I agree - I went to Amsterdam and I could tell you some stories but it was really safe there for a big city. 'Cause all the cops were busting dangerous criminals, not druggies! I'm new here and I don't know if my smoking is a problem or not - it's hard to tell with all the anti-drug propoganda what to believe.

Here're my thoughts...
I am only commenting here. I am not trying to attack you or judge you. I have used many drugs, so that would be hypocritical. I would merely like to give you something to think about.
"Dealing" with life would be facing it head on...sober. Getting high is putting it aside and facing it later. Getting stoned or drunk to chill and relieve stress is not a cure, nor is it a healthy choice. The stress will still be there tomorrow or the next week and you'll need your little stress relief again...and round and round it goes. If you like to smoke weed, the more accessable it is, the more you smoke, and the more of a problem it becomes for you. Weed is NOT legal in Canada. I know because I am Canadian. Yes, it is a problem for many people here.
Alcohol is legal. That doesn't mean it doesn't cause problems for people or society. The crimminal aspect of weed is not the only aspect, nor is it the point.
Drugs do harm people. They harm you, both mentally and physically. It doesn't matter what drug it is.
I have said this before in this community...There is no such thing as responsible drug use.
Think about this...If I were to cross the street at an uncontrolled intersection, I could be ticketed for that. It is against the law. It's not harming anyone though. Is it? Ah, but it is putting me and other people at risk of harm. What if I get hit by a car? There's the mental anguish to myself, the guy who hit me, and my family and friends, not to mention my own physical well being.
Do you understand the analogy I am making? Your drug use affects you, the people around you and the ones in your life. Quite often in a negative way. This is a fact.
A drug user doesn't want to believe or accept the facts about drugs. A non-drug user or reformed one believes and accepts them without trying to challenge them.
Having said all that, it is still your choice and your life. Do what you please. All I know is that is drug use is not a good thing. I know this from personal experience with myself, family, friends, and aquantences.
Best of luck to all in your lives...

Being an addict can be very dangerous, but smoking a joint everynow and again does not hurt you, In fact unless your stoned 24/7 for a mounth weed does not hurt you, it is true weed lowers your brain cells but only when your high, once you come back down your brain cells are completly normal again, so like say I smoked a joint or two tonight, I would have a nice buzz for a few hours, I would start coming down and probaly fall asleep, and when I wake up in the morning I would be completly back to normal again. and besides 100x more people do stupid shit when there drunk than when there high, drunk people kill and hurt more people than probaly anyone else does. Because when your stoned you normally just sit and watch TV or listen to music so your never normally in a position to hurt anything, were as were your drunk your around other people and put in dangerous situations, but a drunk is alot meaner and dangerous than someone thats stoned.

If you can smoke a joint every now and then without becoming addicted, then good for you.
I am curious to know why you are on this site if you don't think you have a problem?
(not meaning to sound rude, just curious)

i dont like smoking anything. and i guess it doesnt bother me that you smoke to feel better, and chill. but before you smoke again, could you talk to me?

I have to say that i feel like marijuana is a good relaxion tool, but there are some problems with that. when you become dependent on weed to curb your depression, thats what i call hiding from the truth, because your using it to mask the pain. a year ago id have said smoke it if ya got it, but now i really feel like its just eating away at the unique individual i am. if pot was legal in the U.S. i think wed have a higher unemployment rate, something we DONT need. I dont knock anyone wo smokes weed, I still am friends with people who do. but i know one things for sure, or at least a majority of respected doctors seems to know, you lose braincells, they dont come back. And i have to agree with expotman and give kudos to him for knowing that weed or any drugs or bad habit isnt a true method of dealing with life and its downfalls. I was wearing a mask all these years since mom, dad and my cousin died, all three from seperate, but tragic deaths, i am now coping with the pain thru counseling and better communication with family and friends, ...not just lighting a joint up and forgetting about everything for a few hours. but as i said im not trying to knock smoking weed. but believe this. There is no study (to my knowledge) that states with evidence, that smoking pot is a true antidepressant. ive spent too much money in a false advertisment as far as im concerned

let me rephrase my opening line...I once FELT that way about pot. I no longer feel it is helpful, in any way

Here's what I think...

We all do something that has the potential to kill us, whether it be overeating, clogging our arteries with unhealthy food, smoking cigarettes or cigars, drinking, etc. To me, if alcohol is legal, then so should marijuana be. I believe weed is actually far, far less dangerous for you than the booze.

You can't overdose on weed. It's impossible, but you can drink too much alcohol and die of alcohol poisoning. Furthermore, you wil rarely, if ever, come across a person who is so hung up on weed that he or she will resort to stealing just to be able to buy it. Yes, some may do this, but I have yet to come across anyone guilty of this, and I live in meth and marijuana land. All the meth users are out stealing. The stoners are sitting at home with a buddy smokin and laughing it up, if anything.

Another thing, drunken drivers cause so many accidents and deaths each year, but how many times do you hear of someone high on weed crashing and killing someone? I have yet to hear of that happening. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I have never known of a case of it happening anywhere near here.

Furthermore, when a person can prove to me that a man can smoke a joint and go home and beat the shit out of his wife, then I'll agree that weed is just as bad as alcohol. How many alcoholics go home from the bar and start beating on their wives and children? Far too many, which is sad.

Another thing, weed, compared to alcohol, has no real physical withdrawal when a person stops. You might say you get anxious and moody, but those are part of the psychological withdrawals. You won't shake uncontrollably, break out into cold sweats, have seizures, severe nausea, or DIE. Alcohol withdrawal, without a proper detox is deadly.

Now, I'm NOT saying weed is a good thing. I'm not saying it's anything besides better for you than alcohol, and safer than alcohol. If a person smokes pot like a freight train and developes a psychological addiction, then its BAD for sure. As others have said, though, smoking the occasional joint is fine, in my opinion, IF you can leave it at that. I've been in both positions. I started out smoking it daily and numerous times a day, then went to only occasionally. Nowadays, my system stays pretty clean. I can, however, smoke a J every now and then if I want and be perfectly fine. I know I can because I've done it. Now, I'm killing my fcking self with alcohol because weed is illegal and I don't want it in my system all the damn time. I don't have to do either, but I like to kick back, relax, and have a good time like anybody else, and suffering from so many disorders, that isn't easy to do.

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts. I totally support those trying to stop, but I also support those who smoke only on occasion and don't let it become a prob.