Posted by Simcha on December 28, 2006, at 23:55:50
In reply to Marijuana, the Anti-Drug, posted by notfred on December 28, 2006, at 4:48:07
I live in California. Marijuana is so easy to get because it's legal medicine. Yet I'd have to say that in my experience, this isn't the miracle drug that some in NORML make it out to be.
As for me, I've tried the stuff because, well, it's ubiquitous here in the Bay Area and some around here told me it would be good for my depression. It's so easy to find someone with a Medical Marijuana Card who will go to a cannabis club to buy you the good stuff. You can even pick from many kinds of the stuff. Cannabis Club owners here recommend certain types for certain kinds of ills.
Believe me, I gave it a good run and it did NOT help me at all with my depression unless I was high 24/7. Smoking it certainly did not help with my asthma. Even eating it didn't help with the asthma.
I cannot function as a human being high. I can't drive a car. I can't work. I can't concentrate as well. If I were high 24/7 I would be homeless and jobless too. Maybe I'd feel "good" or "numb" but I would not be functional.
I found that when coming off of a high, I crashed emotionally. It doesn't help me sleep, in fact, I don't sleep soundly at all after smoking mj. My Ambien CR works much better and I feel rested the next day.
I work with homeless youth as a psychotherapist intern. Most of our youth use marijuana. Some use it all day. Even among the ones who use it all day, who might have depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc., still have psychiatric issues and aren't emotionally stable people. They wouldn't be homeless, jobless, or have any other worries about their functioning either if marijuana is a "magic drug" that takes care of mental illness (especially mood disorders and "thought disorders").
I know people who swear by the stuff to help them sleep, reduce pain, improve appetite between chemo-therapy sessions, improve appetite due to HIV/AIDS related wasting, etc. It seems to work for them for these things, and there's plenty of research to back them up.
Many of the people who I know who use it to improve their depression seem to be depressed even when they use it regularly to me. They swear they feel better when they use it, and yet I hear them talk about being down etc.
I'm not saying that it can't work for depression or other mental illnesses. I just haven't seen people in my life who have used it for mental illnesses get truly better and more functional. It's not a formal study, it's just subjective observation, so take it for what it's worth.
I stick by my prescribed anti-depressants, sleep medication, and asthma meds, because they work for me. Marijuana didn't work for me.
Blessings to those for whom it works. As with any other drug, I'm sure the old saying, "Your mileage may vary." applies.
For what it's worth, I believe that marijuana should be legalized completely. It certainly isn't any more destructive than the legal recreational drugs (tobacco and alcohol) and it would cut down on so much crime (another ramble for another board).
Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:716869
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061224/msgs/717169.html