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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 11:52:41 AM | Bing, that is not the reason pot was made illegal.
Pucks, lets say that pot is now legal. Is it then ok to smoke it and be a single parent? And what if one smokes it but not around their kids? | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 11:53:27 AM | Although Bing has lost the concept of what this post is geared to, I feel I need to respond to his sweeping judgements regarding its use and affects. Its clear he has not read this entire thread, because he has repeated what others have stated..but none the less..
Marijuana is not known for causing aggression as alchohol does. In fact, it generally calms you down, relaxes you.
I bet to differ with you. As one who used to be married to both an addict of pot and alcohol, let me indulge you in my OWN experiences-
Marijuana transpired aggression within my ex husband when he was out (dry). He slept one time for an entire weekend. Upon trying to wake him up several times with a sat. or sun. afternoon, I was welcome with a whiney boy jumping on the bed on all 4's because he had none get get him by. Hardly the actions of something that "relaxes" you.
Marijuana is not addictive. When I say this, I mean physically addictive.
I say bullshi.t to that. I LIVED with someone who couldnt go a day without it. It was both mentally and physically addictive for him. He lost his family over it. Proof enough that it can break down a relationship. And before you spout off that anything else existed, the answer is negative.
Marijuana does not effect your reflexes or reaction time
False. I lived it, seen it in my household.
I've never smoked pot myself
Then this negates your entire post. How would you know it does not slow down reaction time, there is no physical addiction to it, or it doesnt do anything but relax you? It can have an adverse affect on anyone.
the rate of teens smoking it has gone down.
Show me proof to back up your claims.
As for parents smoking around their kids, it shouldn't happen for the same reasons that parents shouldn't drink around the kids.
That is what this thread is about. | |
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Pucks
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Joined: 10/14/2006
Msg: 603 | |
| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 12:00:54 PM | Well pot is not legal so that is not an easy question to answer.
I would still think that due to pot's mental influences and cognitive effects that it should not be ok for a single parent to smoke it around children.
If that parent smoked it away from the kids and it did become legal then that would be ok. Hypothetically speaking of course, because this is obviously not the case currently. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 1:11:30 PM | ^^^
Just to make sure I understand, I'm assuming you feel the same way about alcohol? That it should not be done in the presence of children since it too, has mental and cognitive effects? | |
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Pucks
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Joined: 10/14/2006
Msg: 605 | |
| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 1:27:22 PM | Of course.
i will have a glass of wine over dinner though with mom and family. Difference is we know how to have a glass socially with a meal and not get bombed. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 5:18:12 PM | This whole pot subject is beginning to remind me a lot of the posts that Johne102 does... redundant and pretty much pointless...
If you were a single person with no responsibilities but to take care of yourself, I would say go for it and have at it. I too (even though I don't smoke it) don't think it is any worse (or better) than alcohol. What you people aren't getting through your thick heads is that it is STILL illegal though and any parent (not just the single parents) that would risk their well-being for a moment of "whateverness" is in my opinion moronic. People lose good jobs for not being able to piss clean during a random urinalisis. How do you explain to your child that you lost your job because you broke the law? Is this the kind of example you want to set for your children; that it is okay to break the law because alcohol is worse for you and alcohol is legal? I will say this so you all don't think I am completely one-sided.... I actually don't know why it is illegal because thus far I haven't heard anything worse about marijuana than about alcohol, but until it is legalized my opinion is that it is retarded for any parent to do it. If it should ever get legalized, my viewpoint is much as it stands now with alcohol and cigarettes; it should be smoked on your own time and not done around children at all. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/18/2007 9:33:32 PM | I've said many times why I'm on this board having no children. As a 20 year old guy, I have very recently been a child myself. I experienced pretty much every situation that gets discussed here. Drug addicted parent, alchoholic parent, parent having abortion, parents divorcing, parents fighting, step parents, I can go on and on. I was checking out the boards here one day and realized that the only one worth reading was this one, most of the others are just dumb sex talk which frankly bores me more often than not. But on this board there are a lot of subjects which I am highly knowledgeble about, have experienced first hand, and therefore can give a first hand opinion to both tell parents some of what worked for my family and didn't and also the point of view of someone who was on the other end, a point of view which parents usually try to respect but often don't get a good idea of.
To respond to your responses, I suppose I'll find some proof. First off, you mention as response to my saying it causes a lack of aggression, that it caused your husband to pass out for a weekend. Sleeping is about as non aggressive as you can get. But you'd have to smoke INSANE amount of marijuana to do that. Its almost an impossibility. I'd have to wonder if there was something else involved that you were unaware of. Then you talk about him jumping up and down because he didn't have any. That's the response because of a lack of marijuana, not because of the marijuana itself.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/mari.html
"Marijuana causes:
# relaxation
# reduced coordination
# reduced blood pressure
# sleepiness
# disruption in attention"
As for it being physically addictive, often it can be hard to tell if someone is physically or mentally addicted to something. Because frankly, in the person, there really is no difference. However the difference is that the fault lies in the persons make up and not in the item they are addicted to. Marijuana is not physically addictive, not one study has shown it to be and many have shown it not to be. The closest they've come to showing a physical addiction is in some cases of HEAVY smokers seeing some withdrawel symptoms, which can also occur in a strong mental addiction.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-20
"Marijuana produces no withdrawal symptoms no matter how heavy it is used. It is habit forming (psychologically addictive), but not physically addictive. The majority of people who quit marijuana don't even have to think twice about it. Comparing marijuana to addictive drugs is really quite silly.
For a drug to be physically addictive, it must be reinforcing, produce withdrawal symptoms, and produce tolerance. Marijuana is reinforcing, because it feels good, but it does not do the other two things. Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are all physically addictive."
I'll admit I was a bit off when I said it did not effect your reflexes or reaction time. I should have said it does not SIGNIFICANTLY do so.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-19
"Doesn't marijuana cause a lot of automobile accidents?
Not really. The marijuana using public has the same or lower rate of automobile accidents as the general public. Studies of marijuana smoking while driving showed that it does affect reaction time, but not nearly as much as alcohol. Also, those who drive `stoned' have been shown to be less foolish on the road (they demonstrate `increased risk aversion'.) Recent studies have emphasized that alcohol is the major problem on our highways, and that illicit drugs do not even come close to being as dangerous."
My lack of having smoked pot does not mean I can't know anything about it. That's like saying you can't judge wether murder should be legal unless you've tried it. Rediculous. I've spent years researching marijuana legality and causes, I've written 3 research projects including in my senior year of high school a year long 75 page report on it. I'm extremely knowledgeble on the subject.
As for teens smoking it.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-11
"I don't want children (minors) to be able to smoke marijuana. How can I stop this?
Legalize it. They can smoke it now; it is about as easy to get as alcohol. There would be less marijuana being sold in schools, playgrounds, and street corners, though, if it was sold legally through pharmacies -- because the dealers would not be able to compete with the prices. If you are a parent, the choice is really up to you: Do you want your children to sneak off with their friends and use marijuana which they bought off the street, or do you want to talk to them calmly and explain to them why they should wait until they are older? Your children are not going to walk up to you and tell you that they use an illegal drug, but if it was not such a big deal they might give you a chance to explain your feelings. Besides, would you rather children use speed, cocaine, and alcohol?
Consider, also, that children have a natural urge to do things that they aren't supposed to. It is called curiosity. By making such a fuss over marijuana, you make it interesting (some call it the `forbidden fruit' factor.) This is made worse when children are lied to about drugs by teachers and police -- they lose respect for the school and the government. In a lot of ways, it is the hysteria about drugs which causes the most harm. When marijuana users do none of the horrible things they are supposed to, children may think that other more harmful drugs are OK, too. Your children will not respect you unless you are calm and give good reasons for your rules. The first step is for you, the parent, to learn the facts about drugs."
Sadly, I can't find you my sources about the rates of use going down when legalized. Both of my sources for this in my research project were books, not on the internet. The best I could find on short notice was a comparison of use in the Netherlands where it has been legalized with use here where it is still illegal.
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/thenethe.htm
"The figures for cannabis use among the general population reveal the same pictures. The Netherlands does not differ greatly from other European countries. In contrast, a comparison with the US shows a striking difference in this area: 32.9% of Americans aged 12 and above have experience with cannabis and 5.1% have used in the past month. These figures are twice as high as those in the Netherlands."
Again, not using it around the kids is just logic, however the issue of parents using it in general has also been greatly discussed in this thread and I was adding my 2 cents into that. Some other interesting facts that I failed to mention in my first post:
Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug:
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-10
I'll let you read it yourself if you wish, but basically, the studies that show it as one are highly scewed. Basically, they think that proving that many hard drug users first used marijuana proves it was a cause. But rather, most in the scientific community today consider this inane. It only makes sense to try the light stuff before the heavy. Its more easily accessible and more commonly used. Those who go on to the heavier stuff would have done so regardless.
Marijuana does not kill:
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#3-5
Basically, there's never been a marijuana overdose documented. Ever. The only people who have ever died from it are those who have had an allergic reaction, which it is possible to have from anything.
There have been cases where people have died of an overdose of PCP which is commonly mixed with marijuana by dealers. They thought they were smoking pot but they were also doing PCP at the same time. Not an issue if its legalized as you'd be buying it from pharmacies, from the gas station, from coffee houses, not from drug dealers. It'd be regulated just as all legal substances are.
Honestly, is there any good arguement to be made for the illegalization of marijuana while alchohol is legal? I haven't ever heard one.
Its true that my original reason for pot being made illegal was not the entire reason. For more on that, feel free to read up:
http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_faq1.shtml#2-1
And as for the status of a parent who introduces their child to the substance but doesn't allow them to use it, how is that setting a bad example? Through your views maybe but if they believe there's nothing wrong with marijuana use, how is it bad? Do as I say not as I do doesn't apply. That's one of the most absurd things I hear people say. There are some things that are okay for adults and not for kids. Any parent who drinks has no right to say their kid can't? Any parent who watches R rated movies has no right to say their kid can't? Any parent who drives has no right to say their kid can't? Any parent who has sex has no right to say their kid can't? Assuming she has no problem with her daughter smoking marijuana once she's an adult, there's no problem. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/19/2007 3:09:40 AM | | I'd also like to add about the legalizing. If it was only sold in controlled places it would make fighting the war on drugs easier. The dealers on the streests as Bing has stated would actually be carrying the very drugs we are really after. Therefore making it easier to bust and less likely to expose themselves to our kids. | |
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vv76
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Joined: 6/13/2007
Msg: 609 | |
| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/19/2007 3:23:56 AM | Had to respond to this, i am a 31 year old single mother of 2 fantastic kids, very clever and bright and happy! I am doing a diploma in Law (haha who'd of thought it) and yes, when the kids are in bed i do smoke. Not in front of them (ALthough my sons father up in Manchester does!!)
My late mother who was very poorly before she died tried it , and it eased alot of her pain and actually made her eat! So to be honest i dont find there is anything wrong with it, yes smoking Weed can kill brain cells but then i suppose its up to the individual to recognise whats enough! As someone rightly said, do people drink in front of their kids, get drunk at parties, drink in the house!? habe liver probs, binge drink? Why no debate on that!
Anyhow, i dont think there is anything wrong as long as its not in front of the children :)  | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/19/2007 11:07:26 PM | Ya, I had an alchoholic father. But I have no problem with alchohol in the least. Alchohol the substance is safe when used by people who can control themselves. Alchoholics should not use it, period.
When used correctly and legally, alchohol is safe. I see no reason why similar guidelines can't work for marijuana. Yes we have problems with irresponsibility of use, but that can happen with anyone. We should outlaw guns because someone might get shot. We should outlaw knives because someone might get stabbed. We should outlaw alchohol because someone might do something stupid drunk. We should outlaw pot because someone might do something stupid high. Where does it end? We should outlaw cars because someone might get run over? We should outlaw mustard because someone might be allergic. Where does personal responsibility have to take over?
I never once said that pot can't be addictive. I said it is not PHYSICALLY addictive. I even explained the difference.
A physically addictive item must cause tolerance, withdrawal symptoms and be reinforcing. Marijuana is not. Period. The item itself is not in and of itself addictive.
A mental addiction is when someone likes something so much that they plain out don't want to stop. This marijuana can be and is for many. They enjoy getting high that the pleasure they receive from getting high is the most important thing to them.
The major difference between the two is a physical addiction, there's a chemical within the item that causes addiction, that your body grows to rely on and won't function properly without. A mental addiction on the other hand, is merely mind over matter, wether or not they're willing to give it up. It won't hurt them, they just won't get it anymore. Mental addictions are all about the mind. A mentally addictive personality can be addicted to anything. You can be mentally addicted to barbeque sauce. But that's the users fault, not the item's fault.
You can be addicted to anything in existance but that doesn't make the item addictive. For an item to be addiction, the addiction has to come from the product, not the person.
Cigarettes, alchohol, caffeine, these are physically addictive. Your body will over time grow reliant on them and cease to function properly without them. Such is not the case with marijuana. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/20/2007 7:38:00 PM | PASS THE DUTCHIE TO THE LEFT HAND SIDE""" 
pass the dutchie...........la la la la...... holy fuuukkkkk are you sure its just wacky tobaccee shes smokin??? pot doesnt make you completly messed up like that!!!!!!!!
as for having your children witness thier mother DOING and preparing drugs WTF ARE YOU THINKING????????????????????????? fine.....DO POT MASH YER BRAINS A BIT MORE...........but DOT NOT I REPEAT DO NOT DO IT WHATSOEVER IN THE PRESENCE OF CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!  | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/21/2007 8:48:38 AM | I would have read thru this whole thing but theres 20+ pages lol.
I told my dad once after my brother died, because he was berating himself over my brothers death that it was his fault as a parent, that you can only teach your children the best you know and do your best by trying to show them examples - in the end they make their own decisions.
I really honestly believe this.
The reason I posted that is because my dad has smoked around me my entire life, infact that only one other than myself that doesnt smoke is my mom. That being said, I'm perfectly healthy, I have absolutely no health issues apart from being anemic which I'm told is a female curse, and have only tried smoking once and then only done it socially.
The odd weekend, maybe a month apart, I will have 1 or 2 drinks infront of my son before I go to bed. I don't think it harms him. I think it shows him how to treat alcohol responsibly. I wont ever go near drugs because I've seen how they f-ed up my brothers life and what it did to him.
Point is, I would rather have my son know how to deal with alcohol responsibly than learn it from the thousands of teenagers in school. And while I'd like to be niave and think that he wont smoke pot because I don't, I do remember being a teenager and I know there will come a point in his life when he'll ask me about it, and even want to try it. Which I will most likely allow, but I'll be damned sure he knows about the risks associated with drug abuse beforehand. I watched my brother ruin his life with it I'm not going to watch my son do the same. But no I'm not going to beat him. If you try to restrict your kids from anything, they'll only run to it harder and faster. It's been proven time and again. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/21/2007 9:39:23 AM | I think you might have the wrong idea here. This thread wasn't started because of alcohol, it was started because of pot and the use of pot by single parents. Though I have no hang-ups with people who use as I am sure most people don't (have hang-ups that is). It still has no place being around children which a certain poster can't seem to grasp ( I beleive I don't have to say any names or point fingers...). There are ways to teach children to be responsible when it comes to consuming alcohol or the possible use of marijuana without exposing them to it by letting them watch how mommy and daddy do it.
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/21/2007 10:45:35 AM | | oh i know the thread wasnt started in regards to alcohol, it just came up later in the topic ..each to their own though, we all have different methods of parenting and as i said i dont do drugs, not even pot...i've been totally turned off it since watching it ruin my brothers life..so theres no worries there.. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/21/2007 10:59:18 AM | earthen, pot didn't ruin your brother's life. Your brother ruined your brother's life. I understand your reasoning for not wanting anything to do with it, and that's cool, but pot itself isn't the evil deity that ruined anything.
And I only say this because we, as humans are quick to put the blame on objects rather than the human who really holds the blame. It's easier emotionally for us, but not really healthy to do. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 8/21/2007 11:10:28 AM | | oh i know this well, we even put him in rehab and had him cleaned up for a time, let me rephrase that, i've seen what the addiction can do.. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/29/2008 8:30:11 PM | | No one should smoke pot...keep the kids away from anyone who does smoke pot. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/29/2008 8:40:51 PM | If you can't give up tokin' for 18 years, you're not ready to have kids.
Kids do what they see you do. Let them them grow up before they decide how to lead their lives.
Simple as that.
Besides, if you can't give up your roach, you got a problem.
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/30/2008 1:05:31 AM | Obviously u have not kept up with the latest studies concerning marijuana. It is not harmless as previously thought as consistently using it gives rise to serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and extreme paranoia. I know this because my ex husband has abused pot for over 20 years and it's made him as mad as a meat axe. Although, he is still holding down his position as school principal, but only just. How would people feel if they knew the pot smoking principal was in charge of their children. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/30/2008 5:34:21 PM | do what you will, but remember that imparment is imparment. What you do effects the kids. Pot does have it's uses but you need to be honest with yourself and ask the tough questions. Is It really worth the trouble it may be causing?? | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/31/2008 5:02:29 AM | The risks associated with pot and developing schizophrenia/psycosis INCREASE with the youth of the brain exposed to it. e.g if a child or young person smokes or is exposed to it then the risks are much greater than a pensioner who receives the same dose. Some people are genetically more predisposed to this awful side effect, but because it's been illegal so long far less research has been done into this as opposed to say alcohol well it's been long established that alcoholism runs in families.
In other words you have no idea how high the risk factor is to your individual child until it's too late. Schizophrenia is a lifelong disability that causes awful suffering to both the patient and family/friends. It can be managed successfully and a full life lived, but the road there is long and hard - would you deliberately maim your child? Passive smoking of pot around young children/teenagers is a real health risk to them. in many ways the mind is more important than the bodyas the effects of even mild psychosis can be devastating to their life chances.
In the UK at least pot is often no longer an organically grown herb, but instead is grown artificially, with the result that it is stronger in both it's medicinal and it's harmful effects. We shouldn't "medicate" our kids through passive smoking with a drug that is recognised to have strong effects - it's very popularity with ME, MS sufferers and pain relief - proves it affects the nervous system somehow!
There is this awful assumption that because it's "natural" it's safer than alcohol. Clary Sage is a herb than can induce early miscarriage, most essential oils are contraindicated for use with young babies for the aromatherapists out there. It is a drug, and like most drugs has side effects - anyone who thinks otherwise has not really thought through why one of the first things they do now in UK mental units when a young person/child is admitted for the first time is test for the presence of pot in the patients system.
I think it's swept under the carpet as an issue far to often beacuse of crazy political correctness of not wanting to offend the ethnic groups most often associated with pot useage.
For any youngsters reading this - please if you are under 25 stay away from pot! Keep the sanity you were born with, once it's gone you'll never fully be able to recover and the risk is just not worth it. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/31/2008 6:53:14 AM | ^^^
Funny how a study done out of the UK and published in the journal 'Schizophrenia Research' argues against marijuana being a contributing factor to developing schizophrenia. And according to Britain's ACMD marijuana may increase one's lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent. ONE percent. Yep, better run far, far away from the evil weed. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/31/2008 7:12:33 AM | | Ugh. I will never understand the facination with pot. I'm too busy to do something that makes me lazy. And it is a DRUG! And illegal. And I would NEVER do anything that would even remotely risk having my child taken away from me. Do the parents that smoke pot think about that? That there could be horrible consequences to their actions? It's just not worth a high for me. | |
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| single parents smoking pot
Posted: 3/31/2008 9:14:16 AM |
And illegal. And I would NEVER do anything that would even remotely risk having my child taken away from me. Do the parents that smoke pot think about that?
Ummmm, not illegal everywhere... Not even in the US, but that's another thread.
For the pot smokers here where, yes you can lose your kids over it....
Do the parents that smoke pot think about that?
Well, duh??? NO!! I'm around construction field, and I'm the A-HOLE that goes on the jobs screaming and cussing at the guys when I smell it....
If they are gonna run a crane, be on structual steel, drive heavy equpiment etc etc etc which they are in control if someone lives or dies, then come-on it's all about theirselves.
Thes people do not have enough sense to see you get in a traffic accident (that aint their fault) and because there is a jay in the ash tray, off to social services goes a kid that was in the car... at least in my state. | |
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