"Millions love marijuana — it's thought to be one of the most lucrative crops on earth and has enjoyed a reputation as a comparatively safe drug for decades. As ACA reports, these days the majority of marijuana sold in Australia is not natural and new research indicates its impact is frightening. But some still champion its therapeutic qualities.

Long considered a "soft" drug, marijuana is now being blamed for everything from depression to schizophrenia. The reason is most of it is grown hydroponically and is super-charged with chemicals, making it more and more dangerous. According to youth counsellor Jill Pearman, who has 23 years experience, what she's witnessed over the past 24 months has her increasingly concerned.

"People say there's no problem with cannabis, I say, 'Give it up for a week and see how you feel', and you can bet your bottom dollar they're climbing the walls and it's a common experience among all people who come in — anxiety, depression and stress," she says.

She says the number of people presenting to mental hospitals in New South Wales for cannabis-induced psychosis has gone from 15 to 26 percent over a two-year period and experts now estimate the figure is closer to 40 or 50 percent.

Adding weight to the trend is new research, which paints a startling picture of the impact of modern marijuana our country. For seven years, 2000 Australian teenagers were tracked. By their 21st birthdays, one in 25 women met the criteria for being cannabis dependent. Among men, the rate was much higher with one in 10 found to be dependent.

Professor George Patton, who conducted the groundbreaking study, found that regular alcohol drinkers are less likely to develop cannabis dependence while cigarette smokers are more likely. He also found that the younger you experiment, the greater the chance you'll have a problem later on.

"Thirty percent of teenagers who reported weekly use sometime between the age of 14 and 17 were dependent at the age of 20 to 21," he says.

Father Chris Reilly has helped tens of thousands of troubled teenagers try and overcome their addiction. He says one of the problems is many people are unaware of how significantly the drug has changed.

"People who are advocating it from the '60s haven't factored in to it that this [cannabis] is now 70 to 90 percent stronger than what they were using back in the old days," he says.

For Chris, who was once addicted to marijuana, the experience was all-consuming.

"People think it's harmless, they don't take it as a harmful drug — that's probably why," he says. "People don't know much about it. I had drug-induced psychosis and went to jail for a night."

Similarly, Rupert also suffered terribly while addicted to cannabis.

"I couldn't sleep when I was smoking and got headaches," he says. "I got really angry with everyone — really angry with friends and parents. You don't realise 'til problems come on, no friends, social life goes down the drain and it's too late, by then, it's really hard to quit," he says.

Entering the debate with a very different view is Dr Andrew Katalaris, who has been studying the medical powers of marijuana for 15 years. He says that while cigarettes and alcohol can cause permanent damage, the effects of cannabis are reversible in a matter of weeks.

"They talk about attention deficit, short-term memory deficit, all these things do occur. But they are the result of overdose, both on the day and the chronic daily use without any times of washout to let the brain recover," he says.

The tiny town of Nimbin in northern New South Wales is considered to be the cannabis capital of Australia. According to Nimbin's unofficial mayor, Michael Balderstone, the fact most dope smokers in Australia only have access to hydroponic marijuana, which is usually mixed with tobacco, is part of the problem.

"I reckon, across Australia every morning, tens of thousands of young kids wake up and one of their first thoughts is a craving for a bong — it's the nicotine craving," he says. "So, you've got tobacco cravings all the time, making people smoke a lot more, making them wake up the next morning thinking, 'I want a bong', they don't realise it's a nicotine craving —it's a huge thing I think."

It may be an illegal drug but sometimes you wouldn't know it. In Nimbin, naturally-grown cannabis is for sale in cafés and every bag comes with health warning. The café experiment has resulted in a dramatic fall in street dealing and a steady flow of quality-controlled, chemical-free marijuana.

But in most other parts of the country, millions of Australians have no idea what they're inhaling. But while stopping young people from smoking may be impossible, here's the warning — the younger you start, the greater damage it can do.

"I know because I've been there, done that, and know what it's done to me," says former addict Chris. "Get out of that area where the drugs are around you. You got to survive it."

since you thought you were going to get flamed, and im too much of an asshole to read that whole thing, consider this a flame!! bahh!!

quote:Originally posted by Van-iLLer:

"People who are advocating it from the '60s haven't factored in to it that this [cannabis] is now 70 to 90 percent stronger than what they were using back in the old days," he says.



Who's ass do they pull this shit out of?

quote:Originally posted by KottonMouthKing:

Who's ass do they pull this shit out of?



nah, its true ive heard the same. its called more informed growers. and hybrids.

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/1468.asp

quote:Originally posted by Van-iLLer:

The reason is most of it is grown hydroponically and is super-charged with chemicals, making it more and more dangerous.

How is growing hydroponically make it more dangerous? How does this super-charging occur? Should I stop eating vegetables that were hydroponically grown?

More Government Propaganda. Eat it up you foolish media addicts.

quote:Originally posted by I_Tweak_Too:

nah, its true ive heard the same. its called more informed growers. and hybrids.

Oh shit, I thought they said 70-90 times stronger. Not percent. I'm so used to seeing the anti's in the US say it is like 40 times stronger.

...

Its a fucking myth that weed nowadays is more powerful and has more THC then the 60s.

quote:This myth is the result of bad data. The researchers who made the claim of increased potency used as their baseline the THC content of marijuana seized by police in the early 1970s. Poor storage of this marijuana in un-air conditioned evidence rooms caused it to deteriorate and decline in potency before any chemical assay was performed. Contemporaneous, independent assays of unseized "street" marijuana from the early 1970s showed a potency equivalent to that of modern "street" marijuana. Actually, the most potent form of this drug that was generally available was sold legally in the 1920s and 1930s by the pharmaceutical company Smith-Klein under the name, "American Cannabis".

Ha, supercharged weed from hydroponic fertilizers...just damn. I wish the anti's would actually hire intelligent people so I would have to work just a little harder to shoot down their attempts at propaganda.

Fertilizer of any kind has three major nutrients. These are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. These three nutrients are found in every form of fertilizer from cow manure, fish emusion, bat guano, to advanced hydroponic solutions. These fertilizers also contain micro-nutrients such as zinc, and calcium. These "dangerous chemicals" are required to ensure healthy growth of plants, and are necessary in differing ratios for all types of plants.

Marijuana growers who grow the very potent hydroponic pot that is refrenced in the above article, are very knowledgeable and experienced. They have been practicing their craft for a while, and can only grow good marijuana because of this expertise. Every good grower knows that a couple of weeks before harvest you have to start flushing your plants root systems with clean water to wash away any salt or chemical fertilizer build up. Skipping this step is detrimental to the flavor and affects how the plant material burns after drying and curing.

I'll add more later

[This message has been edited by The pharmacist (edited 08-12-2003).]

quote:Long considered a "soft" drug, marijuana is now being blamed for everything from depression to schizophrenia.

The true blame lies with the Government/Military/Police State and a brainwashed and fucked up society.

I do, however, think that alot of pot growers don't know what they are doing and have alot of defective strains. Understanding plant genetics is not that simple. Anyone can mix together a bunch of different types of alcoholic beverages and flavor syrups for example and call it 'Dynamite' and it will probably get you all fucked up and puking with a hangover. (simple analogy) and that is only my opinion.

The DEA bastards have destroyed some of the very best natural Sativa strains in the Americas, and probably other strains elsewhere. They are some stupid bastards

quote:Originally posted by KottonMouthKing:

Who's ass do they pull this shit out of?



Mine.

quote:Originally posted by Van-iLLer:

"People who are advocating it from the '60s haven't factored in to it that this [cannabis] is now 70 to 90 percent stronger than what they were using back in the old days," he says.

So what is there to factor in? What is the problem? What is so wrong with a higher concentration of THC in marijuana? How the FUCK would that be more damaging to your health? Fucking hell... The people that put this crap out there are completely retarded.

A higher volume of THC = less smoke needed to get stoned. Which in fact means it'd be less harmful to you. But everyone knew that already, right?

quote:

The tiny town of Nimbin in northern New South Wales is considered to be the cannabis capital of Australia. According to Nimbin's unofficial mayor, Michael Balderstone, the fact most dope smokers in Australia only have access to hydroponic marijuana, which is usually mixed with tobacco, is part of the problem.

I once worked with a guy who used to live in that town above,(he never smoked hydro) he smoked every day at work,i sold him a stick and he was fucked ,and my hydro wasnt even that good.

quote:

"People who are advocating it from the '60s haven't factored in to it that this [cannabis] is now 70 to 90 percent stronger than what they were using back in the old days,"

so maybe this is true.



[This message has been edited by Van-iLLer (edited 08-13-2003).]

What is "getting flamed"??

I don't think the weeds stronger now, look at how life was in the 70's, with all the hippies and peace protests and shit. Now look at it, peace protestors start riots against cops. I think back then it was stronger.

quote:Originally posted by Britt15:

What is "getting flamed"??

if you make a stupid thread the mods can and will get your address and tickle your butt with a feather and/or burn you at the steak thus the name flamed.

That thing about being 70-90% stronger than in the old days is bullshit, there has been studies that have shown no significant increase in thc content. Even if so, there will always be pot around thats stronger than all the rest, just diffeent fucking strains. Bastards.

quote:Originally posted by Britt15:

What is "getting flamed"??

Come over and I'll show you baby

In regards to the marijuana topic: I truly think it does cause serious mental problems especially in high amounts, chronically over a long period of time. This is true with any drug really, but marijuana especially. All you stoners out there think you're being safe with your daily use, but take it from me a chronic stoner myself who has many friends who've drained their bank accounts for the trees. THC is a very complex molecule that is noticeable at less than 1mg.

The ironic thing is that I'm stoned right now . Can't beat um, join um I guess...

If you found it on the internet, it has to be true.



Shek

quote:Long considered a "soft" drug, marijuana is now being blamed for everything from depression to schizophrenia.

Well alot of people w/ mental disabillaties use marijuana to try and help them out, it either does or a good job, or for some not really help at all and make it worse, but i believe its rare for weed. Also about usin drugs especially hardcore drugs, w/ certain mantal problems or prolonged use may cause insanity or whatever, but usually using hard drugs just makes u become dependent on them

Stronger pot...what is so bad about that? It has been shown that the LD50 of THC is so high that it takes over 18 kilos of Marijuana, smoked in under 15 minutes, to cause death. This marijuana by the way, is at a 7 percent THC content as I beleive the calculations were based on. Now a 7% THC ratio would be considered very good for average street pot.

That being said, what is so bad then about more THC in weed? Less smoke = less lung damage. Why do you think people smoke hash/oil? It is because of harm reduction(and efficiency) that is being made when one smokes less and gets the same high.

As the factuality of marijuana being stronger now, yes, it is true. People have long over time been breeding powerful strains with powerful strains. Breeders look for strains with specially high THC content. However, like I said, this is actually better for the end user.

As for dependence on pot. Well, you enjoy the high, you will want it again. Very simple reward system built within the brain. The same applies to excessive eating, chocolate, or anything else you really like to do.

This article doesn't seem too bad in my opinion. There's some very harsh stuff in there but, as a huge pothead myself, I've seen how pot influences me and other potheads, and it can definitely be a fairly big impact. But still, I guess it's just the BC guy in me, but I don't see this as a big reason to hate marijuana. Just do whatever feels good to you and whatever you are comfortable with. I don't have a problem with being informed, and I think I can judge when statistics are being swirled around. Like, I'd look at the article saying "up to 50 percent of mental patients are fucked because of weed" or whatever, and of course you have to take that with a grain of salt because just because many mental patients are, or have been, potheads, doesn't mean that their problems are caused by pot. In fact at worse it means that the type of people who like weed are the type of people who might have mental problems. That being said, I've seen weed cause problems for people, and I've seen people use it in large doses and not have it affect their life. In my eyes the most important thing is the type of person you are, and how seriously you take it. People who take weed really seriously and convince themselves that they can't function stoned, just can't. Part of this is because weed just affects them in a certain way, and part of it is because of the way they look at it. In my experience people who have grown up with it and are comfortable with it and don't take it seriously tend to cope with it a lot better.

I say all that from the point of view of someone who has had his life affected greatly by weed. I'm not saying anyone shouldn't do it at all, just know yourself and what you are comfortable with. I personally am stoned now, and am gonna get stoned again pretty soon...

I swear I'm cutting back when this bag runs out though! (ok well maybe I'll wait until the end of the summer...)

as i've said before, if you don't know what a drug does, do NOT take it. I think its great thata guy can help kids stop using, but what if they don't want to? i'd tell the guy to fuck himself, i dont care who he is.

OK, since I am not unexperienced in producing, smoking canna and being busted, lets see *gg*

Basically the first post expresses something I have been thinking of a lot, but had nothing informational to "work on". I mean when you keep growing indoor over the time you see all the mess of the empty fertilizer tanks around, and kinda like how much you put in everytime, you get to worry on a bad day. You use acids to regulate the pH, and these are also not vanishing away when dissolved.

Yet it doesn't "look" so dangerous when you read the components of a fertilizer. at the first sight at least. ah, a little bit of bound phosphor, some other metals I am not sure how you call them in english, etc. Adding in to the basic fertilizer comes a number of root boosters, flowering boosters, enzimes, attac force stuff etc.

Its a chemical mix and no better. For years we have learned to stop the fert a week or two before harvesting as otherwise you wouldn't wanna smoke the shit: bitter sweet... not tasty.. making you you produce saliva (?hm, got that from the dict, heh), feeling to have a drink after every smoke.

But there is so MUCH to discuss about this, I fear loosing myself. Lets keep children out of it at the first place. Any human in its "development" phase that takes chemical shit basically interferes with the nature. Let's also leave out abuse, that is, you haven't even a minute a day you are *not* stoned. (personally I smoke every day but only the evenings, kinda when watching TV or so). Interesting of discussion is the average, supposedly controlled usage. Everything else can't be good, in short. Can it?

I have been using it for 10 years now, I am 29. I would be happy to know a way to get out of it (regarding the daily dose), but its so tied with what you do: Tried not to smoke a Saturday evening where i was alone at home. you end up wondering if you wanna go to bed, since i was very tired and only really wanted to watch Tv and have a smoke. --> You need to change your habits in order to stop smoking, but for the will to change the habits you first need stop smoking. *umpf

So well yes it definitely does have an impact on you, and it is defenitely hard to say since the milage does greatly vary. I have seen people sweating, or loosing consciousness, or giggle (un stoppable laughter) - others don't care or even the next morning.

Personally I don't feel a difference even after 3 weeks of not smoking (holidays, there it's easy as you have another life for a while, other people, etc --> proofs me it was possible, and is mentally based addiction), which is sorta annoying since IF there was a difference notable, it might help me get away from it. I am not less tired, I am not more aggressive, only thing I can see is you start to remember your dreams more often again and you get your shortterm memory back to where you were so proud of it :-)

But of all and any drugs (leaving it to others to discuss what a drug is, i mean the quite bad ones now, not coffee or tv and shit, heh), I would never dare to take anything else. I wanted to try LSD just because I read too much about it anbd was really curious. Thanks god I read more about the bad side later. I might have tried things such as mushrooms, BUT: With pot or weed, there is THE one big advantage that makes it suitable fopr me AT ALL: I know when it stops. Given the moment where you think for yourself " 'nuff is 'nuff! ", and you stop there, you can be sure it won't get any worser. OK maybe for another minute or two. Then you have your level, and its being flushed out in a matter of a few hours (not completely as we all know). Its far more standable the next day than Aclohol for me. And even when I would eat the pot - which i haven't ever done - I would loose the ability to predict its power.

So, I will stay with my weed. But either put it down to a weekly usage and even better, start to use natural weed grown by myself outside again. No more EEDHA shit and artifical heavy metal fertilizer!

So, uhm,. well, if not interesting I hope it was funny to read ;-)