My alcohol and marijuana experience
Posted on August 6th, 2007 in Uncategorized |
I was raised with biased information concerning drugs and alcohol. As I’m sure you all know, there is an amount of drug education in schools. Frankly, most of what they say is that drugs are bad and defined uppers versus downers. There’s much they are missing there, including mentioning the pros of drugs. In any case, I had been indoctrinated for a while, and it wasn’t till last year that I finally began to fully understand all the issues surrounding the consumption of such mind altering substances.
It may sound weird, especially for a 17 year old, but it wasn’t till a few days ago that I finally tried both alcohol and marijuana. The experience was quite mixed for me.
I drank a cooler (Bacardi Breeze), slowly and alone, and got the buzz. It certainly felt like my inhibitions were lowered. What surprised me (see the misinformation taught to me previously) was that I didn’t completely lose my mind, and was fully aware of what I was doing, and had control over myself. I wasn’t slurring my words, or walking weirdly. Of course, it was just a cooler, but still. It did boost my energy slightly, and the buzz lasted for the hours that I sipped the drink. It took about two hours for me to return to my regular state. Oh, and I didn’t really like having to burp so often. Overall, it was an okay experience, but I don’t think I’d do it very often or for fun, just because I like the idea of not killing my brain cells. But it’s good to know it’s not nearly as bad as I thought, and I suppose I could now define myself as a social drinker.
The marijuana experience was much different. According to what I’ve read (from the good to the bad), cannabis has much more good potential for the body than alcohol. My only worry was the smoke, not only because I’m a former asthmatic, and I vehemently hate cigarette smoke, but because I’m generally just sensitive around the quality of my air. Of course, it did end up being my biggest issue with marijuana. What’s weird is it’s not bad inhaling it, it’s the exhale that felt really weird. First off, it left this taste of burnt marshmallows in the back of my throat. I also didn’t like the feeling of the smoke in my lungs - I kept trying to just bring some clean air into my system to flush it out, but it didn’t work. The drug didn’t really hit my system for at least 10-15 minutes, which I found odd considering it apparently works much faster usually.
Cannabis basically made my body go completely cold - again, weird, since I read your heart rate goes faster. I didn’t get the munchies, but felt really tired. Music wasn’t a better experience either. But I suppose it could be that idea that your never actually get high your first time. Anyways, it was okay, but I’d like it better if I didn’t have to smoke it. So, maybe if it was through a vaporizer or in a brownie I’d enjoy it better.
In any case, it was a mixed experience, but now I can say I tried them both and understand myself the ups and downs of the drugs.
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3 Responses
It’s refreshing to hear both sides of the story. I’ve never tried drugs myself and never will, nor do I drink although I used to like wine. I’m on the health side of the fence. I get a little hyper from being around other people drinking; people smoking pot around me, on the other hand, turns me into a grouch. You’re pensive about the experience, which is interesting. Unfortunately every time I go to a concert, I can’t escape people who smoke pot everywhere, outside and in. (Even the Queen E!) I’m not looking forward to having to put up with it again in September but maybe this time I’ll be more prepared. The worst part is when I encounter it by accident, especially at/near bus stops. I wish the government luck banning cigarettes in public if they can’t control public pot use. Ugh!
I wonder why you get grouchy at second-hand pot smoke… I actually find it’s the one smoke that doesn’t irritate my innards (second hand inhalation at least), and I could easily stand being in a concert full of marijuana use. Cigarette smoke on the other hand I just cannot stand at all. From my personal research, second hand cigarette smoke is the worst, but, obviously, any passive inhalation of smoke will have a negative effect on the body, and marijuana does contain a number of cancer causing toxins. So, yes, nobody should be put in a uncomfortable smoke filled situation (like a concert) unnecessarily.
Anyways, like Larry Campbell says, legalise it, regulate it, and tax the hell out of it (marijuana). Then we could control it better.
Great objective testing Paul - i too dislike tobacco smoke immensely but enjoy cannabis almost daily but use a vaporizer almost exclusively. I use a pipe or sometimes a joint when out and about (yes even while waiting for the bus) but do step away to allow other pedestrians to enjoy their own ration of carbon monoxide-laden air. Wish there was a reliable portable vaporizer for taking to concerts rather than having to reef down a joint (and burn holes in my clothes in the dark). I also think more coffeeshops are a worthy resource to provide folks a comfy and discrete place to blaze up (especially with a vaporizer) in an area other than Hasting and Cambie.
If you are curious, check out a smattering of vaporizer, hookah and joint testing sessions on my podcast at Choogleon.com.