Marijuana

[CoxRox]

I think someone said here that you can get bad marijuana though? I think I heard like at least what you are given can have stuff in it that's bad for you. Messed up bad marijuana...

'Bad' pot simply means it's THC level is so low the desired effects cannot be achieved no matter the amount smoked.

Because of some bad cases when crap was put in it that shouldn't be?

Like herbicides. Some governments used to spray a potent herbicide on crops found instead of cut and burning. Some of these crops still went to market and made many people very very sick.
That was a long, long time ago and how the stories go anyway, never had first hand experiances or known people who did. I suspect they may be just urban legend stories.

Alcohol, on the other hand has got redeeming features, it is a 'food' in a sense and if taken in moderation can benefit digestion etc.

Alcohol is not a food. Many of the same benefits derived from it's use can be aquired by drinking grape juice.

Allow me clue you in on a few benefits of marijuana use......

Alleviates pain and often allows for a reduction of opiate use in people suffering from herniated discs, arthritis, either Rheumatoid or osteo, pain that is the result as a result of traumatic injury, migraines and Fibromyalgia to name just a few.
Stimulates appetite and relieves cachexia (physical wasting) in patients with AIDS , Hepatitis C and cancer.
Relieves neuropathic pain from peripheral neuropathy (in people with diabetes or side effects from chemotherapy, radiculopathy, phantom limb syndrome and, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
Alleviates nausea and vomiting associated with cancer, HIV and Hepatitis-C chemotherapy.
Decreases intra-ocular pressure in those with diagnosed glaucoma.
Decreases muscle spasm as experienced with Multiple Sclerosis, paralysis (paraplegia/quadriplegia), and cerebral palsy.
Sleep Aid for those who suffer from insomnia –including if it is from pain or side effect of medication.
Alleviates Migraine headaches.

Although smoking marijuana has not been linked to lung cancer, smoking it can result in respiratory harm, such as bronchitis. Many researchers agree that marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens, and that smoking marijuana may increase the risk of respiratory diseases, along with cancer of the lungs, throat, and mouth. Vaporizers and edible marijuana products may substantially reduce many of the potentially harmful smoke toxins that are normally present in marijuana smoke.

Symptoms of marijuana overdose include: nausea, vomiting, heart rhythm disturbances, numbness in the limbs, hacking cough. Can you tell me the symptoms of alcohol overdose? Here, let me list some for you;
Poor or absent reflexes, unconsciousness (passing out), seizures, unpredictable highly changeable behavior, incoherent speech, constant and heavy vomiting, slow shallow irregular breathing and.......death.

Chronic marijuana overuse can lead to laryngitis, bronchitis and general apathy.

Chronic alcohol overuse can lead to;
Jaundice
Rosacea, Seborrheic Dermatitis
Parotid Swelling
Finger Clubbing
Rhinophyma
Dyspepsia
Nausea & Vomiting
Recurrent Diarrhea
Recurrent Abdominal Pain
Acute & Chronic Pancreatitis
Hypoglycemia & Hyperglycemia
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Alcohol fatty liver
Alcoholic hepatitis - Syndrome of necrosis (cell death)
Cirrhosis
Ascites
Irregularity in heartbeat
Cardiomyopathy - Otherwise known as heart disease
Chronic shortness of breath and signs of congestive heart failure.
Anemia
Dilation of Blood Vessels
Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COAD)
Recurrent Chest Infection and Pneumonia
Blackouts
Seizures
Peripheral Neuropathy (nerve disease)

Ok I'm tired of typing. Do see where I am going with this?

I'm well aware of what chronic overuse of alcohol can lead to. My mother is an alcoholic. The possible 'benefits' of marijuana to people like my father who suffers from MS, I am also aware of. The drugs that he is prescribed help him to deal with his symptoms and pain. In a situation where you are suffering or dying, then using drugs isn't really going to have the same bearing. For a young person whose brain is still developing to be taking marijuana even once a week, may be enough to do lasting damage. At the end of the day, you do what you feel comfortable with. If you want to smoke it or eat it, then that's up to you.