cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - November 8, 2007 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - November 8, 2007 Posted by CN Staff on November 08, 2007 at 14:04:18 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML Teen Pot Use Not Associated With Psychosocial Problems, Study Says November 8, 2007 - Lausanne, SwitzerlandLausanne, Switzerland: Teens who use cannabis do not report more frequent psychosocial problems compared to young people who abstain from the drug, according to survey data published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. Investigators at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland analyzed survey data from over 5,200 students age 16 to 20. Of these, 455 subjects reported using only cannabis, 1,703 subjects reported using both cannabis and tobacco, and 3,105 subjects said they abstained from both drugs. Compared with those subjects who reported using both substances, cannabis-only youth were more likely to receive good grades (77.5 to 66.6 percent), play sports (85.5 to 66.7 percent), and live with both parents (78.2 to 68.3 percent). Cannabis-only youth were also less likely to have been drunk in the past 30 days (40.5 to 55 percent) or have used other illegal drugs (8.4 to 17.9 percent).Compared to those subjects who abstained from pot and tobacco, teens who reported using cannabis only were more likely to participate in sports and have a good relationship with friends. Cannabis-only youth received similar grades compared to those who did not smoke pot, but were more likely to report having skipped class. Youth who abstained from pot were more likely to report having a strong relationship with their parents; however, cannabis-only youth did not report suffering from higher rates of depression.Investigators concluded: "Cannabis-only adolescents show better functioning than those who use tobacco. Compared with abstainers, they are more socially driven and do not seem to have psychosocial problems at a higher rate." For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director at (202) 483-5500 or Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul norml.org Full text of the study, "Characteristics of cannabis users who have never smoked tobacco," appears in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7419 Denver Voters Approve Pot ‘Depriotization’ Measure November 8, 2007 - Denver, CO, USADenver, CO: For the second time in three years, Denver voters have approved a municipal ordinance liberalizing local marijuana laws.On Tuesday, 54 percent of Denver voters approved Question 100, which directs the Denver Police Department and the City Attorney's Office to make activities related to the investigation, citation, and/or arrest of adult cannabis users their lowest law enforcement priority. The measure also appoints an eleven-member "Marijuana Policy Review Panel" to monitor all local police activity pertaining to cannabis law enforcement.The initiative’s proponents, Citizens for a Safer Denver, proposed the measure after local law enforcement failed to abide by a 2005 voter initiative that sought to abolish civil and criminal penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by citizens age 21 and older. Despite passage of the initiative, non-felony pot arrests rose from fewer than 2,200 in 2005 to approximately 2,500 in 2006.Passage of the latest initiative "should change things in Denver," SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert said. "If the city carries on with marijuana arrests, they are going to be breaking the law."Also on Tuesday, voters in Hailey, Idaho approved a similar ‘deprioritization’ ordinance. Hailey voters also endorsed two additional ballot questions authorizing the legal use of medical marijuana and industrial hemp. Details regarding the implementation of all three measures will be determined by a community oversight committee. For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500, or visit:http://saferdenver.saferchoice.org/Blog-and-Press/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7418Pot Use Associated With Enhanced Cognitive Performance In Schizophrenics November 8, 2007 - Sydney, NS, AustraliaSydney, New South Wales: Cannabis use is associated with enhanced cognitive functioning in schizophrenic patients, according to clinical trial data published this month in the journal Schizophrenia Research.Investigators at the University of Sydney assessed the impact of cannabis use and neuropsychological performance in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Sixty male schizophrenics and 17 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Among the schizophrenic group, 44 participants met the DSM-IV criteria for "lifetime cannabis abuse/dependence."Investigators reported, "[W]ithin the schizophrenic group, a larger portion of participants with lifetime cannabis abuse/dependence demonstrated better performance than those without lifetime abuse/dependence. … Frequency and recency of cannabis use were also associated with better neuropsychological performance, predominantly in the domains of attention/processing speed and executive functions." (Executive functions are defined as a set of cognitive skills that are necessary to plan, monitor and execute a sequence of goal-directed complex actions.)It has been estimated that cognitive dysfunctions are present in up to 80 percent of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.The Sydney study is the second clinical trial this year to report an association between cannabis use and improved cognitive performance among schizophrenic patients. In May, German researchers reported in the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry that subjects who reported using marijuana prior to their first psychotic episode showed improved cognitive performance on certain tests compared to non-users. A 2005 study by investigators at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain previously reported that schizophrenic patients who consumed cannabis prior to disease onset possessed greater cognitive skills after ten years than did non-users.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at: paul norml.orgFull text of the study, "The neuropsychological correlates of cannabis use in schizophrenia: Lifetime abuse/dependence, frequency of use, and recency of use," appears in Schizophrenia Research.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7417Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: November 8, 2007Copyright: 2007 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #81 posted by Dankhank on November 10, 2007 at 20:12:39 PT karma or serendipity ... the hater in chief, himself ...http://www.newsweek.com/id/69545WTF [ Post Comment ] Comment #80 posted by Dankhank on November 10, 2007 at 11:29:09 PT wage a ... no you probably didn't, you merely parroted one ...my comment about pogrom was directed at folks like "Citizens for responsible Government," Richard Mellon Scaife and all of the Clinton Haters, you all know who you are ...I should say this ...As a scoutmaster for 6 years in that homophobic organization known as BSA I was elevated to that most high stature known as "Order of the Arrow" Vigil level.When inducted each honoree is given a name purported to be in the Delaware language.Mine was "Amendchuwagen."Translation ... "Stubborn One" [ Post Comment ] Comment #79 posted by whig on November 10, 2007 at 11:16:03 PT Dankhank I'm not going to continue. I didn't wage a pogrom. Jesus. [ Post Comment ] Comment #78 posted by Dankhank on November 10, 2007 at 10:34:11 PT disagreements ... are common when talking politics ... let's see if I can clarify ...most of us, you included, in here tend to disbelieve a lot of what the government, republicans, says about most anything.based on that ... why would you believe anything said about BC by the coterie of venal, vapid and vituperative blindly menacing minions that persecuted BC and HC to no end for a decade, now?do you lack any real knowledge about how justice works in this country?In a nutshell:prosecutors own the playing field.They can parse any activity to find and collect the most possible charges to lay on hapless victims to no limit, and will, especially if they dislike said victim.they rely on politicians and are usually successful in getting more laws passed to grow the "hammer" they use on us.Many folks, facing lengthy prison terms, will opt to plea-bargain in order to escape prison. You wanna go to prison for anything? don't think so ... so ....someone I know recently pled to a misdemeanor and got 6months probation and a fine while facing 2-20 years in prison.His lawyer told him that he had a 80% chance of beating the charge. You wanna role the dice on that one, or take the plea?the poor fellow offered from week one of the matter to do a polygraph and was rebuffed with no explanation. It took two years of maneuvering to find the magic bullet that blew the credibility of the plaintiff out of the water.the prosecution made the offer of a plea, indicating they were unsure of their ability to get a conviction, but the 20% was still there. wanna roll the dice on that one?there is no justice, TANJ, merely two lawyers girded up for a joust, each hoping to have brought the right ammo to the fight. Justice? not a chance ...So BC pled, so what? He was not in charge and chose to get it over with with minimum damage. He never should have been asked those questions and the repugs will forever be held by me as haters and treated accordingly ...pray you never get caught up in the machinery and have to decide what to do.you were the one who listed three egregious activities that needed attention, and then hastily added the fourth, within 33 sectonds, about dissembling as if the were equal.I merely asked if you believed they were all of equal concern, and have suggested that you should think, decide and respond. you tried to deflect the conversation by asking if I will vote for HC, which had nothing to so with our conversation.as a fourth choice you could have cited, 40 million no med coverage, terrible number of abortions every year, tax cuts for the rich ... any number of things ... yuor inclusion of dissembling was instructive and illuminating. Why was that so important to you in the context of the pogrom waged against him?this exchange could have ended in a comment or two, but for your endless obfuscation. If I wasn't clear in what I asked my bad ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #77 posted by whig on November 10, 2007 at 09:13:43 PT FoM I have no idea what this is about. I'm not going to continue here if I'm not welcome. Bye for now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #76 posted by FoM on November 10, 2007 at 08:56:30 PT whig You seem to either love or hate a person running for President. These people aren't God but human beings just like us. Having imperfections doesn't mean we have to hate them. People will vote acording to their own conscience and values and we really should be allowed to form our own opinion ourselves and privately. PS: I posted this on a wrong thread so I will remove the other one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #75 posted by whig on November 10, 2007 at 08:32:35 PT Dankhank I got no problems, brother. I like DK, hope he wins the nom. Not sure which I'll support when it comes to primary day, it won't be HC. Lots of time between now and then, however. I'm really disappointed in JE's recent statement about sending messages to kids being a reason to maintain cannabis prohibition. I don't know why but sometimes it seems as if you don't like me, or that you find me annoying. Wish I could fix whatever it is you think I'm doing wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #74 posted by Dankhank on November 10, 2007 at 07:22:30 PT verbiage is ... what facilitates communication, got a problem with that?don't know what my choice for Dem candidate has to so with anything, but I support Dennis Kucinich.But I'll state it categorically, here, I WILL vote for the Democratic nominee, now matter WHO he/she is.Lets just say you had three serious concerns and a hastily added fourth that doesn't rise to the level of the other three, but appears to, as it was a hastily-added addendum seemingly at the same level as the other three. It was important enough in your mind to add it to the first three ...Methinks thee protest too much ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #73 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 22:35:28 PT Dankhank I looked at what I said and I don't see it being an equality, but a listing of concerns. I didn't say all of those concerns were equal. In any case, verbiage concerns aside, do you support HC for president or what? I don't know why we're arguing if not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #72 posted by Dankhank on November 09, 2007 at 17:59:54 PT what you said ... comment 56 ... then a quickly penned addendum ... comment 57I say quickly since there was a 33 second gap between those two posts, suggesting equal concern on your part.so ... Waco, Yugoslavia and War on Cannabis .......oh, yea ... a dissembler, too [ Post Comment ] Comment #71 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 16:58:04 PT Dankhank I don't understand what you think I equated, but I don't equate all bad things, nor do I think that any previous president was as bad as this one is.Can you tell me what fundamentally you think we are in disagreement about if anything? [ Post Comment ] Comment #70 posted by Dankhank on November 09, 2007 at 16:20:35 PT cover ... Whig,you were the one who stated that you were more concerned with death and destruction caused by our governments ineptitude or will.Then you appended a comment about "lying," giving it the appearance of weight concomitant with death and destruction.I merely have been trying to find out ... here it is again ...do you equate alleged or factual lying under oath about sex with murder, death and destruction.the juxtaposition of your "concerns" suggest you do. I submit that is a gross misjudgment.The idea that all wrongs rise to the same level is what the repugs would like to have us believe. That way they can still defend W, and they do, by reminding us that Bill lied.the controversy about the "Jena6" is instructive as an example of the same.white kids hang nooses and get minor discipline ...black kids beat and kick the shit out of some white kids and get hammered, since in this society violence is out of control and it turns out that there was overkill on the black kids.go figger ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #69 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 15:22:26 PT Dankhank What makes you think anyone's trying to give cover to W?I want W impeached, removed, indicted and convicted of war crimes. I don't have any desire for BC to be charged with a crime. He accepted what he did was wrong and took the suspension of his law license. Done, fine. But that doesn't mean HC should be president. [ Post Comment ] Comment #68 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 14:46:27 PT Dankhank "do you believe that allegedly lying rises to the level of state-sponsored murder?"There is no allegation, it is a fact that BC lied under oath and he accepted disbarment as a consequence.What does state-sponsored murder have to do with that? [ Post Comment ] Comment #67 posted by FoM on November 09, 2007 at 14:36:40 PT Patrick I don't believe that people are evil. I believe people can be misguided but not evil. That's a nasty word. I believe that I am one person in a big country full of different values and ideals and when I think about what is good for our country I try to learn how others feel because I don't have a right to make what I believe the law of the land. It's a Democracy so I am only a tiny part of it. I felt bad after I said something about Clinton because I dislike mudslinging and when I see mudslinging I decide how I feel about the mudslinger. [ Post Comment ] Comment #66 posted by Dankhank on November 09, 2007 at 14:09:38 PT try this ... whig, you parse when you choose ...try answering the question ...do you believe that allegedly lying rises to the level of state-sponsored murder?What BC was trying to do in Yugoslavia apparently worked, to a degree we'd like to see in Iraq, but I don't think it will happen.Waco was a cop-show ... to the degree that what Truman said, "the buck stops here", is true, BC gets a slam for Waco, but it truly was a cop-show, and we know how those nearly always turn out.BC tried to get Osama with cruise missles, too. Was he wagging the dog or really trying to get Osama?Notihng BC did gives any cover to what W has done, and truly W has done it all. W was outfront of all the misery he gave to us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #65 posted by FoM on November 09, 2007 at 14:04:30 PT Patrick I understand the frustration. I don't post here much anymore either. I do a lot of reading so I can stay informed on other issues. I believe that we should pay attention to who we believe will be the best. I won't tell anyone how to vote or who to listen to because that is really a private matter. I was taught not to talk about politics or religion because you won't change anyones mind and you can lose friends too. The only time we should talk is when we have a debate and our issue comes up but I know many people don't care what I think so I move on and check in here. [ Post Comment ] Comment #64 posted by Patrick on November 09, 2007 at 13:05:29 PT Hi FoM I don’t post as much as I used too. I just lurk and read articles most of the time since the law of prohibition hasn’t changed. Someday I would love to sing and dance and scream ding dong the witch is dead but I am afraid that day is still many years away. Even more so I don’t post much because the political rants of late in these threads seem so whacked and out of touch with reality that it sometimes makes me want to scream! There is an old saying to never discuss politics or religion unless you are looking for disagreements. From the posts that I read on here no matter who is elected to be our next President someone is going to call for their impeachment. New Reality in the Internet World I guess?All Presidents put their pants on the same way the rest of us do. All of us are human and inherently we are all subject to error. There is a book out there somewhere that says “let he who is perfect go ahead and throw the first stone.” Some of these threads throw a mountain of stones day in and day out. I do understand people get frustrated, God knows I do and I currently am tossing some stones at what I consider to be the far left wing posting here. Berating the leader of a country in the comment section of a cannabis website will not change one thing regarding the way business is conducted in the Oval Office nor will my comments change any views on the extreme left I am sure. But hey I do smoke cannabis daily all the same!Before you make a choice and cast a vote for our next leader please keep in mind that they will end up leading the most powerful and influential country in the world. No small task to be sure. Ask yourself why would your candidate spend millions upon millions of dollars to hold a job that only pays $400,000 a year? Personally, I think most of our brightest people don’t want the job. Also, please try and remember that the first thing on their long list of things to do after getting elected is probably not going to be reversing cannabis prohibition anytime soon. Sorry to be a downer here but I calls em like I see em. I am willing to make a bet that three or four years from now, someone on this board will be calling for impeachment as well and posting radical comments trying to convince me to believe that whatever political problem of some future day only exists because it was an inside job committed by the evil man or evil woman in charge of our democracy.I personally don’t buy into the idea that Bush or Clinton is EVIL. Before Bush was elected the first time, I personally considered him nothing more than Daddy’s spoiled brat and a clown and buffoon. His gaffe’s today still support my viewpoint. Why am I saying neither of these guys is “evil?” Because if I did then I would have to claim all of our Presidents are evil and I am not willing to go that far with my rant. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed during a Democratic Presidency with FDR (D). So just to be crystal clear for my left leaning compatriots, prohibition isn’t George Bush’s fault, unlike everything else going bad in the world today in their view. Back to my point, FDR was followed by Truman (D), Dwight D. Eisenhower (R), JFK (D), Lyndon B Johnson (D), Richard Nixon (R), Gerald Ford (R), Jimmy Carter (D), Ronald Reagan (R), Bush #1 (R), Bill Clinton (D), and finally Bush #2 (R). So since passage of the Marijuana Tax Act we have had 6 Democrats and 6 Republicans in the past 70 years of cannabis prohibition. Neither political party has really done anything to turn the Bad Ship Prohibition around so does that make all of these men EVIL? I doubt it. God knows I have used this forum to vent my frustration with the status quo regarding cannabis over the years. Record incarceration rates for marijuana possession last year is one example of a downside but on the other side of the coin more states have joined in approving medical marijuana. While pro-cannabis initiatives are getting passed in some places in other places restrictions are getting tighter. Overall however, I do believe that reason and enlightenment are slowing creeping into the fabric of our modern society. Some crazy posts and comments here make me question that view at times. Anyway the more reason and enlightenment mankind gains, the sooner this nightmare of cannabis prohibition will end. Then, maybe mankind can look at figuring out how to stop killing one another? Maybe? Hopefully? [ Post Comment ] Comment #63 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 08:47:03 PT Dankhank I'm not sure what you're asking me, whether Bush deserves impeachment, the answer is absolutely yes he does. I do not claim Clinton is worse than Bush, but he did drop bombs on other countries and engaged therefore in state-sanctioned murder, not to mention the people killed in Waco with CS gas. [ Post Comment ] Comment #62 posted by The GCW on November 09, 2007 at 05:41:46 PT US CO: Sugar High US CO: Sugar HighPubdate: 8 Nov. 2007 Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)Webpage: http://www.boulderweekly.com/?site_id=619&page_id=10556&id_sub=10556Billy and his parents had been at odds. The junior at Boulder’s Fairview High School, whose identity has been changed for this story, had been letting his hair grow and was routinely getting it styled. He was buying things without any visible means of income. A few weeks into the 2007 fall semester, he had a brand new iPod. He had new boots, new clothes and was talking about a new car.“He had no friggin’ job,” his mother, Sue Anne, told Boulder Weekly. “His dad and I won’t let him have a job. We want him focused on school. We want him at Stanford after he graduates, so we don’t need him distracted by a job and all that comes with it. We don’t want him buying videogames and iPods.”As money became less of an obstacle for Billy, the boy’s parents became more concerned. It had become common to see him with a one- to two-inch-thick wad of cash. They became certain he was dealing drugs. They confronted him.Billy insisted he was neither using nor selling drugs, promising that he had never even smoked pot. He offered to take a drug test.“I demanded to know what was going on one morning,” Sue Anne said. “He concocted some story about a rich girlfriend who gives him money. But there was no evidence of this. We never heard him on the phone sounding like he was talking with a girl, no girl was calling the house, and he didn’t act like someone who was in love. He couldn’t tell me her name.”Sue Anne and William, Billy’s dad, confronted the boy again one morning before school. They demanded answers. Billy asked if they would meet him for dinner that night at the Chop House, a restaurant in downtown Boulder.“He told us he would buy,” Sue Anne said. “It was unbelievable. I said, ‘are you bringing this girl you speak of?’ He said, ‘let’s just discuss it over dinner.’”That day, horrifying scenarios raced through the minds of William and Sue Anne.“The kid had more disposable income than his parents, and there just wasn’t an explanation for it,” William said. “We were told we’d get it that night. All day, I’m wondering if he’s going to tell us about a theft ring, a prostitution ring or a lottery ticket he kept secret. We just didn’t know.”cont.-0-This exposes an interesting thing about supply and demand / prohibition and how the black market has laws that are stronger than the laws of the land.Here is an -experimant- that proves a few things... [ Post Comment ] Comment #61 posted by Dankhank on November 09, 2007 at 05:05:33 PT lying ... how convenient that you would throw out that little comment and then decline to respond when tasked to reply.Let me ask again, do you consider a "lie" under oath to rise to the level of wanton state-sponsored murder?I wasn't arguing, merely pointing out likely factual errors of yours. How did Ms Clinton get into the discussion?think I care that anyone gets disbarred? It's all political. Most of the lawyers in the government should be disbarred for their behavior.Think that most politicians lie once in a while? I'm sure they do. No, I know they do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #60 posted by whig on November 09, 2007 at 01:29:35 PT Dankhank I don't care about the Clenis, to be honest. I do care when a president lies under oath, as he did. He was disbarred, as well. Let's not argue about history, I don't think either of us want HC to be president. [ Post Comment ] Comment #59 posted by aolbites on November 09, 2007 at 00:45:09 PT don't really want to get involved here ne more but the few times I have witnessed nausea from cannabis have been from tobacco smokers, or like in Australia/england where people mix cannabis and tobaccoyea, to the point of projectile yuk...so, don't mix drugs![and you really should stick to the vitamin M anyhow.] [ Post Comment ] Comment #58 posted by Dankhank on November 08, 2007 at 23:32:41 PT BJ ... uh ... BC chronicles ... I was more concerned with the handling of Waco, the bombing of the former Yugoslavia, etc. And of course, the escalation of the war on people who use cannabis....... uhhhhh ..... OK ...I find it odd that such an erudite fellow as yourself would suggest that lying about a blowj*b woud rise to the level of state sponsored murder of various stripes ...This issue has puzzled me for, yea these many years ...the other day there was a altercation in front of the house and a cop eventually came to the porch to fill us in on the facts o' the case. Before we were done he basically pooh poohed Bush's performance by reminding me of that same fact ... clinton lied ... It is a standard tactic of the moralistic right-wing conservatives, suggesting that lying about a BJ is akin to wanton murder by a world state.Is it really about the lying? or is it about what he lied about?Nasty, sniggyly, smugly, depraved monsters dressed as "moral" people defend the Bush murder for oil, for 5 years now, by saying hey ... clinton lied ...That's not a good group to parrotalso, when they asked Clinton if he had sex with Monica he, as a lawyer, asked them to define what they meant by sex, got the definition from them, examined the definition, and then stated, "NO."As someone who likes to parse most of anything in here I would think that you of any here would understand the sheer brilliance of his response.He made them define the "crime" and when he heard it he stated a truth. Whether or not anyone else believes his testimony in light of personal belief and thought about what sex was or was not is not germane to the legal fix he was in.It was brilliant legal footwork.I forget ... how did we get to the point where we were asking the president of the United States of America about his sex life ... what turn to the Dark Side was THAT all about ... we've been in the Twilight Zone ever since ...Come on ... admit it ... he was amazing ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #57 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 23:00:20 PT Dankhank And there's the little matter of the fact that BC lied to the American people, and dissembled about the meanings of words. [ Post Comment ] Comment #56 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 22:58:47 PT Dankhank I'm not comfortable with the allegations, they were never proven to my satisfaction. I was more concerned with the handling of Waco, the bombing of the former Yugoslavia, etc. And of course, the escalation of the war on people who use cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #55 posted by Dankhank on November 08, 2007 at 22:36:21 PT Clintons ..... in a continuing effort to get ALL of the story I found this observation on the veracity of the "clinton chronicles"http://www.cephas-library.com/discernment/discernment_dave_hunts_associates.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #54 posted by The GCW on November 08, 2007 at 22:02:42 PT mayan, The Clinton Chronicles (1 hr. 43 min.): http://tinyurl.com/2vzfg7...Holy shit. [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 21:50:26 PT Of course Some of us spent a little time in the mountains. :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 21:49:43 PT FoM I really believe being high gives you a different perspective on the world, and you don't have to do it more than once to see it, like climbing a mountain and looking down at the clouds below and you know something about the world that you couldn't have understood from the valley level below. [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 20:56:45 PT John Tyler I found that the few times I tripped I really felt right about things. I don't know how to say it but I realized there was more then meets the eye in the world and it made me more aware of life. I can recall those experiences very well even after all these years. [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by John Tyler on November 08, 2007 at 20:47:32 PT trips from the past We didn’t get ‘shrooms where I lived. We did get synthetic psyclocibin, which to me seemed very much like mescaline, but a little more mellow. The hallucinations were a little different too. It was good. None of that stuff made me ill or anything. One of my friends did get an upset stomach after eating peyote buttons. Peyote tastes awful and can cause nausea when taken with any food in your stomach. We did get a lot of mescaline, and LSD, and of course cannabis. All of that tripping was so spiritual. We all had a profound realization that we all are part of the cosmos, as natural as any other thing, and that our energy goes on FOREVER into eternity, and that all of this was powered by cosmic love. [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 18:41:06 PT mayan I am pleased that the Clintons are being exposed. I don't want her to get the nomination. [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by mayan on November 08, 2007 at 18:24:36 PT The Clinton's Cocaine Here is a video regarding Bill and Hillary's Mena,Arkansas cocaine smuggling operation...The Clinton Chronicles (1 hr. 43 min.): http://tinyurl.com/2vzfg7THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Air America/Thom Hartman 9/11 Truth Debate: Kevin Ryan vs. Michael Shermer MP3: http://911blogger.com/node/12441Q & A with Mark Stepnoski: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20071107142557309 Why Be Skeptical? http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=2007110801140483Philly 9/11 Truth Confronts the Clairvoyant Rick Santorum on New 9/11 Prediction: http://911blogger.com/node/124319/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 18:15:55 PT Fight 4 freedom Another friend of mine had a reaction somewhat similar to yours...he claimed that everything was beautiful and wonderful and then cried with joy.=] No offense, but I enjoyed my other friends reactions more, they cried less and were more extroverted.It's not that I had problems socializing, if you read in one of my first comments I mentioned that social interaction and how complex and interesting it is was a very important part of both my trips. My mind was just unable of interpreting what other people are feeling or thinking - which led to me being very dominant in terms of what we did or talked about as a group. [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 18:11:24 PT Yanxor Thank you. That's the only thing I could think to ask. [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 18:09:17 PT Yanxor The idea of medicating an Asperger's syndrome with an Asperger's creating substance is essentially homeopathy, though it is best to reduce the dose. So if a psychedelic dose of mushroom is 17grams, 1 gram might be an effective homeopathic dose for someone with Asperger's, and if you want to make it more potent, you could triturate it, dilute and succuss further. [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 18:08:39 PT FoM I'm pretty sure, the negative experiences tend to be of the same nature, I think it's unlikely that different plant material from different areas would generate the same type of responce.Also, in more than half of the cases it was plant material that I smoked more than once, so if it was adulterated it would have caused the same reaction more than once. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by fight_4_freedom on November 08, 2007 at 18:06:11 PT: Ahh good ol' mushrooms...... I've tripped on them a few times back a couple years ago. They did some magical things to me. But I also had a bad trip on them one night. And on that night it was definitely hard to socialize and interact with others. Probably the worst drug experience I've ever had. The friends I was with were very inexperienced with tripping. And the whole reason they wanted to trip was just to "get really messed up". While I on the otherhand, wanted to use them as a tool to open up the door to spirituality. I wanted to use that time to open each other up, to share thoughts and feelings about the world and the possibilities that exist. They wanted to go to a big party. So eventually they left to go and I stayed. And the rest of the night I had bad thoughts constantly looping through my head and I couldn't make it stop. Worst night ever.But on other occasions, they have showed me the light in a powerful way. They made me realize so many wonderful things about life. When I think back to those good trips, it puts a big smile on my face. I never truly had faith after my dad passed away, but a night on the mushies changed that forever. I can not remember a time in my life when I felt closer to God than I did on that night. Everything finally made sense to me, EVERYTHING. I KNEW that everything and everyone had a reason and purpose in life. And I could feel his/her presence, his/her love. My jaws were sore later that night from not being able to wipe that smile off my face :)I also went to a concert in Ohio one night to see Radiohead for the first time. I went down there with some kids I didn't know that well, but totally got along with. On this night, my socializing skills were excellent. Maybe because these kids understood like me that mushrooms are more than a drug, but a tool to unlock hidden doors. And we all had the greatest time ever.And I'll always remember the end of the concert when they finished up with a very uplifting spiritual song (through my interpretation anyways) and there was a word moving back and forth with very trippy effects. You had to look pretty hard to see what it spelled. Then it became more clear and less wavy. The word was "Forever" and I teared up and felt pure love from above. Looked to my friends, and I'd never seen bigger smiles in my life. I still get chills just thinking about.Anyways, mushrooms can definitely be a wonderful tool if used correctly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 18:05:46 PT Mike While I was on mushrooms it for some reason occured to me that given to a person with asperger's mushrooms induce asperger like symptoms, and I was tempted to say that they might do the opposite for someone with asperger's.Then a sober friend reminded me that there are different intensities of asperger's...so, I guess if the person was to have a similar reaction it would just make their case even worse.I searched for this online, and found only one comment posted on some forum by a social worker who knew an individual with asperger's who medicated himself weekly with mushrooms, evidently with some success. [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 18:05:40 PT Mike The digg link is a guy who is talking about buying a gun and murdering people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 18:02:28 PT Nutmeg It is pretty nauseating to consume, and somewhat useless if one has access to cannabis.Strangely enough though, I've never vomited from nutmeg or mushrooms...or hawaiian baby woodrose seeds, in fact my body has purged itself solely due to cannabis and alcohol.This strange reaction to cannabis really drove home for me the point that ones personal physiology is almost as important as the substance being injested.We're all so similar, yet so very different, its amazing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 18:02:04 PT Mike You gave it a good try. Thank you but I'm sure it won't get done unfortunately. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 18:00:19 PT Yanxor This is the only thing I can thing of. Are you sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that the cannabis you used was organic? Just a thought. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 17:59:13 PT Yanxor I get increased pain perception with cannabis, so there is a limit to how much I find beneficial. To a point, the increase perception is beneficial because it gives me better pain control and helps me to take the right steps to relieve it, but too much and it doesn't give more control by giving more pain beyond that point. [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Mike on November 08, 2007 at 17:57:44 PT Asperger's It was tempting to jump into this thread, as I am an Aspie. But most of that discussion is over, I see. Been busy all day and am now just catching up.However, I just ran across this article that merits peer perusal.http://digg.com/offbeat_news/College_kid_receives_jailtime_for_marijuana_possession_and_gets_raped_jailFoM - I see there aren't Digg or Reddit buttons here yet. Oh, well. Hey, at least we tried. Maybe he's still working on it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 17:56:50 PT Yanxor Nutmeg is pretty nauseating stuff.I don't know, though. It may be something to do with your own particular physiology, but if it just means you have to moderate your dose, then that seems like the reasonable thing to do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 17:46:28 PT whig I know it sounds a bit out there that cannabis can do that, and 99% of the time it doesn't.It's just a strange reaction I personally have to large amounts of cannabis. I'm sure there are other people with the same issue, but they are probably rare (as evidenced by the absolute lack of information on this). Most probably don't use cannabis too often such an initial reaction.There's absolutely nothing else that I can attribute this to, and this conditions shows up consistantly when I consume large amounts of cannabis. And I've learned to deal with it effectively by not smoking obscene amounts.My biggest concern about this is actually that this condition can be used by the prohibitionists to further their agenda. While it is unpleasant, it just forces me to be more moderate in my habits. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 17:37:08 PT lol "did not personally consider safe for anyone& It was perscribed in the soviet union as an antidepressant...still is. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 17:35:45 PT whig No dizziness, no vertigo. A sensitivity to light and noise though.The first time I had such a reaction the only thing I consumed aside from cannabis in that point of my life was alcohol (and not on the same day, or week even).Since then I have used nutmeg, mushrooms (psilocybin and amanita), salvia, kanna, kava kava and I once tried adderal.Aside from that nothing really, I don't take perscriptions, dont drink coffee and dont smoke tobacco. As for AMT I just read about it, but then again, as a science major I learn about many chemicals without the desire and/or plans to try them.Also, the strength of this reaction varies, of the times that I had it, once I ended up just laying in bed with my eyes closed for 4 or so hours until it went away.In the most recent occurance of this I ended up vomiting but was able to clean up the mess rather thoroughly. While the first time this happened I was unable to do much more than lean over a bathroom promising myself that I'd never do this again - this experience was somewhat similar especially in its outward expression to severe alcohol poisoning (which is what my parents took it to be).Its really messed up and unpleasant, but it usually ends up being a cathartic experience. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 17:27:58 PT Yanxor http://erowid.org/chemicals/amt/amt.shtml"AMT is a long-acting, synthetic psychedelic and euphoric stimulant known for causing nausea and vomiting. It was first developed in the 1960s and remained very uncommon until the 1990s when it experienced a surge in popularity and was scheduled (made illegal) in April 2003."If you've been exposed, this could be the problem. It was around and legal when I was researching things, it was one I did not personally consider safe for anyone to use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 17:24:18 PT Yanxor Also, there is a chemical called 5-MeO-AMT which is possibly represented as AMT by some people which is even more toxic. I would stay well away from those chemicals. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 17:22:10 PT Yanxor Do you have dizziness or vertigo or just the nausea? Have you been using any other street or experimental chemicals? I know you mentioned AMT and your symptoms sound like possible exposure to certain kinds of neurotoxin. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 16:47:51 PT Yanxor If you find the answer I hope you will share it with us because I want to know too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 16:39:10 PT Its depressing that I cant seek professional help But then again, what can they tell me that I didn't discover on my own?Something to the order of you have low tolerance for some cannabinoid, that causes your body to think its a toxin, which causes it to purge itself (unsuccesfully because I don't consume cannabis orally). Try not to smoke it, or if you must, smoke quantities that you know won't cause this reaction.I plan on finding out the reason for this reaction some day...if not through the assistance of professionals, then on my own. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 16:29:41 PT Yanxor Can you talk to a Doctor about your symptoms? Probably not and that's a shame. I know one person who cannot even try to use Cannabis because she is so high strung that she feels out of control when she smoked it years ago. She finds it very hard to relax in everything she does. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 16:25:48 PT Paul Here's the link to your comments.http://tinyurl.com/3cxj6h [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 16:22:39 PT FoM Defenitely not anxiety...its usually a quick transition from absolute euphoria to not feeling well, at this point I try to either lay down or get away from any kind of stimulation (noise, light, other people). I do get anxious sometimes when I'm on cannabis, but this isn't that...it's more akin to my body purging me of some horrible toxin.The most recent such episode ended up with me in the shower puking nothing but hydrochloric acid after everything else was gone...I doubt that I'm just scaring myself into horrible dysphoria. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 16:20:32 PT Yanxor I really never heard of anyone feeling euphoric when using Cannabis. I would use the word euphoric more for hard drugs rather then cannabis but maybe someone else knows more then I do. I really led a very sheltered life compared to many people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by paul armentano on November 08, 2007 at 16:19:42 PT CWT Readers' -- "Is medical marijuana a big deal?& Several drug laws reformers -- including myself, Robert Sharpe, Cliff Schaffer, etc. -- chime in w/ replies to Rachel Vamenta's Commonwealth Times' editorial (Monday, 11/05/07, "Is medical marijuana a big deal?"). You can read our replies here: We give her an earful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 16:05:13 PT Yanxor Could you be getting anxious because that can cause nausea? [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:47:32 PT About time I have the euhporic tripping for about a half an hour or so, then the vomiting and dysphoria lasts until I either fall asleep or just lay there waiting it out for a few hours as brilliant CEV's merge and flow despite the headache and sensitivity to light and noise. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:44:36 PT FoM I usually eat when I'm on cannabis, but when I take in large doses without prior food or drink consumption I still have the intense euphoria followed by vomiting.It's the oddest thing...I've been smoking for over a year now, and I've had that about 6 or so times. I had that experience the first time I smoked in high school and it kept me from touching cannabis again until college. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 15:37:55 PT Yanxor You're welcome. Did you eat or drink while using Cannabis? If no other substances or too much food wasn't eaten I don't know because I have never heard of nausea with Cannabis use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:29:58 PT FoM and Whig Thanks =] ... I guess I just have a strange reaction to mushrooms.I actually have a strange reaction to cannabis too, it gives me a boost of energy, and always makes me want to "do stuff" I'm rarely content just sitting there watching tv when I'm high. Also, when I consume high doses (which I learned not to do) I have full out euphoric trips followed by vomiting.I've seen one of the friends I tried mushrooms with have the same responce to a very high dose of cannabis (euphoric tripping followed by vomiting).I always figured that I have some sort of defective protein or something of the sort that somehow causes such an unusual reaction to high doses of THC. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 15:29:03 PT Yanxor Oh, I see, and yes, I can understand. When I had mushrooms it was a good thing, I remember. It was just too much, I had to take something every week either that or something else to control pain. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 15:22:47 PT Yanxor That is very interesting. I only did mushrooms one time back in the 70s so it's hard for me to know what to say. I do know that mushrooms were not as powerful as good old LSD from years ago. Interaction is hard since your perception is in another frame of mind. When we did LSD we made sure everyone was in a good mood and the setting was right and someone wasn't taking any incase anyone had a problem and needed to be talked down. Like a designated driver I suppose. I do not regret the handful of times I did LSD and I believe I was able to look at life more broadly after those experiences. What you experienced was what we called quite a trip. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:22:20 PT Whig Oh no, I don't have asperger's.I just recognized that for me and two of my friends asperger's-like symptoms were part of the effects of the mushrooms, the same way that increased appetite is an effect of cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 15:18:17 PT Yanxor I understand what you mean about wanting to talk when you took mushrooms, I found the experience to be definitely heightening. I have nothing bad to say about mushrooms actually. It's just been awhile. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 15:16:48 PT Yanxor Can I suggest a homeopathic remedy for your Asperger's? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:16:06 PT Whig I know that MDMA is the classical empathogen, just saying that there are tryptamines that can simulate MDMA's effects. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:13:49 PT Actually I doubt I would have been able to process any verbal social cues. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 15:12:59 PT FoM Yeah, absolutely, I was completely unable to process any sort of non-verbal social cues. If somebody would have rolled their eyes at me, I would have recognized that as a negative social interactions solely because of previous experiences.For example, I go to Penn State and I'm a bit reserved about interacting with people I don't know. But when I was on the mushrooms, I got onto the bus to go to a friends house, and all I wanted to do was to start talking to people, ignoring completely any previous activity they were engaged in.I doubt I would have been able to restrain myself from forcing a conversation onto an officer if I sat next to one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 15:12:25 PT Yanxor The classic example of a chemical empathogen is MDMA. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 15:10:57 PT Yanxor I seem to remember AMT is pretty dangerous. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 08, 2007 at 14:57:32 PT Yanxor I looked up the word you were using because I didn't recognize what aspergers meant. Do you mean it was harder to interact socially? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 14:56:19 PT whig Actually, I've recently read about AMT, the tryptamine has a phenathylamine-type group coming off of the five carbon ring, according to Shulgin and some anecdotal reports, it generates very empathogenic feelings.And as for the other comment, cannabis is something I consume when I don't have exams coming up, I couldn't possibly imagine using mushrooms with the same frequency. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 14:46:12 PT Yanxor I don't want to go too far off topic nor certainly to make recommendations that you consume anything. I didn't enjoy my experience with mescaline cactus, as I was suffering from a lot of physical pain at the time and the mescaline did not alleviate that sensation -- to the contrary it made it worse.Mushrooms, on the other hand, were super good painkillers.I'd recommend sticking to cannabis, for the most part. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by whig on November 08, 2007 at 14:43:51 PT Yanxor I never found mushrooms especially empathogenic, actually. Quite the contrary, as a tryptamine it tends to damp emotions in my opinion. Phenethylamines seem to be more emotion-enhancing. (Peyote/mescaline cactus is a phenethylamine, if we describe these plants by the structure of their active chemicals). [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Yanxor on November 08, 2007 at 14:36:41 PT A bit off topic, but... I read alot about the almost empathogenic properties of mushrooms, about their spiritual properties, and how some people claim it makes them feel more connected to others.Recently me and two of my close friends consumed mushrooms, I for the second time, and both of them for their first time. Another friend was just stoned, but he has lots of experience with an individual that suffers from severe aspergers, and he described our behaviour (for all three) as people with temporary aspergers along with some vague memories of why such social interactions would be akward.Upon retrospection and learning more about asperger's I readily noticed asperger-like symptoms for both mushroom trips that I experienced.I read that a lot of people make great ephiphanies or have spiritual experiences, my experience mostly made me unable to empathize with people, forcing me to rationalize every action with logic, then I realized that I can test social boundries by doing socially akward things (which is actually very fun when among good friends) and in the long term, the experience made me a bit more of a dick for the sake of humor.It's difficult to integrate this realization of the complexity of social interaction, and I was just wondering if any of you guys had similar experiences or knew others who did?Sorry for the off-topic post, just figured you guys might be one of the better groups for fielding such questions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Storm Crow on November 08, 2007 at 14:34:30 PT Well, there goes "What about the Children?" From what I read, the cannabis-toking kids are doing better than their non-toking peers! This coincides with my personal observations. Only the brightest kids stick to just cannabis. The sports angle, however, was a surprise. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment