Ask Me Help Desk - Is smoking really that bad

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kia

Is smoking really that bad???

Hello Kia:

That's the wrong question. I don't know HOW bad something has to be for YOU, to be "THAT" bad. For some, ANY bad is more than they want. Others look bad in the face, and dare it to bite. I have NO idea what your risk levels are.

Plus, I don't even know HOW you define "bad". Is bad going to jail? I've been to jail over weed. I lived. What about losing your career? A felony conviction just might do that, you know. Is THAT bad? Do you have student loans? You'll lose them. THAT ain't good.

As you can see, there are a lot of bad things that can happen to you if you smoke pot.

No, you won't get addicted, because it's NON addictive. And, you won't die from it. Asking and I have had disagreements in the past about the lethality of marijuana. In fact, it has NEVER killed anybody. It doesn't increase your risk for cancer. In fact, our nurse expert here (who is by NO MEANS a pot head) thinks pot helps people from GETTING lung cancer. She has studies to back her up.

Nonetheless, inhaling smoke into your lungs CAN'T be good for you. It IS a drug. It should NOT be used by children.

That said, and if you're an adult who happens to be one of those who look bad in the face, pot is pretty cool. It's certainly BETTER than cigarettes or alcohol.

excon

I am happy to take back the comment about lung cancer. I admit that I assumed that based on the fact that inhalation of heavy amounts of particulates and the fact that burned proteins (found in plant and animal tissue) tend to be carcinogenic. But I see the UCLA study that didn't find that marijuana increased the risk of lung cancer.

Let me rephrase what I said. Breathing smoke and other particulate matter is never good for your lungs. If the smoke is hot, that is worse.

For example, this kind of thing.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0123104017.htm

If you smoke frequently, use a double-chambered water bong to reduce the hot gases and particulates. (I don't smoke myself.)

Either use a bong or bake it into something I say, pot smoke has A lot of tar in it. Going through water takes out like 95% of it though.

Use a vaporizer that is the cleanest way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello Kia:

Nonetheless, inhaling smoke into your lungs CAN'T be good for you.

We agree on this point.

However, it's perfectly possible to die of lung diseases that are not cancer. A friend of mine died of emphysema, which is not cancer. It is a terrible way to go. Do I know if marijuana increases the risk of emphysema? No.

Anyway, I just searched the internet and was surprised not to find the kind of bong I had in mind. Basically you have two flasks in series and pull the smoke through the water of one 1-liter flask and then through the water of a second 1-liter erlenmeyer flask. The two flasks are joined by tubing, of course. These setups are effective, definitely better than a joint or dry bong.

Suffice it to say to the op, find a healthier way to deal with the issues at hand. Look to the cause(s) of your boredom, sleeplessness, and finances and work towards ways of making changes... even if it will be slow going... set a goal, make a plan, and focus on it. Only then will you have long term results. In the meantime, try the suggestions offered to carry you to that point.

Hope it all works out well for you... :)