Marijuana

[christian]

I am very worried that my sister may be addicted to marijuana.  I hope that you can answer my question expeditiously because I need answers and I need then soon because the sooner I know something, the sooner I can help her.  I have tried this type of website before and I never received a response, so I hope your website is different from the other.  Anyway, may sister is married to a man who smoke marijuana on a VERY regular basis and I am afraid that she may have started smoking as a result.  Here are her symptoms:  the palm (inside) of her hands are darker than normal, her lips are darker than normal, her teeth look yellow, but ironically she is loosing weight very rapidly.  I noticed low immune systems are associated with the use of marijuana, and she just got over a disease called luekopenia, which I am not familiar with.  Another symptom of marijuana is rapid or increase heart rates and my sister has suffered from an illness called mitral valve prolapse.  I have notice a huge turn around in her personality, as well.  Can you please help me?  I am so worried about my sister, so worried, that she is on my mind constantly.  Please answer this question quickly, because my sister is also a mom and I want to help her very quickly, if, in fact, these symptoms prove to be true.

Sincerely,
C. Gregory

[Elizabeth]

Christian-
I am a 24 year old nurse, I do not intend to diagnose with my following words.  This is my disclaimer to all I talk to, As with any medical condition, please consult your family physician.

I understand your concern for your sister.  The best thing to do in a situation of suspected drug abuse is to let the proper authorities know, in your case, her physician.  Proper testing can eliminate any question of abuse.

You mentioned that your sister has MVP (Mitral valve prolapse).  I am assuming that this is a proven prolapse and not MVPS (mitral valve prolapse syndrome).  If that is the case then, the MVP can cause the characteristic darkening of the hands, feet, and lips.  The fingernails and toenails will sometimes also appear to be dusky or a darkened pinkish-purple.  This is caused by a decrease in oxygen to these extremities aggravated by the slippage of blood through a malfunctioning valve.

MVP can also cause mood changes for the same reason.  Individuals with MVP will experience a "spaced-out" feeling.  They also experience panic and anxiety attacks.  These attacks leave them feeling vulnerable and in turn cause personalities to become more defensive.

MVP is  most frequently diagnosed in young women in late childhood to early twenties.  The following is a list of some more symptoms:
Heart murmur, chest pain, INCREASED heart rate, fainting, fatigue, low blood pressure, dizzy spells, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, too hot or cold (not related to weather), irritable bowel syndrome, difficulty swallowing, frequent headaches, mood swings, allergies, muscle spasms, PMS, sensitivity to meds, decreased immunity(could explain prior health problems), frequent stomachaches,weight loss, and sweet tooth tendency.

The symptoms of MVP as you can see would be easy to mistake for substance abuse.  Since there is reasonable cause to suspect substance abuse in this case though, I would recommend consulting her physician with this possiblity.  If you feel that your sister will be cooperative on the subject, then even discuss it with her.  There are now over the counter drug tests that can be purchased reasonably.  This may be an option if she would willing concede to one.

I wish the best of luck.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Please listen to Elizabeth.  The symptoms you describe are consistent with a diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse.  They are not necessarily indicative of smoking marijuana.  You should advise her that smoking marijuana due to her condition is contraindicated.

[cc]

smoking pot won't cause the symptoms you described anyway. You cannot become physically addicted to pot, there are no withdrawals on the body, only addiction there could possibly be is mental. Actually read this forum, if one had to choose a vise, pot is the best of them all, easiest on the body. Beats the heck out of alcohol, or pills!

[Christine]

Christian,

Elizabeth is correct.  I have 2 daughters.  One has mitral valve prolapse and the other PVC (premature vascular contraction).  Both smoked pot.  Neither could handle the negative effects on their hearts.  Both quit.  Both displayed nearly all the symptoms Elizabeth has described.  The worst was panic and anxiety.  Believe her.  She speaks the truth.  After all, forums are places where positive information is passed back and forth... and that's what its all about.  They aren't places to play, although some might think they are.- Christine

[rosemary]

ive smoked pot for 40+ yrs, recently diagnosed with mvp I cannot do it any more I get the worst panic attacks that last for 1 to two hours ,and who says pot isnt addictive, it is very hard to quit

[Kim Wallace]

We are having a debate in our English 11 class. The group that we are debating against is for legalizing marijuana and lowering the alochol age to 18. I would like for you to help me answer som questions.
1.Do you think they should legalize marijuana?
2.Do you think they should lower the age of drinking alochol?
3.Why or why not?

I hope to here from you ASAP.

[Stuart Campbell]

Marijauna is not right for everyone, but it has many medical and recreational properties. For instance, marijauna is known to do the following: Relieve pain of arthritis and rheumatism, reduce interocular pressure and arrest the advance of glaucoma, help relieve migrane headaches, is useful in psychotherapies including those for stress, depression, and anorexia, it reducesspasticity in multiple sclerosis and paralysis, it eases withdrawl from other more harmful drugs such as opiates, alcohol, and tobacco, it relieves menstrual cramps and pains (the U.S. government is currently testing it for that application), helps astma and emphysema patients breathe more freely (these people do not have to smoke it to attain theses affects), allieviates nausea and vomiting especially for chemotherapy patients,helps overcome insomnia, helps overcome dehydration, blocks epileptic siezures, helps (especially HIV and cancer patients) relieve stress, depression, pain, loss of appetite, and drastically reduces nausea. It was originally made illeagal not because it was "bad" for you (in fact over 30,000 doctors were arrested for using it as medicine), but because the hemp industry was the only major competitor with other fuel, food, paper, textile, and pharmacological industries. Hemp could replace all nuclear power plants at a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels, and none of the pollution. The plant can create four times as much pulp/acre for paper than trees, four times a year at a fourth of the price, and a fifth of the pollution. "The hemp seed is the best and cheapest scource of protein." - FDA. The plant will grow in almost all conditions, and unlike tobacco, fixiates the soil with nitrogen, thus helping other crops. The fabric made from the plant is the most durable in the world,and can be made into all qualities of rope and fabric. From the corsest rope, to the finest silk. The sails of the mayflower were made of hemp. All drafts of the declaration of independence were written on hemp paper. "Make good use of the hemp seed, and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, First President of the United States of America. Marijauna also has recreational properties, but with far less devastating effects than alcohol or other legal stimulants or depressants. Marijuana does not cause violence, money and organized crime associated with the drug are responsible for that. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on non-violent drug offenders , many who are valuable members of society. Marijauna can also inspire imagination. Paul McCartney once said to producer George Martin "Seargent Pepper was a drug album. Read one last thing: Would you judge a book by its cover? Would you tell a friend or family member that a book is bad, if you've never read it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it? Would you ever persecute someone for liking a book you've never read, or did not personnally   enjoy, just because they are, or have read it before?

If You never have, and think people who do the things stated above are shallow, then take a look at the paragraph slightly altered.

Would you judge marijauna only by what you've heard about it? Would you tell a friend or family member that mirijauna is bad, even if you've never used or tried it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it (The same is extremely likely with marijauna)? Would you ever persecute someone for using or liking marijauna, even if you think you wouldn't like it, just because they use it or have used it (Have you ever thought you would dislike a food, then tried it and loved it)?

The choice is yours. If you are ignorant of something, will you express an opinion about it, and persecute other people who have different opinions then you. Make the wise choice, the one only you can make.

[Stuart Campbell]

Marijauna is not right for everyone, but it has many medical and recreational properties. For instance, marijauna is known to do the following: Relieve pain of arthritis and rheumatism, reduce interocular pressure and arrest the advance of glaucoma, help relieve migrane headaches, is useful in psychotherapies including those for stress, depression, and anorexia, it reducesspasticity in multiple sclerosis and paralysis, it eases withdrawl from other more harmful drugs such as opiates, alcohol, and tobacco, it relieves menstrual cramps and pains (the U.S. government is currently testing it for that application), helps astma and emphysema patients breathe more freely (these people do not have to smoke it to attain theses affects), allieviates nausea and vomiting especially for chemotherapy patients,helps overcome insomnia, helps overcome dehydration, blocks epileptic siezures, helps (especially HIV and cancer patients) relieve stress, depression, pain, loss of appetite, and drastically reduces nausea. It was originally made illeagal not because it was "bad" for you (in fact over 30,000 doctors were arrested for using it as medicine), but because the hemp industry was the only major competitor with other fuel, food, paper, textile, and pharmacological industries. Hemp could replace all nuclear power plants at a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels, and none of the pollution. The plant can create four times as much pulp/acre for paper than trees, four times a year at a fourth of the price, and a fifth of the pollution. "The hemp seed is the best and cheapest scource of protein." - FDA. The plant will grow in almost all conditions, and unlike tobacco, fixiates the soil with nitrogen, thus helping other crops. The fabric made from the plant is the most durable in the world,and can be made into all qualities of rope and fabric. From the corsest rope, to the finest silk. The sails of the mayflower were made of hemp. All drafts of the declaration of independence were written on hemp paper. "Make good use of the hemp seed, and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, First President of the United States of America. Marijauna also has recreational properties, but with far less devastating effects than alcohol or other legal stimulants or depressants. Marijuana does not cause violence, money and organized crime associated with the drug are responsible for that. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on non-violent drug offenders , many who are valuable members of society. Marijauna can also inspire imagination. Paul McCartney once said to producer George Martin "Seargent Pepper was a drug album. Read one last thing: Would you judge a book by its cover? Would you tell a friend or family member that a book is bad, if you've never read it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it? Would you ever persecute someone for liking a book you've never read, or did not personnally   enjoy, just because they are, or have read it before?

If You never have, and think people who do the things stated above are shallow, then take a look at the paragraph slightly altered.

Would you judge marijauna only by what you've heard about it? Would you tell a friend or family member that mirijauna is bad, even if you've never used or tried it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it (The same is extremely likely with marijauna)? Would you ever persecute someone for using or liking marijauna, even if you think you wouldn't like it, just because they use it or have used it (Have you ever thought you would dislike a food, then tried it and loved it)?

The choice is yours. If you are ignorant of something, will you express an opinion about it, and persecute other people who have different opinions then you. Make the wise choice, the one only you can make.

[Stuart Campbell]

Marijauna is not right for everyone, but it has many medical and recreational properties. For instance, marijauna is known to do the following: Relieve pain of arthritis and rheumatism, reduce interocular pressure and arrest the advance of glaucoma, help relieve migrane headaches, is useful in psychotherapies including those for stress, depression, and anorexia, it reducesspasticity in multiple sclerosis and paralysis, it eases withdrawl from other more harmful drugs such as opiates, alcohol, and tobacco, it relieves menstrual cramps and pains (the U.S. government is currently testing it for that application), helps astma and emphysema patients breathe more freely (these people do not have to smoke it to attain theses affects), allieviates nausea and vomiting especially for chemotherapy patients,helps overcome insomnia, helps overcome dehydration, blocks epileptic siezures, helps (especially HIV and cancer patients) relieve stress, depression, pain, loss of appetite, and drastically reduces nausea. It was originally made illeagal not because it was "bad" for you (in fact over 30,000 doctors were arrested for using it as medicine), but because the hemp industry was the only major competitor with other fuel, food, paper, textile, and pharmacological industries. Hemp could replace all nuclear power plants at a fraction of the cost of fossil fuels, and none of the pollution. The plant can create four times as much pulp/acre for paper than trees, four times a year at a fourth of the price, and a fifth of the pollution. "The hemp seed is the best and cheapest scource of protein." - FDA. The plant will grow in almost all conditions, and unlike tobacco, fixiates the soil with nitrogen, thus helping other crops. The fabric made from the plant is the most durable in the world,and can be made into all qualities of rope and fabric. From the corsest rope, to the finest silk. The sails of the mayflower were made of hemp. All drafts of the declaration of independence were written on hemp paper. "Make good use of the hemp seed, and sow it everywhere." - George Washington, First President of the United States of America. Marijauna also has recreational properties, but with far less devastating effects than alcohol or other legal stimulants or depressants. Marijuana does not cause violence, money and organized crime associated with the drug are responsible for that. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on non-violent drug offenders , many who are valuable members of society. Marijauna can also inspire imagination. Paul McCartney once said to producer George Martin "Seargent Pepper was a drug album. Read one last thing: Would you judge a book by its cover? Would you tell a friend or family member that a book is bad, if you've never read it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it? Would you ever persecute someone for liking a book you've never read, or did not personnally   enjoy, just because they are, or have read it before?

If You never have, and think people who do the things stated above are shallow, then take a look at the paragraph slightly altered.

Would you judge marijauna only by what you've heard about it? Would you tell a friend or family member that mirijauna is bad, even if you've never used or tried it before? Have you ever read a movie review that called a move bad, then saw the movie and realy liked it (The same is extremely likely with marijauna)? Would you ever persecute someone for using or liking marijauna, even if you think you wouldn't like it, just because they use it or have used it (Have you ever thought you would dislike a food, then tried it and loved it)?

The choice is yours. If you are ignorant of something, will you express an opinion about it, and persecute other people who have different opinions than you. Make the wise choice, the one only you can make.

[PrettyFace]

I couldn't agree more with Stuart Campbell.  I'm so sick and tired of pot getting such a bad wrap.  I've been smoking for over 30 years, have had serious abuse problems with pills (fiorinal & soma) that I have not taken for 4 months.  The pot helps me, it doesn't hurt me.  I'll be smoking pot until the day I die.

[Laurel Ridenour]

Honestly your sister is not the only one in the world that smokes pot if she does! If you realy want to know just ask her and dont get all bent out of shape cause then your gonna want to make her keep smokin pot and if she does not want to stop you realy cant stop her. Just tell her how you feel about it and go from their,and just rember alot of people do smoke pot.

[TamLF]

hey. i was wondering if anyone could help me out. I get the WORST tension headaches. the pain is hard to describe. Anyway, ive had every test u can imagine done to me. They cant tell me anything besides "its stress" i dont even know what im stressing about. i see physcologists, stress managment people, learnt how to meditate. The tension headaches are still there. a friend of mine suggested that i try smoking weed to help releive the pain. at first i thought it was a bad idea, but the drugs i am taking now (pain killers) completley knock me out and i hate them, so now im serriously consdiering it. does anyone have ANY advice for me? will weed help me with the pain. PLEASE {PLEASE give me some advice. im completley clueless on this subject!

[retiredrn]

Hi, this post is from 2000, please repost so more people can help. Some people don't feel like this is an appropriate subject for an addicton forum, but I think it's ok.   I agree with all of the above--weed can be very beneficial to some , can be eaten or vaporized to avoid the smoking complications, but some can't take it without anxiety and it is addictive, though the withdrawals are nowhere as bad as opiate withdrawals.  You are probably aware that headaches can be caused by medication, rebound headaches.  Please let us know how you are.

[bettie1976]

I personally think alcohol and cigarettes should be illegal since they kill so many people each year. I could care less if pot is legal cuz I dont smoke it anymore and never really had a thing for it except for my experimental years. I understand why alcohol and cigarettes are legal (taxes, government, etc) but I think its sad. My grandma died at 53 from lung cancer. 2 men in my bf's family died from alcoholism. Its a sick world when you can go down to the liquor store and buy as much poison and nicotine as you want but the things that dont kill you are illegal.

[HASHMASH420]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Its up to the person if they want to smoke it or not, That person doesnt have a gun to there head being told to take a hit..Therefore the people that are experimenting with the "plant" should at least try it before they rip on it. Its all about jumping the gun, Many people smoke everyday and preform tasks that sober people couldnt dream of. For example, My good friend had a extreme condition where he could not concentrate at all until he tryed marijauna for the first time..He seemed more relaxed and layed back. He also calmed down on issues that were bugging him for at least 3 years now. We can even understand him more. He began being more active and hanging out with more people, than being a hermit crab in his basement. So i guess different people have different outlooks on such issues but there is a line to be drawn.........It does help people

[amer1dung]

marijuana is not bad, there are many things that it helps with, things inwhich you may be constantly popping barbituates for. The legalization of marijuana is only a optimistic choice for us, as it has many other, non drug related uses. Hemp. rope, lotions, clothes, gas, ect. open your eyes america. and at 18 we can risk our lives to secure our country but cant come back n have a beer to ease us kids???? at least leave us alone with our buddz.

[amer1dung]

marijuana is not bad, there are many things that it helps with, things inwhich you may be constantly popping barbituates for. The legalization of marijuana is only a optimistic choice for us, as it has many other, non drug related uses. Hemp. rope, lotions, clothes, gas, ect. open your eyes america. and at 18 we can risk our lives to secure our country but cant come back n have a beer to ease us kids???? at least leave us alone with our buddz.

[Will901]

A pain in my heart I feel,
A pain so bad, it can't be real,
Even with the strongest pill,
the fear of pain will make me ill.

This is just the beginning of a poem I wrote. I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse. I am a med student, I know what Im dealing with, and apparently it is nothing to worry so much about. For my chest pains I have been taking Propanolol which helps me avoid the angina so that I can at least be able to concentrate and study. I never took the medication since I was diagnosed at 13 years of age, but now I dont miss it. This genetic illness has made my life impossible, but smoking marihuana has alieviated my symptoms. Maybe it is mental, but I do know that marihuana helps me alot. I smoke a lot regularly though Im planning to avoid this, but this helps me relax. MVP causes not only angina, but many other things including depression. Due to many stresses I have to deal with, I constanley suffer from MVP syndromes and they suck. Its like a drill that you feel crossing your chest for a couple o minutes but you know it wont kill you, you just have to wait for it to go.

Marihuana is not the best friend you can have, though I rather not live without it, but we do have to recognize when enough is enough. In my case it helps me concentrate, helps me stay relaxed and avoid some stresses that will only make me worse, so in those cases, I've known to use this substance, but we cannot be naive. We also have to understand where it is coming from. Remember that in some places, other substances are added to the weed so that people think its better than any other, in cases like this, some of the additional substances are poisonous to our body, which is why it makes us fell like: "this **** is goood".
I have smoked everyday for over 3 years... So I dont think that weed did this to me, but I do know that I refuse to tolerate emphysema in addition to the prolpase, It would be hell, so know your limits guys, everyone is capable o making decisions, when it comes to health forget society, after all we are the only ones truly looking after ourselves, but know your limits, Marihuana can help, but there are many factors.
In my case it helps my depression, it helps me stay calm, it helps me concentrate, it lowers the contractility of my ventricles and helps oxygen flow to my brain. I suffer constantly and I've looked for many ways to try to reduce this malaise, though I would not consider cannabis as medication, I like for people to understand its usefulness, and also  understand that we should recognize how our treatments are working. Because if "dope" makes you be a ridicule and cause for you to get into stressfull situations, then it will be no help at all, on the contrary it will make you focus on stressfull situations that will only make you worse (that is if you have a cardiac problem like mine, where stress only makes it worse). If you think you are adult enough to use and illegal substance, you also have to be adult enough to know when, and where to do this, if not I can promise, it will just get worse. Good luck to all in making right choices.

[avik7]

elizabeth is right....im a 23 yr old female that has this! but if u do think she is using take action

[CHVH]

In response to the original post on this page, I too am diagnosed with MVP, and have been similarly curious about marijuana's on someone with my condition. I have never smoked it, I have only consumed it on three separate occasions. My last experience, in which I ate a large hash brownie and more than half of a piece of hash cheese cake, was horrible. I do not know exactly how many grams the amount I ate equalled, but I will never have so much again. After about 3hrs after I had had the edibles, I laid down and realized my heart was pounding at least as fast as I have felt it beat during a long sprint or heavy jog. Obviously I was already anxious, but my pounding chest made me flat our paranoid. My heart kept this pace for at least one to two hours. I have read that THC can increase heart rate, but I had never read about it being so extreme. I am worried that my MVP had exacerbated its affects, and fear that if I ever smoke, I will encounter similar symptoms with a quicker onset. Any thoughts? Any other people with MVP and marijuana experiences?

[Ghilly]

With regard to smoking pot, the family physician that I went to before we moved too far away for me to continue making the trip to see him once told me that for chronic aches and pains such as those caused by arthritis, while he cannot legally prescribe it, if I could find it, I should smoke it.  He said that nothing is better, in his opinion, for the easing of chronic pain.  He wasn't a young man, either, he was in his 60s when he gave me that advice.

Ghilly