Given a choice between medical pill or joint I'd instantly ask about vaporizers.
Vaporizers all the way, and that's how patients who actually smoke it should be doing it.
I'll be honest, I smoke and have regularly for almost 10 years now. I've tried psychedelics when I was younger, but only tried them a few times (~15). Never tried any hard drugs because I've never wanted to. MJ is my "drug" of choice and my anti-drug all in one. I'm not a huge drinker either, I drink maybe once every couple of months. However I wont leave nicotine or caffeine out of this discussion as I'm pretty much addicted to both, although I've switch to Vaporizers for my nicotine and my lungs have thanked me for it.
Be ready this post is going to be long and it goes through nearly my entire thoughts on marijuana, and yes it addresses the current topic.
I will break it into sections to make it easier to read.
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Gateway Drug
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Gateway drug? Hardly, I can tell you for a fact that the very first thing I ever tried was a cigarette, and after that alcohol. Every single person I know who's ever done drugs will tell you the same exact thing or at least reverse the order. Either of those I consider to be gateway drugs, not marijuana.
Did I mention it is impossible to die from an OD.
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Smoking/Vaping vs ingesting via eating vs the pill:
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Smoking is near instant in its effect, onset is quick, and the effects duration completely depends on the user. Vaping is the far healthier way to go about it as you breath in no smoke, you simply are burning off the THC.
Ingesting via eating brownies and cookies. Onset is slow, but it lasts far longer then smoking does, the effects are actually more intense but not to the degree where someone who is a regular user would be impaired by it.
The pill, I'm not a fan of. Onset is right between the first two probably right around the onset of any ingested pill, lasts about as long as ingesting via eating, but doesn't feel the same as the other two. I've tried it before (I knew a guy), I found it personally uncomfortable. It wasn't what my body was used to feeling, it was a different kind of "high" and I didn't enjoy it.
Which method over all would I say is the best usage? Eating by far. Though smoking/vaping is far easier and more convenient, and if you vape then that's less smoke in your lungs and is all the better.
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Effects of Long term Usage/Medical+Recreational Usage/Addiction
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Effects of long term usage: negligible, for me minor very-short term memory loss (I'm talking seconds IE: losing train of thought, forgetting a name that's on the tip of your tongue, etc.. less then a 1-2 second time frame I'm talking about) It doesn't matter whether I've been smoking or not though, but while under the effects it is increased slightly. My mid to long term memory is like that of an elephant regardless of whether I've been smoking or not, it is rare for me to forget anything once it has hit that stage of my memory, and I can remember 8-10 years ago like it was yesterday.
Medical benefits: More then I know probably as I'm not a doctor, but I know how it personally affects me and it relieves anxiety/stress/headaches/minor pains/boredom and those are just basic every life stuff. It also increases my appetite, relieves nausea, and severely helps with my frequent episodes of insomnia. All problems that I actually have fairly often. Personal Problem: It's technically medically legal in my state but extremely hard to get, its basically for cancer patients only and even then it is extremely hard to get. No other medical usages are considered as far as I know of at this time. And me, well I cant always get it the only other way.
Addiction level: Low to moderate. Many of my friends have quit smoking and have not tried it since, many people I know who are regular users have easily stopped for weeks/months/sometimes years at a time without any problems. Daily smokers may feel extremely minor withdraw effects that diminish within 1-2 days. Myself I've stopped smoking a few times for many different reasons ranging from 2-3 weeks, once for 3 months, and once for a year. Also I have no strict dependance on it as I sometimes smoke daily, sometimes every couple days and sometimes I goes a few weeks without. However, nicotine is a must in my system day in and day out.
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The Feds/Obama administration/Legalization
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Boo, Boo, Boo! On both the feds and Obama. The fact that Obama claimed to be for it and now is not even commenting on what just happened enrages me. Yes I know that all politicians do not stick to everything they say obviously, but this is one of those no brainer things. End this prohibition on marijuana already, it didn't work for alcohol, it's not working for marijuana. End it already. That is all I have to say to that.
Legalize it, tax it, but keep it on the state level. The states and areas that have allowed this are bringing in lots of tax money, for local economies that is a very good thing. Keep it the way things are currently being operated but across the US and I am perfectly fine and happy with that idea. What I am against is someone like Phillip Morris coming in and turning it into a cigarette knocking out all other possible competition. But hopefully knowing the people I know who smoke, they'd rather get it legally through a dispensary and pay for it then get a name branded Phillip Morris strain.
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Keeping Crime On the Streets
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Not a whole lot to be said here, the entire time you keep it illegal, crime completely thrives off it. Drug king pins DO NOT want to see it legalized, they will lose a HUGE chunk of business if that happens. How ever I sure as heck know I'd rather buy it legally in a shop or from a legal grower, then illegally off -anyone-, be it a guy off the street or a local dealer you can meet up with safely.
We're spending money to fight the prohibition of marijuana, spending money to keep -users- in jail. (FAR more users in jail then actual drug king pins, dealers, and cartel members) All the while it still goes on daily and drug lords are still making bank of that particular product. Make it legal already, focus on other drugs -IF- you are going to go after people for drug use, and if anything go after the -source- not the user.
My feelings on different drugs varies. Psychedelics used infrequently I'm fine with. Hard, highly addictive, corrosive, horrible drugs, Nada.
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Wrap Up
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Now after all that I have finally forgotten what, if anything, I wanted to say next. However I feel like I have covered just about all my feelings on the subject. If I think of anything else I'll be sure to bring it up, as I have no doubt I'm leaving something out.
For any who actually read this whole thing, bravo, and thank you.