up something worse than what they use to try and justify the fact that they use it, "I smoke pot, but at least I ain't raping old ladies!", or "I smoke pot, but at least I'm not dipping peasants in acid!", etc, etc...
And hell yes there should be some kind of regulation and punishment for people who abuse food. Damn fat asses are more of a drain on the economy than alcoholics, smokers, and potheads combined.
And as for "gregurdumb" (The fact that you are able to display your obviously vast intelligence and imagination in such a short insult is truly astounding). If you spent half as much time refuting my arguments intelligently, instead of insulting me personally, I might have taken you seriously. But no, it's easier, (and less mentally taxing for you, I assume) to hurl insults and epithets.
"And hell yes there should be some kind of regulation and punishment for people who abuse food. Damn fat asses are more of a drain on the economy than alcoholics, smokers, and potheads combined."
Before you give the government the right to put a gun to your head and force you lose weight, you should find out what they mean by "overweight."
http://flickr.com/photos/77367764@N00/sets/72157602199008819/detail/
Odds are, by the official criteria right now, *you* are overweight, and thus, a fatass.
Potheads (myself included) bring up things like alcohol because it doesn't make sense that something that is worse is legal. It's a valid argument, whether it's a tired one or not. People should be able to do whatever they want, as long as they aren't hurting other people.
(fin)
:)
Although, I think that young people shouldn't smoke it, because some teens don't know how to handle the lack of initiative you get hit with, and will just lay on the couch and play vids all day/get fat watching tv and eating junk food. (Not all teens though, some are able to get off their ass and do fun shit, also depends on the kind of bud, sativa gives me a little more energy/pep, compared to indicas which kinda knock me on my ass)
But I do think that if your a mature adult, that nobody has the right to tell you that you can't smoke it. The reason stoners always say booze and cigs are worse, is because it IS, and not by a little, by a lot! Weed is only psychologically addictive compared to booze and cigs. I will say though that most stoners do tend to ignore the effects of the carcinogens on their lungs, which is obviously bad for you. I think I heard somewhere 1 joint = 8 cigs, (don't ask me to cite where), but I can see that. Most people I know though don't smoke 20 joints a day, compared to some cig smokers who will smoke a pack a day no problem.
I can go on for hours, but I'll leave it at that for now.
"A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very freedoms upon which this nation was founded" - President Lincoln
What's the point of living until 100 if you had a boring time doing it?
It's still a real shame we use closed minded ideology to silence our so-called mad and confine everyone to think in non-mad terms.
There is no conclusive lab test for SZ and there is no known cause. To date, calling SZ an illness amounts to no more than ideology. Using the same ideology, we could claim all left wing thinking people are mentally ill.
I think labeling people that have broken out of consensus reality as mad is just another form of madness. I think we should embrace all possible modes of thought and remove this wall we've put up. I think we'd all be better for it. People labeled as SZ have respected place society, like they did in our past.
Jeez, we'd have to change a few of our constructs though, and it would cause social upheaval and problems but it would be worth it, I reckon.
Of course kids shouldn't smoke pot which is why this article is stupid. No one in their right mind would say its a good idea for a 15 year old to smoke - it doesn't take a study to figure out that that's a bad idea.
I could go on a rant pointing out each bit of bias that's directly misleading in this article, but it'd be a waste of my time. However, I recommend you take a gander at some of the long and short term effects of anti-depressant, anti-anxiety and ADHD medications. Put on some scary music while you're reading that and... VUALA! you've got yourself some more evil drugs that kids should stay away from.
I'm sure someone could link that with schizophrenia.
'These included feeling like something strange or inexplicable was taking place, suspecting they were being influenced or followed and difficulty in controlling the speed of thoughts.'
In other words: do they sometimes experience feelings of 'paranoia' when smoking marihuana.
Most pot-smokers know that feeling. It happens once in a while, when you smoke bad quality pot, or a lot in a short time, or didn't feel good to begin with, tired, empty stomach, etc. It's like every drinker knows a time a drink didn't go down well because of the same reasons.
Young people still have to find out what qualities and quantities they like. It's no surprise to me they experience paranoia more. Older smokers know what they like.
Actually I think feelings of guilt and shame can also trigger a paranoia-effect. If people feel very guilty about smoking and ashamed, it's less pleasurable. Often they never smoke pot again. I really doubt that all those people are potential schizophrenics.
About the source, the Daily Mail, I like to say that that site is not trustworthy at all, in my opinion. I've read anti-marihuana stories there that reminded me of the movie 'Reefer Madness'.
the active substances that causes the "high" are pretty safe. the risks can be eliminated by vaporizing, but, nothing beats a nice joint
some of the comments above shows how ignorant some people are about this things, and would turn to lashing out insulting remarks to hide it. it makes me sad.
herb will heal mankind.
pot adversely affecting teens who are still growing - another shocker!
So round up the fat and the pot smokers as they are spoilinhg your fine healthy Clear thinking tomorrow?
Fat people are fat because after millions of years we are still animals, and will eat fats if they are there, so if they are always there, we are PROGRAMMED to eat them.
Over coming that programming is incredibly hard, as for alcohol and marijuana, they literally IGNITE the pleasure centres of the brain, they make us feel good, that's why we do it.
And as for your lumpy notion of rounding up and punishing them for doing what they are hard wired to do, well that pretty much marks you indelibly as a totalitarian.
See who's next? which group of sub standard humans are on your lists? How about Black people?
Man thiose blacks and their hyper tension, not to mention the sickle cell aneamia, what are they like, parasites on your shiny healthy America.
Legistlating against human nature is the siort of thing normally reserved for the hard line religious crazy crowd.
also, this is why you are encouraged not to smoke or do any drugs when you're young because your brain is still developing. if you introduce any chemical to a developing brain you're likely to see adverse effects later in life, either mental or physical. i know many people my age who can't smoke anymore because it induces panic attacks and anxiety. and what do they do to combat the symptoms? they don't smoke! they have learned what ill effects the drug has on them, and took the smarter route of sobriety (though still indulge in alcohol). i understand that it's hard to say 'no' when you're a teenager because you are at such a prime age to discover the wonders of the world around you, and i am definitely an advocate of exploring those wonders. but if something can cause you to feel uncomfortably anxious or paranoid, don't do it! simple solution.
California pot smokers love to refer to their beloved Prop 215 as proof that the majority of people in California (55%) think marijuana is "A-OK!". What they and most other Californians tend to forget is another proposition that same year, Prop 187, which was meant to deny illegal immigrants all publicly provided services, which also passed, but with an even greater majority (58%).
My point? People in California aren't always as smart as they'd like the rest of the country to think. So the pot smokers are all for marijuana use, especially when it's legitimized by a doctor's prescription, just don't share any with the Mexicans. See? I can create racism where there is none as well...
Willie Nelson - age 74
People think they have a right to meddle more when they are footing the bill (i.e. their time is stolen in the form of pork barrel projects and bills and taxes which pay for our welfare state). Am I working from Jan. thru April to pay for diabetic medicare patients who contributed to their lack of moneys and lack of health through personal choice? Does my money go to pay for food stamps to families who choose to utilize them for white wonder bread and chocolate cocoa puffs? Do pothead hippies who think they have a right to their own bodies also expect that other Americans do not have rights to their own pocketbook/time?
I smoke weed-- and I don't think I'll ever give it up. Only smoke about monthly, but I enjoy it. But I also eat well and I don't expect you to foot the bill should I acquire lung cancer due to my personal choices.
No harm here except for any unseen damage that maybe happening to my lungs from the smoke, mentally I'm fine, I've always been in employment, home owner and now run my own business.
Why should the government step in to try and stop me? we need to make decisions for ourselves why would anyone on this comments page want me to stop?
I'm also a vegetarian I don't go around saying that for health and moral reasons everyone else should be vegetarian, I'll leave that decision to you individuals, I'm just doing what is right for me.
Marijuana is for sissies anyways, all the real hard core druggies do leech (affixing leeches to the eyeball)
Oh, and correlation is not causation. Logic FTW!
Does psychological addiction mean you like to do something ? I am hooked on Pez!!!And cranberry sauce....
Someone said weed makes marriage tolerable...also working for a living!!