It never fails to amaze me how many people comment on Problem A: "Why aren't we paying more attention to Problem B?"
As though all the people who struggle with marijuana use need to wait in line, and all the world's experts on substance abuse wasted their money getting a degree in something other than nutritional science.
By the way, you're clearly fine minimizing the suffering of people struggling with marijuana use by calling them "pot heads", why not stay consistent and call people struggling with weight problems "fatties"?
> "...suffering of people struggling with marijuana use..."
Suffering and struggling?
From the perspective of the marijuana user, suffering and struggling belongs to others, not them. This means an outsider makes the judgement call about who is suffering and to what degree.
Cannabis users are often willing to pay the price of admission for a struggle-free existence. That's the point of regular use: to take the edge off.
The price of admission can be slower cognitive activity, reduced physical activity, less pursuit of goals, and less interest in meeting social expectations. These things might be measures of a "good productive citizen", but those standards are external and artificial, and pot users conscientiously put those norms on the chopping block.
> From the perspective of the marijuana user, suffering and struggling belongs to others, not them. This means an outsider makes the judgement call about who is suffering and to what degree.
"Belongs to others"? Did you read the article?
> Cannabis users are often willing to pay the price of admission for a struggle-free existence. That's the point of regular use: to take the edge off.
Is it the effect of regular use too? Not the impression one gets from the piece.
> The price of admission can be slower cognitive activity, reduced physical activity, less pursuit of goals, and less interest in meeting social expectations. These things might be measures of a "good productive citizen", but those standards are external and artificial, and pot users conscientiously put those norms on the chopping block.
Marijuana users are not consciously challenging norms when they light up. I don't know what point you're trying to make here. That everyone who uses it does so because they want to?
Marijuana is not begging to be smoked. It is not punishing users with cannabis-specific withdrawal symptoms. If you eat ice cream every day, that's a behavior problem, not an "ice cream addiction".
The help you receive should be about improving life balance, making better choices and moderating the desire to kick back in a haze of relaxation.
> "I don't know what point you're trying to make here. That everyone who uses it does so because they want to?"
Obviously those who smoke weed, want to smoke weed. I thought my point was pretty clear.
Any "struggle" is with themselves and other factors in their life and routine. The noise and sharp edges of sober life in this modern world, is not everyone's cup of tea. Combine that with compulsion and impatience to "fix" (mask) that problem with a quick smoke, and you have substance abuse.
"Marijuana" or "ice cream" plays little part in a person's root issue in wanting to escape reality full time/delight their taste buds full time instead of the more commonly moderated occasional use.
As though all the people who struggle with marijuana use need to wait in line, and all the world's experts on substance abuse wasted their money getting a degree in something other than nutritional science.
By the way, you're clearly fine minimizing the suffering of people struggling with marijuana use by calling them "pot heads", why not stay consistent and call people struggling with weight problems "fatties"?