Sunday July 19, 2009, 10:32 pm
"Then it became an obsession, something she needed to get through the day. She found herself hiding her addiction from her family, friends and co-workers.

“I would come home from work, close my door, have my bong, my food, my music and my dog, and I wouldn’t see another person until I went to work the next day,” said Joyce, who like most others in this article asked that her full name not be published, because she does not want people to know about her past drug use.

“What kind of life is that? I did that for 20 years.”

She tried to stop, but was anxious, irritable, sleepless and lost. At one point, to soothe her cravings, she took morphine that she found at her dying father’s bedside. She almost overdosed.

Two years ago, she checked into the Caron Foundation, a treatment center in Wernersville, Pa. Even there, she said, some other addicts — cocaine and heroin users or alcoholics — downplayed her dependence on marijuana."

Read more at site..

Sunday July 19, 2009, 10:35 pm
Thank you Dee.Interesting.

Monday July 20, 2009, 2:13 am
Smoking pot is not the only way to ingest cannabis. It can be baked usually in a brownie or as a pie crust and I know my father would not have gone blind from closed angle glaucoma if it had been legal at the time he suffered the disease. The laws against it are preposterous and do not serve the interest of the people -- they just overload the prisons and there is no room for the violent to be taken off the streets and incarcerated for the good of us all.

Monday July 20, 2009, 7:50 am
I think you can get addicted to anything. The brain is a very complex organ that noone really fully understands yet. It is not just pot it could be gambling,drinking, sex ,overeating just about anything!!

Monday July 20, 2009, 7:58 am
14.JDBrooklyn, NYJuly 17th, 200910:38 pmA two page article on the supposed addictiveness of this "new" high-potency marijuana, and one line describing how Valium and Xanax are much more addictive. Nevermind that the latter cost more, have worse side effects, are legal, and make corporations millions of dollars. Every fact the article has describing the dangers of marijuana is subsequently disputed by scientific research later in the article. And each quoted person seemed to be using their "marijuana addiction" as an excuse for not succeeding in life. Blame yourself, not the plant you smoke. Why is this article highlighted on the nytimes home page? Better yet, why was this article written at all? No clue here. Legalize It!

Sorry, I just copied and pasted someone"s comment. But I could not of said it any better.

Monday July 20, 2009, 8:09 am
so lets say no to organic clean fuel -the real reason it is illegal. lets use morphine instead -it is healthier right? And depleted Uranium is much safer -our government has proven that to the sheeple by it's continue legalized use. Deadly alcohol poisoning, uncountable death toll from drinking and driving -but it's legal. Cigarettes -i don't need a list do i? but it's legal. All things can be addictive and dangerous -like food -but it's still legal for fast food, even "quality" resturants, and parents to fatten our kids leaving them with health problems for life . I see the point -but moderation and abstenance needs to be taught from home, school, commercials(where ever we can) -not shock therapy and hypocritical laws.

How marijauna became illegal -
http://www.ozarkia.net/bill/pot/blunderof37.html

Monday July 20, 2009, 8:27 am
Who is funding this war or drugs, this war against free enterprise, this war against the American people??? Al Qaeda, multi- national corporations, domestic enemies of the constitution!!! We have been divided, and therefore conquered, and we never even asked our selves who is benefiting from the drug war???

Monday July 20, 2009, 8:43 am
Click, puff puff....Hmmmm, pondering. Don't forget, BIG PHARM, alcohol manufacturers, and the US government!! Thanks for the friend add Chief Dubie! (and the star) ;-)

Monday July 20, 2009, 12:12 pm
Well, if I had to choose between Xanax and pot , I`d definitely choose pot.

Monday July 20, 2009, 1:07 pm
Good Grief! WHY isn't CAFFEINE illegal?

Because frankly, we're a culture of Puritans, & have to go, go, GO! ["Jesus is coming--look busy!"]

"Idle hands are the devil's ...something or another."

Instead, we have to be SOLD stuff to help us RELAX.
[but that's capitalism, isn't it? And WHY can't you relax with alcohol, anyway? you MUST be a 'freak']
Namaste! xo

Monday July 20, 2009, 1:13 pm
Please...all of this is just B***S*** and an excuse to keep marijuana illegal! Cannabis is a heck of a lot safer than alcohol and cigarettes, and they are not illegal!! So tell me this, why do our politicians and authority figures always have their heads up their asses? It must be they want to keep all of the "good stuff" for themselves! It's time to legalize it!

Monday July 20, 2009, 1:47 pm
Well said CHIEF!

Monday July 20, 2009, 3:53 pm
I think that pot should be legalized. It would create some great tax revenue, and law enforcement could quit chasing down those who sell or use it. Right now it's costing a fortune to chase down and incarcerate people. That being said, it appears to be the lesser of the evils among substances, although smoking it does involve inhaling poison gases and depositing oils that can't really be eliminated from the lungs. Ingesting it would be smarter. It can also be a good medicine. I was a daily user for many years, and it didn't work out well for me. If I could do it now without bad consequences, I would. I used it for fun, but also for its anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. I also used it instead of alcohol, which caused me a lot of trouble. I found that smoking it led to lack of motivation, depression, and mild paranoia. Those things went away after I stopped. Like drinking, some of us can't seem to use without having trouble in some area of our lives. I don't really care what anyone else does as long as they're not hurting anyone, but FOR ME there is no such thing as moderate or safe use.

Monday July 20, 2009, 3:57 pm
I to am 52 yrs old and have smoked the weed off and on ever since my early twenties. In my opinion, if you were to add books, flatscreen TV, and an X-Box to the dogs, bongs, music, and food?! You have almost acheived Nirvana my friend. All kidding aside, I've tried 'schrooms'and peyote afew times when I was younger and to say that pot was a gateway drug would be a great big steaming load. Human nature being what it is, I would have tried those things eventually even if I'd smoked pot or not. Gateway drug....Pffftt. What a cop-out! For no particular reason, I had not smoked pot for 15 or 16 years and in 2006 was diognosed with cancer. While preparing for the chemo gig a nurse in my oncologists office said to me, "I don't know how you feel about it or not, but if I was you I would get hold of some marijuana and have a stash on hand." I had already been thinking about doing just that, and her comment sealed the deal. Now, after the fact, I shudder to think about going through that puke fest without Dear Old Mr. Green. I was fortunate, my friends cared enough about me to secure it and make sure it was always available. Without them I could not have gone through the hunt, find, and buy, jump through hoops b.s. required to obtain this Evil Bud. I am not exaggerating when I say that weed was a 'God Send' for me during those nightmare months. It's time to stop trying to leagislate morality. Legalize marijuana and move on to the real priorities that need to be addressed on this planet before it's to late. Thanks for letting me rant.

Monday July 20, 2009, 5:09 pm
Life is addictive and leads to Death. Opt out?

(Sorry, I have to write something equally meaningless after reading that A leads to an addiction that results in Z addiction. We all wake up decades later and realize we haven't utilized our lives to the best of our ability. It's called maturing. The previous lifestyle choices whether + / - are part of the usually-necessary path). Just a thought.

Monday July 20, 2009, 5:42 pm
This 'story' from the New York Times is filled with drug warrior lies and propaganda. Of course, people with addictive personalities will abuse anything. Do we outlaw everything that might be abused? Get real.
I heard John Walters stating this 'fact' on CNN: "More adults are now admitted to treatment centers for primary marijuana and hashish addictions than for primary addictions to heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the latest government data," without going on to explain the reason. Of the over 800,000 cannabis arrests every year, they are given a choice. JAIL or treatment. What would you choose? Ask the people using this 'fact', how many in treatment actually need treatment, and are there by their own volition?
And marijuana is NOT physically additive. Look at the SCIENCE, not the Government shit science.
Cannabis has been used for over 5000 years to treat a multitude of ailments and afflictions.
Of course, the ones fighting the hardest for prohibition are the prison builders, prison unions and the law enforcement community that counts on 'Drug War' funds to survive. Big Pharma and the Alcohol lobby certainly have an interest in spreading the lies and the propaganda, also.
I find that everyone wanting to continue this failed drug war are either terribly misinformed, or they profit from the status quo.

Monday July 20, 2009, 8:14 pm
Some legal drugs are more dangerous than illegal ones.
I would legalize all addictive substances for adults.
Didn't alcohol prohibition made some boys rich and organized?

Monday July 20, 2009, 8:31 pm
I wouldn't make it without marijuana because of lupus!

Monday July 20, 2009, 9:11 pm
IT IS NOT 5 TIMES STRONGER THAN IT WAS!
this is total B*LL SH*T
even people who are stoned don't believe this nonsense, if you do,
your brain is functioning at a lower level than a dopers!
You get what you pay for, you pay more you get better stuff, it has always been this way. Better stuff you smoke less.
OTHER CRAP THEY TELL YOU
you are funding terrorism
it damages the ecology
COMING SOON
it makes "global warming" worse!
it should be limited to people who finish high school though.

Monday July 20, 2009, 10:08 pm
I say legalize it.It's not dangerous,and I know some people(myself included) would benefit from it's tranquilizing effects.

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 6:15 am
Sacred WEED ! Sacred Tobacco all put here by the Creator to help usher in a greater sense of Consciousness! Peace...Love...Harmony with ALL things.
Maybe if our so called world leaders took part...they would be looking to supply food[munchies]to humanity instead of Bombs,death,torture and toxic drugs.Hemp is a non GMO sustainable world saving plant in many,many ways.Just say NO to the NWO...say yes to yourself!

Wake Up Save Our Earth...Get Conscious...Smoke Pot/hemp!

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 7:35 am
Everyone is different, I know that. But, I have a hard time believing this was not just a cop out, and attention getter. I have smoked much of my adult life. There is nothing wrong with my memory, I am not a recluse, I do not have any stranger thoughts then I would if I did not smoke. I see what pot can do for people. I have mentioned often on here, that it helped my husband, after a major illness, start to eat again. If you are not taking away anyone else's quality of life {like your children's} then smoke away. It was stronger back" in the day", I do not think it is stronger now.

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 7:36 am
Oh and as an oldsong goes, "either light up or leave me alone."

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 12:02 pm
Oh Gadzooks Yes! I'd have to agree with most all points here (Jelica hit the nail on the head. Follow the money, always follow the money.) with one exception. "This ain't your fathers oldsmobile." The "Budage" of today does have a much stronger THC content, and why shouln't it?! After more than four decades of selective breeding by botanists, it better be. That is what capitalism (along with some altruistic motives) and supply and demand are all about. Who doesn't want more bang for the buck? Don't misunderstand me, not for one second do I suscribe to the "Your Supporting Terrorism" line. Bumper sticker mentality at it's best! If you were alive during the "Vietnam Conflict" you know better. It's just the (sorry for all of the "quotes") "Powers That Be" playing the "Fear Card" in an attempt to spook "The Herd", (you and me) into running a certain direction. They continue to use it because it works! As long as the majority of the herd don't read past the sound bite, and look at the facts for themselves then, it will continue to work and they will continue to use it. What were we talking about anyway? Oh yeah, potency. I don't know about you but if I'm paying 10X as much, then by golly, I want 10X's the T to the H to the C! Thanks for letting me rant.

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 12:08 pm
Chief Dubie has disappeared! Anyone know what happen? His profile is MIA.

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 4:42 pm
Chief Dubie was a bad boy! He used the C word on a website that is 85 percent female! It was a comment on this story which is now GONE! He has been bounced. If you saved his email address in your address book and he set forward to my email you can still send him a card, that is about it!
THE STUFF TODAY IS NOT STRONGER
We used to get real Panama red, Acapulco gold and moldy Argentina white that would make you see colored hallucinations!

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 6:20 pm
Yeah, I remember, the "good old daze": dime bags, four finger lids and tied stick. Sure there was great bud that would make an apperence, but more often than not it was leaves, seeds and stems. Stronger more prolific plants across the board are a natural product of science and selective breeding. Don't shoot the messenger dude, agree, disagree, love it or hate it, it's the nature of the beast. Hallucination weed? After market opiated bud, paraquot was a known hallucinogen...maybe a gas leak? Oh yeah,the names...yeah, they were fun: Panama Red, Acapulco Gold, Sensi, Afi, Hawaian, Jamaican, Lebonese Blond, Istanbul Ickie, Timbuktoo Tripwire, Jajuana Blomie. Thanks for letting me rant.

Tuesday July 21, 2009, 6:38 pm
they should legalize it already. the laws against it are stupid and unfair. not to mention that some need this stuff for one reason or another. i have tourettes syndrome, in case nobody's ever heard of it before, its a disorder that causes repetitive, extremely hard-to-control tics (rapid, sudden body movements), i have been on all kinds of pills but eventually i stopped taking them as i was fed up with their unpleasant side effects. i've been smoking pot ever since and it really helps better than anything else. its very calming, and it gets rid of my tics instantly. if i stop smoking pot for at least a week, my tics get so bad all over again that i can barely function. and i refuse to go back on those horrible pills ever. i am incredibly thankful that something like this exists, that i finally found something that really helps me. i just wish they would legalize it so i wouldn't have to keep running around all over the streets to get it.

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 2:29 am
New York Times = Monkeys write / Monkey writes
(anagram which seems fitting)

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 9:30 am
Thanks Be Kay, Words usually don't bother me a bit...but that one is just not nice. We just became friends so I don't have any info on him. I just wanted to post a commment on his page. As far as potency goes, now and "back in the day" there were choices. Like you said Be Kay, you get/got what you paid for! William, lmao ! I remember all those delightful varieties plus a few more. The paraquat was a poison that made people sick. I remember many of us were a little scared about smoking any "ragweed" during that time! For those to young to remember. Our government along with the government of Mexico sprayed Mexican marijuana with this poison. Nice huh? http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/paraquat/basics/facts.asp

What paraquat is
•Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is widely used as an herbicide (plant killer), primarily for weed and grass control.
•In the United States, paraquat is available primarily as a liquid in various strengths. It is classified as “restricted use,” which means that it can be used only by people who are licensed applicators.
•Because paraquat is highly poisonous, the form of it that is marketed in the United States has a blue dye to keep it from being confused with beverages such as coffee, a sharp odor to serve as a warning, and an added agent to cause vomiting if someone drinks it. Paraquat from outside the United States may not have these safeguards added.
Where paraquat is found and how it is used
•Paraquat was first produced for commercial purposes in 1961.
•Worldwide, paraquat is still one of the most commonly used herbicides.
•In the United States, due to its toxicity, paraquat is available for use only by commercially licensed users.
How you could be exposed to paraquat
•Paraquat is not known to have been used in any terrorist attacks or wars.
•The most likely route of exposure to paraquat that would lead to poisoning is ingestion (swallowing).
•Paraquat can be easily mixed with food, water, or other beverages. If the form of paraquat that is used is the form that does not contain the safeguard additives (dye, odor, and vomiting agent), people might not know that the food, water, or other beverages are contaminated. Eating or drinking paraquat-contaminated food or beverages could poison people.
•Paraquat poisoning is also possible after skin exposure. Poisoning is more likely to occur if the skin exposure lasts for a long time, involves a concentrated version of paraquat, or occurs through skin that is not intact (skin that has sores, cuts, or a severe rash).
•If it is inhaled, paraquat could cause poisoning leading to lung damage. In the past, some marijuana in the United States has been found to contain paraquat.
•Licensed applicators of paraquat are the people most at risk for exposure.
How paraquat works
•The extent of poisoning caused by paraquat depends on the amount, route, and duration of exposure and the person’s condition of health at the time of the exposure.
•Paraquat causes direct damage when it comes into contact with the lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines.
•After paraquat enters the body, it is distributed to all areas of the body. Toxic chemical reactions occur throughout many parts of the body, primarily the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
•The actual mechanism by which paraquat damages the lungs is not known.
Immediate signs and symptoms of paraquat exposure
•After a person ingests a large amount of paraquat, he or she is likely to immediately have pain and swelling of the mouth and throat. The next signs of illness following ingestion are gastrointestinal (digestive tract) symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea (which may become bloody).
•Severe gastrointestinal symptoms may result in dehydration (not enough fluids in the body), electrolyte abnormalities (not enough sodium and potassium in the body), and low blood pressure.
•Ingestion of small to medium amounts of paraquat may lead to development of the following adverse health effects within several days to several weeks:
◦Liver failure
◦Kidney failure
◦Heart failure
◦Lung scarring (may evolve over several weeks)
•In general, ingestion of large amounts of paraquat leads to the following signs/symptoms within a few hours to a few days:
◦Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
◦Lung scarring (evolves more quickly than when small to medium amounts have been ingested)
◦Liver failure
◦Kidney failure
◦Confusion
◦Coma
◦Seizures
◦Injury to the heart
◦Fast heart rate
◦Muscle weakness
◦Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death
•Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to paraquat.

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 3:14 pm
I was being sarcastic when I mentioned the paraquat,(and the gas leak) and did not intend it to sound glib or give the impression that it was not a heinous act perpetrated on a large percentage of young Americans by the government that was supposedly there to protect its citizenry. It's obvious that you guys are well educated and hip to the fact that all the Mexicans did was harvest the chronic and sell it. I don't know about you but I was young, dumb (some might make the argument that now I'm just old and dumb)and had that I'm immortal, bullet proof, and thinking: "what are the chances that my weed has been sprayed?" Like the song lyric from then said: "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." I have since become cynical and jaded, but I hope, somewhat smarter. Fortunately I am wise enough now to know how despicable the powers that be are, and that we are often percived as nothing more that cattle in their eyes. The unconscionable deeds they seem willing to perpetrate against their fellow man, and the planet know no bounds. I often wonder what it will take to get we the people off the couch and in to the streets, then it dawns on me that I am still on the couch, I still have not made a poster and left the house, so there you go. I keep waiting for the young ones to pick up the 60's banner I guess. I live in a red state, and liberals like myself (commie pinkos) are sadly a minority. During the Bush years (shudder) I blabbed non stop to my young son and anyone who would listen about the lack of protest groups, and when we finally did see a small group with signs, it was a protest about gay and lesbien rights. I was still overjoyed, I honked my horn, gave the thumbs up, and went home a happy camper that day. But there was something still missing, what about the other gross injustices....a stolen election, the hungry, the homeless, whales....blah, blah. Sorry, as I'm sure everyone already knows, I can come across as a long winded opinionated know-it-all.
My original point was to say, that I was never a poster person, and had never before added my 2 cents to a thread about anything before, and probably should have kept my streak alive. I didn't understand the star thing, did not know how to respond to emails coming in, or what the numbers by peoples names stood for. This is how clueless I am: After my last post, I was afraid I had crossed the line and wanted to explain myself, thank a couple of people and offer an apology to others if necessary. So, who do I address my email to? Someone named, "Bounce." Not until later (after it came back undeliverable) did it hit me... Bounce was not a person. Go ahead and laugh, I know I would. Anyhoo...I just want to say, that it is obvious that this is a cool bunch of caring people, and I'm lucky to have stumbled into your group. I won't be staying long, because it looks like another chemo gig might be in my future. Maybe not, but just in case, I wanted to say that if I was misunderstood, crossed the line, or said anything simian like (see: monkeys write/monkey writes. Kim?) then I apologise. I didn't realise the rage that had built up in me over the last 8 years, and I popped the boil all over this thread. If anyone was caught in the spray, I'm sorry. I have a wierd sense of humor, but a kind heart,(I like to think)and empathy for animals and people. Steph, I hope you got my note, I'm thinking about you, and all you other good folks take care, and keep up the good fight.
A great man once said these words, "Illigitimi Non Carborundem". Loosely (very loosely) translated, it's Latin for: "Don't Let The Bastards Wear You Down" As always...Thanks for letting me rant. God Bless.
WOOF!
Bill(Will Dog)H.

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 3:42 pm
Be K.
You cannot be faulted for thinking that my brain functions at a "lower level than a dopers", I'm sure your not the first to make that assumption. My sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation alone (my college english prof. once said to me: "Were' a little too frisky with our comma's aren't we William?") could lead one to that conclusion. I absolutely agree with your statemant about not using pot until after high school. Believe it or not I never smoked untill I was in college. I admire your passion Be K. Keep it up.
I'm Gonzo.
Bill "Will Dog" H.

Wednesday July 22, 2009, 6:46 pm
Bill "Will Dog". Got your note, check your e-mail... my response is too long and maybe too personal for this thread. Glad to be your !st new friend!

Thursday July 23, 2009, 8:48 pm
All I have to say is get the DEA out of my country!! We are so tired of the Americans trying to control and dictate what us Canadians do!! Instead of spending billions on the failed 'War on Drugs', pump that money into getting the U.S. back on its feet economically, take care of your own people and get your priorities straight. Clean up your own backyard and stay out of mine!!!

Thursday July 23, 2009, 10:53 pm
Well said Cyn and all the other countries the DEA has caused problems in BUT HOW???????????????

Friday July 24, 2009, 10:52 am
I'll second that Cyn. The DEA and this countries long standing habit of sticking it's nose into other nations business is another one of my buttons. Thankfully for everyone, myself included, I am in a great mood today and will not be hammering out one of my 'War and Peace' length rants.
Be Kay makes a good point...HOW???
WOOF!

Friday July 24, 2009, 1:08 pm
Steph, got your note and I thank you.I sent one back useing the 'reply' function and it came back 'undeliverable' or something to that effect. I'll go into my profile and try from there. Your response was perfect. You answered all my questions, and in no way was it to long or to personal. You verified the vibe was correct I had already picked up on from you and another poster. That of a kind, caring, thoughtful person.
Tell M.J. I said thanks.
WOOF!
Will Dog

Sunday August 2, 2009, 10:46 am
Suri S.
Regarding: "If I had to choose betwen Xanax and pot, I'd choose pot". I hear that! The drug manufactures know it to. You guys probably already know this, but here goes: Black hearted, politico's without souls, richer than rich dinks like Donald Rumsfeld and others of his ilk own huge amounts of stock in major drug companies. Follow the money. Got to go, my kid and I are going to see the "Hurt Locker"
WOOF!
Bill "Will Dog" H.