[Will]

I know that for some people marijuana seems to be a very touchy subject, why, I still don’t understand.

I debated posting this thread, because I hate the stereotypes that come along with marijuana use, but I feel that I should share my feelings with other people with diabetes.

I know you all know that feeling, the feeling of wanting to lie in bed because your blood sugar got high while you were sleeping, and now you awake feeling like you were run over by a train. These mistakes happen, it is unavoidable with diabetes.

Diabetes has in many ways destroyed my life. I have never been able to perform in College the way I want to. I have not held many steady jobs, and I keep very good control.

About a year ago I started smoking a little weed here and there with my girlfriend (of 4 years). I noticed that marijuana made me feel better when my blood sugar was off. I was less likely to become agitated when my blood sugar was changing. It makes me feel alive enough to write school papers when my blood sugar is high, or after a low.

I think the blatant disregard for the positive uses of marijuana in the United States is nothing short of disgusting.

I urge everyone with diabetes, if you feel something other than yourself because of your blood sugar, you should just give marijuana a try, it could make your life better and more productive, I know it has for me.

Any feedback on this subject is very appreciated.

[JediSkipdogg]

1) It's illegal, and until it becomes legal, I don't recommend anyone trying it.

2) It's covering the real feeling. If you are out of control enough that you need to use marijuana to cover the headaches, then you need to look at your control method better.

3) Simply trying marijuana can get you fired or hinder you getting a job. If you want to risk getting a job, then sure, go for it.

I'd love to hear more about how diabetes has destroyed your college life. I excelled in college and graduated with a very high GPA with 1 major and 3 minors in 3.5 years time while maintaining a 20+ hours per week job. So I'm not sure how diabetes could destroy college. Unless you are talking about you didn't get to have fun partying? I'm not trying to start arguments here, just trying to understand how it hurt college and why you say you have had many jobs because of it, yet you say you are in great control. Can you slightly go off topic and explain that more?

I won't get into the moral/legal implications of marijuana since we have many threads on that here and I have expressed case after case the problems marijuana can cause. Yes, from a medical standpoint it's great, so is Oxycotton, however, Marijuana was made illegal before it got out of hand, Oxycotton is nearing becoming illegal to manufacture because it's getting out of hand.

[Will]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

1) It's illegal, and until it becomes legal, I don't recommend anyone trying it.

2) It's covering the real feeling. If you are out of control enough that you need to use marijuana to cover the headaches, then you need to look at your control method better.

3) Simply trying marijuana can get you fired or hinder you getting a job. If you want to risk getting a job, then sure, go for it.

I'd love to hear more about how diabetes has destroyed your college life. I excelled in college and graduated with a very high GPA with 1 major and 3 minors in 3.5 years time while maintaining a 20+ hours per week job. So I'm not sure how diabetes could destroy college. Unless you are talking about you didn't get to have fun partying? I'm not trying to start arguments here, just trying to understand how it hurt college and why you say you have had many jobs because of it, yet you say you are in great control. Can you slightly go off topic and explain that more?

I won't get into the moral/legal implications of marijuana since we have many threads on that here and I have expressed case after case the problems marijuana can cause. Yes, from a medical standpoint it's great, so is Oxycotton, however, Marijuana was made illegal before it got out of hand, Oxycotton is nearing becoming illegal to manufacture because it's getting out of hand.

1) You are wrong here; it is legal for medical use in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

2) I did not say anything about headaches. My control is pretty good; at least I feel that A1Cs in the 5.0-6.0 range are good. I am talking about the days when I feel like throwing up because, for example, my insulin pump detached during the night.

3) This is a valid point, but you can pass a drug test just days just after using marijuana. I have never had trouble getting a job, nor do I feel that I ever will in the future.

Just for the record, I am not trying to start any sort of argument, just an educated conversation that I hopefully can learn something from.

Perhaps I should rephrase, college did not destroy my college life. I also excel in school and always have, but I do feel that Diabetes has caused me to not meet my full potential in education, mostly because I work more slowly and my focus is severely impaired by a slight blood sugar change. This means I have to work harder to meet the same goals, but that is to be expected.

I have not lost any jobs because I have diabetes, but like I said before, it can make a job much more difficult. Say my blood sugar gets low at work, I don’t know about you, but I cant read at all when my blood sugar is even a bit low, the words seem to scramble and jump, and this can last several minutes. In a fast paced job this is very difficult. I have worked in restaurants and just the change in physical demand, carrying more food or boxes from day to day, can cause a low. Lets just say I am selective in the type of job I apply for.

What are there moral implications with marijuana use? I do not use it in an unsafe manner; I can be doing no harm to others. So why is this immoral? Legality changes from state to state. Is it immoral to use Marijuana in Florida but not in Alaska?

Of course marijuana can cause problems, but nothing like those of alcohol. I’m sure I have damaged my lungs and this is not something I am happy about, that is why I am seeking other means of consumption. Smoking is disgusting.

Comparing OxyContin and Marijuana in the same category of danger is just plain silly. OxyContin is extremely addictive, Marijuana is not. OxyContin destroys people’s lives, Marijuana does not. I’m sure if I started popping Oxy's to feel better my life would go down the tubes pretty fast. I have met many people that have been using marijuana for decades without becoming addicted, hurting anyone else, or leading anything other than productive, happy lives.

Thanks for your input on the matter; I really do enjoy looking at things from a different perspective.

[4519]

I don't disagree with your use of pot - it is a personal decision and all the points made are valid to some degree and should be considered.

Your statement "...1) You are wrong here; it is legal for medical use in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington....." is correct and not correct. It is against the law in every city, every state on the Federal level in the US. There still exist the dual jurisdiction problem. The feds will arrest you while the locals will allow you to do it. Local government cannot make laws that do away with the Federal drug laws. I would love to say that it is Bush's fault, but this crosses both parties.

[ticklebug]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

1)Yes, from a medical standpoint it's great, so is Oxycotton, however, Marijuana was made illegal before it got out of hand, Oxycotton is nearing becoming illegal to manufacture because it's getting out of hand.

It's sad. I can see a growing trend here. The next drug to be illegalized will probably be Vicodin. Then before you know it, people will just be forced to deal with their pain.

We really shouldn't let the abusers ruin it for the rest of us who are genuinely trying to help ourselves and maintain function in our daily lives.

It's also too bad that nowadays just to get cough medicine, you first have to go through an interrogation process. What is this world coming too?

But putting my melodramatics to the side, the best I have ever felt in my life is when I had serious bronchitis and my doctor gave me a perscription of some liquified Codine. Wooo Weeeeeee~ Did I feel gooooooooooooood!

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Will

1) You are wrong here; it is legal for medical use in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

4519 hit that point dead on. Federal law states it is illegal. Therefore it's illegal. If state law says it's legal, they are violating numerous laws and that is already a huge topic. Here's the catch...Just because federal law says it's illegal doesn't mean local police can arrest you. That state must also have it illegal on their books. That is one reason local police can't arrest illegal immegrants, because it's a federal law and not a state law.

State laws MUST follow national laws or be more severe. They may not go against or be lenient. Doing so is a violation, however, one not tried often. But if an FBI agent wants to arrest you in Alaska for smoking pot, they can, and you will then be tried in a federal court with a much harsher penalty than a state court.

Originally Posted by Will

3) This is a valid point, but you can pass a drug test just days just after using marijuana. I have never had trouble getting a job, nor do I feel that I ever will in the future.

Ever heard of hair folicle tests? They are becoming more and more popular now days since marijuana lasts 3 MONTHS in hair.

Originally Posted by Will

What are there moral implications with marijuana use? I do not use it in an unsafe manner; I can be doing no harm to others. So why is this immoral? Legality changes from state to state. Is it immoral to use Marijuana in Florida but not in Alaska?

Comparing OxyContin and Marijuana in the same category of danger is just plain silly. OxyContin is extremely addictive, Marijuana is not. OxyContin destroys people’s lives, Marijuana does not. I’m sure if I started popping Oxy's to feel better my life would go down the tubes pretty fast. I have met many people that have been using marijuana for decades without becoming addicted, hurting anyone else, or leading anything other than productive, happy lives.

The moral implications are that marijuana slows the brain activity down. People that drive vehicles are actually a greater risk than those drinking alcohol, which speeds the brain up for a period.

Marijuana is known as a gateway drug, meaning a drug leading to other drug use. Come to Cincinnati, 43 homicides this year, leading our way to 95, a record in Cincinnati history. Why? 5 years ago we had a HUGE marijuana problem. The jails did nothing about it. Now the marijuana is mostly gone buy meth is in. And people are shooting over meth. Of those 43 shootings, 4 are innocent bystanders, one a 60 year old woman standing on the street waiting for her grandchildren to get home from school. I think around 30 of those 43 are drug related.

I know people that have been doing alcohol for 30 years and can drink 20 beers in 5 hours and be perfectly fine. Yet the second they get behind the wheel they are driving illegal, even though 20 does absolutely nothing to them. Why is that? It's because the majority can't handle 20 beers. Yes, the rest are punished for that, but it's to protect the innocent ones that have nothing to do with it, basically the ones killed in drunk driving accidents. And yes, there are major marijuana accidents.

Driving and it being a gateway drug are not the only problem. It impairs ones mind enough they might get into arguments and not even know it. Most people with domestic violence problems either have alcohol or marijuana history in their past or current, that's a proven fact.

There's numerous other ones. The fact is, it's illegal, and do to our sloppy government in the US, they don't enforce it well enough.

[Will]

Originally Posted by 4519

I don't disagree with your use of pot - it is a personal decision and all the points made are valid to some degree and should be considered.

Your statement "...1) You are wrong here; it is legal for medical use in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington....." is correct and not correct. It is against the law in every city, every state on the Federal level in the US. There still exist the dual jurisdiction problem. The feds will arrest you while the locals will allow you to do it. Local government cannot make laws that do away with the Federal drug laws. I would love to say that it is Bush's fault, but this crosses both parties.

I am aware of the dual jurisdiction delema, it really does seem silly though, doesnt it?

Why is what I do with my life always someone elses decision?

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Will

I am aware of the dual jurisdiction delema, it really does seem silly though, doesnt it?

Why is what I do with my life always someone elses decision?

Because your life CAN affect someone else. If you don't mind living in a box and never leaving that box, do what you want.

[Will]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

The moral implications are that marijuana slows the brain activity down. People that drive vehicles are actually a greater risk than those drinking alcohol, which speeds the brain up for a period.

Driving and it being a gateway drug are not the only problem. It impairs ones mind enough they might get into arguments and not even know it. Most people with domestic violence problems either have alcohol or marijuana history in their past or current, that's a proven fact.

Can you produce documentation on a legit study in which marijuana was more dangerous than alcohol when used before driving?

The gateway drug speach is really getting a bit worn out, there is no evidence to support it from every standpoint. Of course people are going to try marijuana first, no one just jumps into Meth. I bet they try alcohol first also, but that seems to be legal. Statistically, for every 104 Americans who have tried marijuana, there is only one regular user of cocaine, and less than one user of heroin. There is NO conclusive evidence to show marijuana is a gateway drug. Meth users are going to find meth with or without marijuana.

You are giving me nothing but propaganda.

[Will]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

Because your life CAN affect someone else. If you don't mind living in a box and never leaving that box, do what you want.

I dont go to work high, I dont drive high. Who am I going to hurt? might I get stoned and beat my wife and kids? Sounds more like alcohol to me.

Could you explain why alcohol is legal and marijuana is not?

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by Will

Can you produce documentation on a legit study in which marijuana was more dangerous than alcohol when used before driving?

I never said more dangerous or even as dangerous. Just that it does impair motor skills and reaction time, which behind a vehicle makes it a dealy weapon.

Originally Posted by Will

The gateway drug speach is really getting a bit worn out, there is no evidence to support it from every standpoint. Of course people are going to try marijuana first, no one just jumps into Meth. I bet they try alcohol first also, but that seems to be legal. Statistically, for every 104 Americans who have tried marijuana, there is only one regular user of cocaine, and less than one user of heroin. There is NO conclusive evidence to show marijuana is a gateway drug. Meth users are going to find meth with or without marijuana.

You are giving me nothing but propaganda.

It may be worn out, and depending on who you ask they may or may not agree that it's a gateway drug. It's a very controversial topic. It is a fact though that most, over 95% of hard drug users have used marijuana first. Whether the use of marijuana turned them onto the other drugs or not is hard to say.

Originally Posted by Will

I dont go to work high, I dont drive high. Who am I going to hurt? might I get stoned and beat my wife and kids? Sounds more like alcohol to me.

Could you explain why alcohol is legal and marijuana is not?

You have said a few key words there. The main one being "I." You may not go to work high, you may not drive high. However, OTHERS WILL. Alcohol level is easy to test when someone is driving. Marijuana is not. You can't just pee in a cup. Alcohol is legal to the extent that it is because it's controllable (selling, drinking laws, public intox, permits) and testable (breathalyzer, urine sample, blood sample.) Marijuana can be hidden with cigarettes (I know, I know, you say someone can pour alcohol in their pop bottle, yeah, there's always ways around it) and it can't have limits set on how much you can have and what you can do. I guess you could just say no smoking marijuana while driving, however, it's so easy to cover up the smell, easier than alcohol. So there are too many ways around it to make it legal and controlled like alcohol.

[duck]

Will, I don't care if you use pot.

I'm less concerned about your pot use than your statement that Jedi also touched upon that diabetes is ruining your college experience, and from everything else you stated, your life. Your A1c sounds great, but if you feel your diabetes is ruining your life, then there is more we need to look at, like why the **** your pump is detaching in the middle of the night...In five years of pumping, I have never had that problem through two different pumps and four different insertion sets. Also, we're all different, but when I have major highs or lows, once the correction is affected, I'm able to function pretty well, if not even before my correction is done. Let's figure this stuff out.

Oh, and you're beginning to realize your life is not your own. Just accept it, the longer you fight it the harder it is when you finally accept it.

[ticklebug]

Originally Posted by Will

I dont go to work high, I dont drive high. Who am I going to hurt? might I get stoned and beat my wife and kids? Sounds more like alcohol to me.

This is a bit off topic, but being around alcoholics is skeeeeerrry. They are unpredictable, constantly whining, stink like ****, violent, and just plain nasty all around. I used to know a lot of pot smokers back in high school and in college and noticed them in their highs and off-highs to be very funny, nice, and entertaining.

That is just my non-scientific and unprofessional discovery, though.

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by ticklebug

I used to know a lot of pot smokers back in high school and in college and noticed them in their highs and off-highs to be very funny, nice, and entertaining.

I'll agree they are always very funny.

And alcoholics stink, but pot stinks worse. I personally think it smells worse than cigarrettes.

[duck]

"Puff puff give on the marijuana cig...I don't even smoke, but I like the way it smells..."

Sorry, I just HAD to quote some Limp Bizkit. Had to.