Asperger's and Marijuana

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Since my dec2011 head injury cannabis has been losing its appeal.

First I had to stop drinking alcohol, now it appears weed is not working for me either

Oh well, maybe if I bang the other side of my head I will go back to normal....

This is an update to my previous post. I have recently began smoking marijuana and the effects have been less than enjoyable. Between being unable to speak properly, hallucinating, and passing out(not to mention the lovely coughing fits that precede these experiences) I can honestly say that having tried it on several occasions, I do not like how THC makes me feel. At all. I have no problem with people partaking on their own(and I fully support legalization), but it's not for me.

In my experiences with marijuana, I found it very helpful in alleviating some of the more negative aspects of my condition. I became more outgoing and more communicative, and it was much easier to do so and feel like I was being myself. My anxiety was alleviated, my thoughts and actions became less obsessive. I'm not sure I'd want to do it everyday at this point (if it was something i still did) but i have no issue with people who do.

Smoking buds has helped me out in many different ways.

It's also an easy way to make friends.

I`m smoking a very modest J right now. I`ve had a bad day, and now my headache is easing, my shoulders loosening up and my outlook stabilising.

I see here that a lot of people have had various different experiences on MJ. One reason for this is buying it, rather than growing your own. I would assume that a US dispensary would have some fairly good quality control, however unless you grow your own you`re at risk of a different effect every time you try a new strain or dealer.

If I haven`t bought it, I smoke a strain that`s mostly Sativa, rather than the more popular "couch lock" Indica strains. You have Sativa, which is more of a "cereberal high" and Indica - "body stone". Within those phenotypes are sub-categories varying in THC percentages. 7-8 for mellow (reference myself only) then kind of anywhere up to 15 which is just about fine for me, then beyond that there are strains that can go 25-30% THC which is stupid country.

THEN you have the THC-CBD balance,, depending on how it`s grown and how mature it was at harvest, also whether it was dried properly, or cured patiently, all potentially affecting the quality or shape of a high within each sub-division, even the type of light it grows under can have a significant effect on the eventual outcome.

There is a little truth in ONE of the items of misinformation, in that it`s stronger now - there are excessively strong strains, but they are a recent development, driven by the prohibition.

Overall, it`s not stronger at all, it`s just that "regular" pot was more prevalent back in the day, the stuff I like would be "good" pot. over 20% THC I think is just being silly, tbh.

I started smoking when at 18 I was up to 2/3 bottle of vodka a night, and thought that maybe I was choosing a lesser evil. Alcohol was my "gateway drug". I have taken other substances, but I did some reading before making a decision with each one. I tried acid (I had a brief period of virtual idyll in my youth, and took it then, thank the gods) which was fun, but I wouldn`t do it now. Good quality speed (amphetamine) around twice a year for about 3 years ( for party endurance, lol) and cocaine once. You might as well slam your nose in a freezer door and drink a triple espresso. I still like alcohol, but prefer the company of Miss Mary Jane.

MJ was made illegal for business reasons, that`s all, and a prohibition has been in place since. It is not addictive, but it IS habit forming. There is no physical withdrawal but psychological dependency can develop. There has been a LOT by which I mean a real...LOT! of deliberate misinformation and propaganda from governments in order to keep suppressed this incredible plant which has Soooooo many more uses that just using the dried flowers to get high. I find the weed-worship culture a little silly, but it is a much maligned, under-rated and under-used plant.

The inclination at the outset to intentionally use a reality-altering substance to escape is always far more likely to be an indicator of an underlying issue than the cause of one.

I think cannabis is the s**t of the world. As alcohol and as tobacco. I know capitalism and pharmaceutical industry are cruel and greedy, but you cannot ignore the negative effects of marijuana, or of any other drug.

Can you elaborate on those negative effects? And I would like to hear your reasons for thinking cannabis is "s**t", on par with alcohol and tobacco?





Cannabis is my medicine, along with kratom, Mucuna pruriens, and a few other plants/herbs I take daily to weekly.

I've been using cannabis almost daily for 6 years now. I may smoke daily, but I don't smoke a lot. I just like to take a hit upon getting the day started (if it's a sativa) then a few hits in the evening to help with sleep, or to take the edge off when needed. As little as 0.1g a day, or about a gram or two a week is how much I go through. It is top shelf quality and potency so it doesn't take much to get me where I like to be...I actually don't like getting way stoned most of the time, just a little hit or two and I'm good. Every so often when I'm outdoors doing something I like to indulge a bit and get really lifted.


It helps me with general anxiety, social anxiety, & depression. Sativas give me an uplifting clear energy through the day, indicas help me sleep at night. I go through out the day more fluid like, I tend to not stim as much and I'm not as OCD about certain things. It also helps me focus in a way, depending on the strain at least and in the proper amount. It just generally makes me feel better, a sense of well being, and more at ease. All in the proper amounts though, too much and of course there is the chance of inducing anxiety or racing thoughts.

Using cannabis for the reasons I do is no different than people taking benzodiazepines for anxiety or SSRIs for depression. Except there's far less side effects in my experience, I'm much more functional, and I feel much less numb and dull than I do with benzo's or any sort of prescription anti-depressant. And there's absolutely no dependency or withdrawal from cannabis, the same can't be said for SSRIs and most definitely can't be said for benzodiazepines.


And I'm not even going to begin to go into the anti-carcinogenic/anti-cancer properties, and the smorgasbord of health benefits that this plant offers.


Fortunately the stigma associated with cannabis is starting to dwindle down, people are finally starting to realize how relatively harmless and how much this plant really has to offer...and how big of a failure the "war on drugs" is in general. Where I live cannabis is as casual as having a cup of coffee, or having a beer after work, or taking some tylenol because you have a headache. Lots of people use it, of all ages and from all walks of life. When the end of summer comes around, during harvest time, you can't go down a single city block with out smelling someones garden .

I'm not so "strict" with medicinal use of cannabis. It can be helpful if you don't want a "strong" tranquilizer, but there are long-range side effects. It should not be used for long periods of time (as traditional medication).
Cannabis has some different effects in different people, and it is composed by around 400 substances (not only THS), so it's hard to understand the effects of all components. It can trigger schizophrenia or other mental disorders. It can produce tolerance, and then dependance (obviously, much lower than other drugs). It can cause cognitive impairment or other negative effects in some people.
Also, everything you smoke will hurt you, no matter if it's weed, tobacco or lettuce (but it can be consumed vaporized).

As I've mencioned inother topics, what I really cannot stand is its recreational use. I'm sick of people saying "I smoke because it is cool" or "Everyone do it". I see them in the street confused and they don't even know where thery are. BUT this is abuse, much worse than use.

P.S.:
I'm not an expert.
I don't know the dosis of cannabis.
I don't know the meaning of smorgasbord

You can develop a tolerance, yes but the average sensible user will stabilise at an amount and generally use no more even if unlimited supply is available. Dependency is purely psychological - cannabis IS NOT ADDICTIVE.

Cognitive effects is exactly WHY I use it, aside from the fact that it's pleasant being high, especially in good company. Like everything else used for recreation or self-satisfaction, moderation is key. Be it pot, alcohol, cheeseburgers or masturbation, overdoing stuff can cause knock-on negative effects in other areas of life.

Kids today in the UK will smoke a ridiculous amount of overly strong pot before going out drinking, for example. We're in a consumption based society, told every day that more/bigger is better. The whole point of it from an "Old-school purist"'s perspective, is to reach an "elevated state of consciousness" which can be beneficial, not to take hit after hit until your eyes look like Garfield's and you pass out on the couch having eaten a 16" pizza, covered in fries.

If there wasn't a prohibition and the ridiculous misleading propaganda / social programming, some one curious about the weed could openly seek a mentor to guide their introduction. I'm easy about it's use for recreation and would not judge someone negatively for doing so. I might judge someone negatively on their approach and attitude to it if I have a smoke with them, but otherwise I consider it their business.

The problem with the Schitz issue is that again, there is too much misinformation and not enough research, and due to the prohibition stronger strains than Mother Nature designed are available. Alcohol and cheeseburgers can kill you, poorly planned masturbation practices can kill you ( see autoasphyxiation, lol). Number of recorded deaths down to consumption of Marijuana? Zero.

Educate yourself and make your own value judgements before you decide whether it's a good or bad thing, don't listen to friends, official information, or even me! Do your own research!

PS, a Smorgasbord is basically a norwegian buffet ( one of that group of countries, anyway )

Firts, I do not believe in the zero death myth of marijuana. It won't kill you directly. There were car accidents or other types of accidents related to its consumption. And I'm sure there are some cases of anaphylaxis.

I met some cannabis users, and there aren't features in common. I mean, they are not badder or better/nicer than the average.

The problem is I can't found an objective/factual article about benefits and cons of marijuana. Such as consumption defenders as "prohibitors" invent data.
Anyway, I don't want delve in this topic. I'll keep my thinking until the the development of some kind of "brain physiological emulator".

I understand your point and agree cannabis can be a very helpful tool for people when it comes to anxiety, depression and so forth. As you say there is a huge list of medical benefits associated with plants, especially when it comes to cancer and so forth. I am not sure whether it helps the cancer or just takes away the pain of illness I am not too sure but it is most definitely beneficial and for this reason should be legalized I believe. It would cancel out the black market and people would be able to get the marijuana they require, the right strain.

Saying this however, there tends to be an orthodoxy on behalf of the cannabis community, at least in realtion to how I perceive it, that cannabis is this divine panacea, this god-given wonder-drug that everyone should smoke and if you don't like it, it is not the fault of the drug but it is a fault with you, which I just don't see. Speaking from personal experience, I personally found that after smoking pot heavily for about two years and I must say I felt depersonalized, lacked motivation('you were lacking motivation anyway you idiot!' I hear the stoners say. No I wasn't.) and I also found it exceptionally difficult communicating to people. I was so cynical of what I was going to say and so introspective that I was eventually mute. Now that I am sober and can open up to people a bit more I feel far better for it. Furthermore, marijuana tends to aggrandize my anxiety as opposed to lessen it, which is clearly the case with you (you lucky thing) so for this reason I also can't smoke. It makes me nauseous, sweat and my thoughts race at such an incredible speed I feel like I have lost control. So, I would say personally it is not as black and white as saying 'everyone must get stoned!'.

Saying this however, hemp as an industrial tool as well as marijuana should be something that should be far more exploited than it is is currently. As a resource, it is immensely valuable. One can make food from it, hemp oil for arthritis, paper, clothes, rope and canvases. A massive of spectrum of things can be made from it. In fact the word canvas comes is derived from the word cannabis and many of Van Gogh's paintings as well as the Mona Lisa were painted on hemp due to their durability. According to some writers, it stopped being used because timber and oil companies wished to create a monopoly on the market and so demonized marijuana, including hemp even though it is not psycho-active in anyway. So considering that, hemp should also be made more accessible.

yep not to mention hemp is fast-growing (compared to timber) and incredibly renewable.

Didn't know that. Thank you I had some hemp trousers a couple of years ago that were really nice. Shame they ripped apart so quickly

I took up dope when I was about 19. Prior to that, I had a lot of people getting in my face and asking me if I was dense, stupid, or on drugs. Once I got started on the pot, I had the perfect social mask for my motor coordination issues - everyone just assumed I was a stoner. I never heard another question about being dense again. I've been smoking weed for 21 years now, diagnosed with HFA last week. The drug history confounded my neuropsyche, and she had to call my parents for the pre-drug history. I stop smoking weed every now and then, and honestly, it makes no difference to me if I'm high or sober. i do enjoy the feeling of being high. I like the quiet introspection dope affords me, but on the other hand I am destroying my lungs and killing my REM dreams. It is a habit. It neither helps nor hinders my anxiety issues. It does remind me to eat though, which is good. It also affords me a social dimension - I move in creative circles, and having pot on hand can be a useful social tool. I have met many wonderful creative people through a pot connection, some of these people are fellow HFAs and Aspies. I have made many enduring friendships because of an involvement in a pot positive culture. I do plan to eventually quit, but I find it kind of fun. I could always take up eating the stuff I suppose, that would make it virtually harmless. But for now, it is just another boring habit.

have you considered a vaporizer? much gentler on the lungs.

I've tried it several times and it didn't really affect me at all. I felt a bit more physically relaxed, but beyond that, I never got "high" on it.