posted March 22, 2012 12:24 PM            

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But I think the primary thing that encouraged me was I often felt so certain I'd understood EVERYTHING while tripping, yet as I sobered up that understanding slipped away to my frustration and making me want a return of that feeling. Finally I had the idea to have sober friends interview and record me with a pocket recorder, and upon hearing myself I realized I hadn't reached enlightenment, I was just a blathering idiot, the feeling a delusion, and I stopped using them as I knew too many people who used way too many psychedelics and I didn't want to end up like them.

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posted March 24, 2012 07:49 AM            

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For those of you who are users or who have in the past used pot or even those of you who aren't users, please explain what led you into making that decision and be honest about how that decision has impacted your life. Whatever that decision maybe. I'm looking for incisive responses, that go beyond weed makes you feel good, and it might offer access to enlightenment.

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I didn't read everything you wrote and will probably come back when I have a little more time on my hands. But I'll answer this.

I started smoking pot when I turned 18, before cigarettes and alcohol. What led me to it was two fold; the first being a conversation with my father explaining to me that he would rather I smoke pot than do other drugs, smoke, or drink. The second being a way of self medicating extreme anxiety. After attempting and failing various anxiety medications throughout my life, pot was the only thing that calmed it in a short time while allowing me to be functional.

How did that decision impact my life?
I abused it, and like most anything, once it goes from the occasional to abuse, it became bad. That lasted for a little less than a year with both a positive and a negative impact on my life.

Negative; since it is an illegal drug, I socially outcast myself from anyone who might turn me in "to get me off drugs".

Positive; After years of battling with suicidal tendencies, it knocked me off that track, for good. Those "good feelings" and "expanded thinking" were the first things that I found that made me realize that life really is what you make it.

When I quit, I started smoking cigarettes. I enjoy the feel of smoke (and now e-cig vapor).
I never touched any other drug. Never even had a desire to try.
I didn't start drinking until 21 (33 currently) and have a pretty consistent record of drinking about 3-4 times a year.

I still smoke pot. I do so when my anxiety hits it's peeks, which is usually right around the time I start picking moles off, having panic attacks that cause hyperventilation, and getting hives that turn into bruises all over my chest. They still have yet to find a medication that can calm that for me. So, yeah, I still smoke pot... about once a year, between one and two puffs. Though, the longest I've went was about 4 years.

When I smoke I do so alone. I try to spend the time actually listening to what's going on in my mind when I'm not actively thinking about something.

I offer no opinion on the subject, that is simply my personal experience.

posted June 07, 2012 07:39 AM            

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Imagination is intelligence having fun.
—George Scialabba

posted June 14, 2012 02:36 AM            

Ironically, my parents could not face reality any more than I could and insisted that if I wasn't doing well enough in school or wasn't obeying their commands it was 100% my fault, I was mentally ill, or chemically inbalanced, and all I needed was to be on anti-depressants. According to them, without medication, I would never be happy or normal....

Needless to say, I rejected this idea, and continued to use drugs recrationally. Ironically, I became physically addicted to a drug that I had conned my way into getting a prescription for (with my parent's full approval for)... Adderrall. I regret this. More than weed or ex, or alcohol.

Anyway, I don't smoke weed anymore, I drink probably more than I should, and I despise parents who prescribe their children stimulants and anti-depresants before they're able to understand anything about themselves. I think there is sereiously something wrong with our culture in the U.S. It promotes addiction. I'm disgusted with people who condemn marijuana but promote prescription drugs as if they are better in any way...

posted June 14, 2012 05:24 PM            

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Originally posted by FireMoon:
I'm disgusted with people who condemn marijuana but promote prescription drugs as if they are better in any way...

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posted June 14, 2012 08:22 PM            

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Originally posted by FireMoon:
I started smoking weed when I was 13. Weed being a gateway drug was the truth for me, I'v experimented with harder drugs (really only ex by still, a pretty hard drug...)

Ironically, my parents could not face reality any more than I could and insisted that if I wasn't doing well enough in school or wasn't obeying their commands it was 100% my fault, I was mentally ill, or chemically inbalanced, and all I needed was to be on anti-depressants. According to them, without medication, I would never be happy or normal....

Needless to say, I rejected this idea, and continued to use drugs recrationally. Ironically, I became physically addicted to a drug that I had conned my way into getting a prescription for (with my parent's full approval for)... Adderrall. I regret this. More than weed or ex, or alcohol.

Anyway, I don't smoke weed anymore, I drink probably more than I should, and I despise parents who prescribe their children stimulants and anti-depresants before they're able to understand anything about themselves. I think there is sereiously something wrong with our culture in the U.S. It promotes addiction. I'm disgusted with people who condemn marijuana but promote prescription drugs as if they are better in any way...

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There is a lot of wisdom in your words! xx

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