Does THC deprivation last a life time?

[Wuggy]

I'm not exactly an expert on the subject at all. When I was a sophomore in high school I finally gave into peer pressure of my friends and tried weed. I gave it no more then 4 or so tries until I decided it wasn't for me, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Anyway my girlfriend quit smoking before we even started going out, which is over about a year and half ago. I hate the idea of her doing it and it's a huge turnoff for me, but now all of a sudden after at least 2 years after the last time she smoked she's going on and on about how she needs to smoke again. I thought marijuana was not addictive, am I wrong? Even if it was, shouldn't it like cigarettes go away in the first 24 hours, let alone 730 days? Am I going to have to keep her from it for as long as we're together?

STOP RIGHT THERE MISTER!

Go do some research on the internet, visit many credible sites, DO NOT just take the advice from folks on the forum for something like this. Many different things come into play when dealing with psychoactive chemicals entering the body.

I would personally recommend erowid.org.

Also read some books on the subject.

My personal recommendation would be one by Lynn Zimmer and John P. Morgan, Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts.

Last is to remember that the effects of drugs vary due to you personal brain chemistry and wiring.

I tend to agree. There is studies on matters like this, and those are way more accurate than random people on the internet. Everyone is opinionated, hell, I myself tend to downplay the negative effects of marijuana. Also yes, the effects vary from person to person. Like, some people have a predisposition for a psychosis, and marijuana enhances the chances of an actual psychosis (I don't remember the actual numbers involved, but again, don't take my word for it).

 

[Zorpheus]

So I assume you're some straight edge kid? Because there's absolutely nothing wrong with an occasional drink, and it's only bad for your health if you go way overboard with it. Cigarettes I'll give you that you should never do, but the point is that it's socially and legally acceptable to smoke them, even though they're a lot worse for your health than pot.

So your only defense for my argument is ad hominem and a reiteration of the same argument you made before in support of the use of weed? Lame.

It's an indisputable truth that if you don't try a mind-altering drug, you have a 0% chance of ever having it becoming an addiction. And last I heard, an addiction of a mind-altering drug has no positive spin to it; you're going to suffer from it on some physical, mental and/or financial level. And really, let's not fool ourselves here: addiction is addiction, whether it be physical or psychological, and like hell it's going to help you stop from going 'way overboard with it'. Even if you quit now (and I assume you do it because of how vehemently you're defending casual use), I'm willing to bet money you'll spend a significant chunk of the rest of your life longing for another hit (as the OP's girlfriend is), trying to rationalize to yourself that it's not as bad for you as the things available to you at the corner stores legally. PROTIP: If you have to rationalize why you use it, it's usually bad.

FYI: I have drank alcohol on a handful of occasions and decided it wasn't worth it. But I still exposed myself to more risk of addiction than if I had never tried it at all. So that's a reason not to try it or use it, now, is it?

 

[johnstamos]

do you like bacon, after you eat some yummy bacon do you want more bacon, when you think about bacon does the tasty bacon flavor pop up in your mind. marijuana "addiction" is the same as that, not. one. damn. difference.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

So I assume you're some straight edge kid? Because there's absolutely nothing wrong with an occasional drink, and it's only bad for your health if you go way overboard with it. Cigarettes I'll give you that you should never do, but the point is that it's socially and legally acceptable to smoke them, even though they're a lot worse for your health than pot.

So your only defense for my argument is ad hominem and a reiteration of the same argument you made before in support of the use of weed? Lame.

It's an indisputable truth that if you don't try a mind-altering drug, you have a 0% chance of ever having it becoming an addiction. And last I heard, an addiction of a mind-altering drug has no positive spin to it; you're going to suffer from it on some physical, mental and/or financial level. And really, let's not fool ourselves here: addiction is addiction, whether it be physical or psychological, and like hell it's going to help you stop from going 'way overboard with it'. Even if you quit now (and I assume you do it because of how vehemently you're defending casual use), I'm willing to bet money you'll spend a significant chunk of the rest of your life longing for another hit (as the OP's girlfriend is), trying to rationalize to yourself that it's not as bad for you as the things available to you at the corner stores legally. PROTIP: If you have to rationalize why you use it, it's usually bad.

FYI: I have drank alcohol on a handful of occasions and decided it wasn't worth it. But I still exposed myself to more risk of addiction than if I had never tried it at all. So that's a reason not to try it or use it, now, is it?

Alcohol is really tough to get addicted to unless you have a genetic predisposition, though, and it's been a basic part of human interaction since people first found out that overripe fruit produced a pleasant sensation. Seriously, if you guys are so uptight that you're teetotalers, there's no point arguing with you, because you won't listen. I, on the other hand, will keep enjoying my craft beers, my whiskey, and my rum.

Edit: Oh also, as for your 0% chance thing, you could say that about anything. There's a 0% chance you'll die in a car crash if you never leave the house, a 0% chance of pregnancy if you never have sex, and a 0% chance of suffering rejection if you never deal with people. But what kind of a life would you lead if you gave all of that up?

Edit Edit: By the way, I've never touched pot in my life, but only because the punishments are downright draconian in this country. I'm arguing in favor of it because I don't like seeing misinformation spread. It's scare tactics, and its pathetic.

 

[basm321]

I'm

STOP RIGHT THERE MISTER!

Go do some research on the internet, visit many credible sites, DO NOT just take the advice from folks on the forum for something like this. Many different things come into play when dealing with psychoactive chemicals entering the body.

I would personally recommend erowid.org.

Also read some books on the subject.

My personal recommendation would be one by Lynn Zimmer and John P. Morgan, Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts.

Last is to remember that the effects of drugs vary due to you personal brain chemistry and wiring.

I tend to agree. There is studies on matters like this, and those are way more accurate than random people on the internet. Everyone is opinionated, hell, I myself tend to downplay the negative effects of marijuana. Also yes, the effects vary from person to person. Like, some people have a predisposition for a psychosis, and marijuana enhances the chances of an actual psychosis (I don't remember the actual numbers involved, but again, don't take my word for it).

Just as my head was beginning to implode I read this and it caused an explosion. The explosion counteracted the implosion by expanding my hope in humanity section.

 

[Zorpheus]

Since when is calling someone 'straight edge' an ad hominem attack?

An ad hominem attack is by definition trying to undermine someone's argument by questioning their credibility on the subject. He used 'straight edged' for a "you never tried anything like it so you don't know what you're talking about" angle, so therefore, it is ad hominem.

And since when does wanting to do something you used to enjoy constitute addiction? I assume you avoid EVERYTHING that can be addictive then, since you are so scared of it, right?

No porn, sex, masturbation, gambling, video games, eating, not eating, caffine, driving too fast, any adrenaline-based sport or hobby, shit, people can even become addicted to working out! What a great excuse I now have for not exercising...

Only one of those things you said is a unnatural chemical serving as a physical or mental stimulant. An excess of any given thing can be life-threatening, even water. The difference between those things and ones that unnaturally alter the way your body processes things is that your ability to cut back on such things when they become an excess isn't impaired by the very thing you're doing, and that is an important distinction.

Owyn: On Edit 1, yes, but driving a car is essential to get to work and having sex is essential for producing children (which isn't always a bad thing), while drugs aren't essential towards anything. For the rest of your stuff, fair enough. Contrary to what you might think, I'm in favor of legalizing marijuana, because it should be our choice what enters our bodies and what doesn't, not the government's.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Since when is calling someone 'straight edge' an ad hominem attack?

An ad hominem attack is by definition trying to undermine someone's argument by questioning their credibility on the subject. He used 'straight edged' for a "you never tried anything like it so you don't know what you're talking about" angle, so therefore, it is ad hominem.

And since when does wanting to do something you used to enjoy constitute addiction? I assume you avoid EVERYTHING that can be addictive then, since you are so scared of it, right?

No porn, sex, masturbation, gambling, video games, eating, not eating, caffine, driving too fast, any adrenaline-based sport or hobby, shit, people can even become addicted to working out! What a great excuse I now have for not exercising...

Only one of those things you said is a unnatural chemical serving as a physical or mental stimulant. An excess of any given thing can be life-threatening, even water. The difference between those things and ones that unnaturally alter the way your body processes things is that your ability to cut back on such things when they become an excess isn't impaired by the very thing you're doing, and that is an important distinction.

Owyn: On Edit 1, yes, but driving a car is essential to get to work and having sex is essential for producing children (which isn't always a bad thing), while drugs aren't essential towards anything. For the rest of your stuff, fair enough. Contrary to what you might think, I'm in favor of legalizing marijuana, because it should be our choice what enters our bodies and what doesn't, not the government's.

I have to be honest, I was scratching my head about your ad hominem complaint, myself. An Ad Hominem attack isn't an attempt to discredit your opponent; it's literal name calling. Had I called you an asshole, that would have been an ad hominem attack. What I did was a legitimate piece of rhetoric, and it goes beyond "you never tried anything like it;" it's more like "you're unfairly biased against it, and I might as well be trying to convince a Muslim to eat pork."

Other than that, we seem to be agreeing more than I initially thought.

Edit (all these edits are a pretty good sign that I need to get off these forums and get some sleep): About your foreign substance argument: it doesn't matter whether it's a foreign substance or not if it's not physically addictive. With psychological addiction, the thing you're addicted to is an endorphin rush. Literally anything pleasurable causes such a rush, whether you eat it, smoke it, drink it, or, as in the case of exercise, do it.

 

[Kross]

I wonder if they're actually going to enforce the anti-drug rule for once

Talking about things is fine. Advocating illegal things is not. Take from that what you will.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I wonder if they're actually going to enforce the anti-drug rule for once

Talking about things is fine. Advocating illegal things is not. Take from that what you will.

This is a serious question: what if you're advocating for something that is illegal to be legalized? Because I see no reason not to legalize pot, but I don't condone actually breaking the law in the meantime.

Edit: Ninja'd.

 

[Yopaz]

On topic: It's not physically addictive

Wrong. Even pro weed sites agree its physically addictive. The chemicals are long lasting in your body and if you were a serious user then there are very serious withdrawal symptoms.

And OP, cig withdrawal doesn't go away in 24 hours either.

She is however now just dealing with mental addiction. She has lost her escape and hasn't found new ways to deal.

Yup. It's stored within fat cells and will stay in the body for a long time, that's why it's believed to not be addictive. You will still have traces of it in you even days or weeks after you quit.

How is THC an "unatural chemical"?! It's made by a plant. Now granted plants make some of the most toxic substances known to man, but we also injest plants and plant products daily.

It would be pretty unatural for me to jump on an ATV and enjoy the adrenaline high I have unaturally stimulated to occur, because ATV's dont exist in nature, so is that bad? Because it is unnatural and it releases chemicals into my body that I find stimulating?

Not trying to be obtuse, just trying to see where your "logic" can lead.

It's unnatural because just like ethanol (also a chemical we find in the nature) it was created by the devil, not god, thus it is unnatural.
[sub] I really hope you get I'm not being serious here[/sub]

 

[Jaime_Wolf]

1) There is no measurable chemical addiction. Addiction to weed is in almost every way equivalent to addiction to videogames. There are real problems, but they have to do with habituation and the inherent draw of pleasurable activities, not specifically addictive chemical properties of the drug. Think of her going on and on about how she wants to do it again in the same way as you might go on and on after playing a game you haven't played in a long time for a bit and suddenly remembering how much fun it is.

2) The whole "marijuana is natural!" thing is dumb. Natural things are safe? Hell, try eating tomato leaves sometime (please do not actually try this). This doesn't mean it's unsafe - only that that particular point is pretty daft. Similarly, are glasses unhealthy because they're unnatural? Neither side of this line of thinking makes any sense at all.

3) If it bothers you, there's probably no helping it. Especially if she's obnoxious when she does it - there's very little helping that. But don't let it bother you simply because it's illegal and/or harmful, because it really isn't harmful and it really isn't illegal for any good reason. The jury is still somewhat out on precisely how harmful it is (recent reports by large research universities like UCLA seem to suggest that it isn't at all, though I'm personally very skeptical of recent claims about neuroprotective properties), but there is no question whatsoever that it's less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Marijuana is extremely hard to become addicted to.

She's not addicted to it. The "pull" that makes you need a cigarette is nowhere near what it is like with the pull of weed, and the only people that tend to feel like they need to take a few hits are daily smokers. No way is she addicted to it. Especially after two years since she last smoked.

Plenty of people I know have started smoking after year long breaks because they look at weed in a different way than when they started. It's no longer something fun and necessary for them too have a good time, it becomes more like a glass of wine at the end of a long day. And, by my personal experiences with them, they have a much easier time of keeping it more so as a hobby instead of a necessity, and much more under control.

My advice, let her smoke. Odds are she'll be more likely to try something new and exciting with you. Maybe even join her.

do you like bacon, after you eat some yummy bacon do you want more bacon, when you think about bacon does the tasty bacon flavor pop up in your mind. marijuana "addiction" is the same as that, not. one. damn. difference.

Except that you have a much higher chance of becoming addicted to marijuana then you do bacon.

Marijuana addicts eventually depend on the THC to keep them going. Bacon just tastes good. There's a pretty huge difference between the two, especially when you start smoking before you've finished puberty.

 

[Thumper17]

I thought marijuana was not addictive, am I wrong? Even if it was, shouldn't it like cigarettes go away in the first 24 hours, let alone 730 days?

Marijuana is at the very least, a mental addiciton, kind of like Masturbation. You can go long periods without it, but sometimes you just need to rub one out.

Cigarettes on the other hand, I have a grandfather who quit nearly 50 years ago. He's said he still gets strong cravings.

 

[Zorpheus]

I have to be honest, I was scratching my head about your ad hominem complaint, myself. An Ad Hominem attack isn't an attempt to discredit your opponent; it's literal name calling. Had I called you an asshole, that would have been an ad hominem attack.

Actually, no, an ad hominem attack is ANY instance of where someone attacks the arguer's character rather than their argument, usually to discredit their ability to argue in an indirect manner. Insults are only the most blatant form of ad hominem. In latin, "ad hominem" literally means "to the man". Look it up some time.