🚫not to me🚫

A Bill Hicks quote is always appreciated.

My tolerance is high enough that it doesn’t impair me, it just helps me relax and keep my anxiety in check. I can and do take tolerance breaks every once and a while, so I absolutely could stop. I do also acknowledge that I’m addicted but everyone needs their own way to cope with the world and there’s much worse vice’s out there.

Cheers! I’d like to pass on this info though, for anyone who enjoys both like myself:

Caffeine drinking potentiates cannabinoid transmission: interaction with stress effects - Neuropharmacology 2009

Our data suggest that the cannabinoid system is implicated in the psychoactive properties of caffeine and in the ability of caffeine to reduce the pathological consequences of stress. Chronic caffeine assumption sensitized GABAergic synapses to the presynaptic effect of cannabinoid CB1 receptor stimulation by exo- and endocannabinoids. The synaptic effects of caffeine were slowly reversible after its removal from the drinking solution. Furthermore, although exposure to caffeine for only 24h did not produce measurable changes of the sensitivity of cannabinoid CB1 receptors, it was able to contrast the down-regulation of CB1 receptor-mediated responses after social defeat stress.

I copied the rest from bloommedicinals.com, just the relevant bits. Also added the links to the studies and the pages with additional descriptions.

TL;DR:

• Low levels of caffeine can help to maximize the effects of THC, but too much caffeine can lessen the impact of your cannabis
• Caffeine and THC can both increase dopamine levels, but too much at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia

What Happens When You Smoke Weed and Drink Coffee?

Since coffee and cannabis may offer so many health benefits on their own, you might think it’s safe to assume that enjoying a little bit of weed with your coffee would be okay. The reality is … it might be safe for most, but not for all. Here’s why.

THC and coffee can boost the amount of dopamine in our systems. Although dopamine can promote feelings of happiness and euphoria, too much of it at once can trigger anxiety, agitation, and paranoia. In addition, both caffeine and THC can both increase your blood pressure and heart rate.

This is why many doctors advise that those with heart conditions and those at risk of heart arrhythmia or stroke, should not mix caffeine and THC. So, if you’re new to mixing coffee and cannabis, it’s important to consult your doctor to make sure it makes sense for you. If it does, begin with lower amounts of coffee and cannabis than you would normally consume on their own. Then if needed, you can increase your dosage slowly.

Back in 2014, a study was conducted to measure the effects of mixing caffeine and cannabis on squirrel monkeys. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Neuroscience. (also described here)

The monkeys were given the ability to self administer cannabis whenever they wanted. All they had to do was to pull on a lever. When the monkeys were given low doses of a substance similar to caffeine, they seemed less likely to reach for the THC. But, when they received high doses of caffeine, they seemed to reach for that lever more often.

Then in 2018, a study led by Marilyn Cornelis at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine seemed to back up these findings. This time, the study examined the effects of mixing cannabis and coffee on humans. It found that the more caffeine people consumed, the less cannabis their body was able to metabolize. (also described here)

So, although small amounts of caffeine can help your THC go a long way – too much caffeine can lessen its effects.

Thing is, caffeine is physically addictive. Weed is not.

But you can make a habit out of anything.

It is physically addictive. Research has shown this already I am fairly sure. It’s not nearly as addictive as some other things like alcohol obviously. Psychological addiction also shouldn’t be dismissed.

Sugar is dangerous? Maybe refined sugars are - especially if you’re diabetic - but most sugars are actually natural and some form complex carbohydrates and fibres. It’s a lot more complex than this hot take. Sometimes even diabetic people need sugar in an emergency condition called hypoglycemia. It’s also not in any way a drug; really wish people stopped saying this. Also genetic material is partially made from sugars like ribose and deoxyribose.

There are real life consequences to smoking too much weed and this can include damage to your lungs and can negatively impact the brain. Brain problems is mostly an issue for people under 25 though so smoking after this age is less problematic. That being said it’s still much better than some other drugs like you say. Before people ask yes this includes alcohol as alcohol is quite toxic to brain and body when consumed habitually.

Weed can’t replace all prescriptions either. It’s just not as good at blocking pain as opiates even if it’s a lot safer. That being said if it helps you then that’s great - especially if it’s in edible form or spray form as this is healthier than smoking.

Yeah, I just voluntarily chose to do it for 9 years every single day, even though I didn’t actually like it anymore the last 2 of those.

You forgot the nausea/lack of appetite.

Good point

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I think it varies from person to person. I use it sometimes and will stop for months at a time. The main reason I use it is to help me sleep, and it’s definitely not stopping weed that makes me not sleep since I had those sleep problems for years already while not using weed. Before it was legalized I only ever smoked at parties and had zero desire to go out of my way to find a dealer so I’d only use it very rarely and sometimes went years between using. Once it was legalized I started using lightly only for sleep and stress relief. Before I took sleeping pills instead but prefer weed because it doesn’t make me as drowsy in the morning. I think it’s a non statement to say that stopping weed makes it harder to fall asleep when one of its effects is making it easier to sleep. If the status quo is not falling asleep as well, stopping a sleep aid will of course return you to the status quo

I was hopelessly addicted to cigarettes. It took torturous willpower to quit.

I can smoke weed now and then and never crave it.

But sure, my experience is anecdotal.

Marijuana is absolutely physically addictive as much as people want to say it isnt.

I mean it scientifically isn’t though. Physical addictions don’t just give you psychological withdrawals, they are physical. Your body becomes dependent on them to maintain homeostasis.

Cold turkeying drugs like opioids and benzos can kill you.

Dude those “withdrawal symptoms” are a joke compared to any other drug.

That said, I don’t know a single person who identifies as a stoner that isn’t completely and utterly mentally addicted. And the drug is so subtle, stoners rarely try to stop.

Cocaine, even a 2 day bender is incredibly hard on your body. If you’re a person with any kind of responsibilities in your life, you’ll be strongly incentivized to reconsider the habit in no time.

But weed, it’s meh. Most users can restrict their use to when they’re not at work, so it’s fine.

Which makes it more dangerous.

I’ve watched so many promising futures flushed down the toilet by weed. Motivation? gone. Real hobbies? Indoors in front of a screen only. At its worst, I’ve seen friends totally withdraw from socializing almost entirely. Social anxiety combined with the escape of being high was enough to dampen and deny the very real human need to connect with others.

Every single one of these individuals went through some form of depression that was was extended and exacerbated by escapism and addiction in the form of excessive marijuana usage.

I know that’s not everyone. There are people who use it in a healthy, balanced way.

But there are also a ton of people who get heavily addicted because it dampens the pain of something they’re going through. And that pattern can make it a lot harder to make progress and work through whatever that person is dealing with.

Anyone who’s spent any time around stoners knows this is true. And yeah, for a lot of people, it’s a gateway drug. I’ve seen plenty of buddies in college jump from weed to xans to oxy. It’s ruined lives. It made my best friend drop out.

And yeah, these people clearly already had issues. But that’s how drug addiction works. It preys on people who are going through something and it makes a bad situation way worse.

Weed can do the exact same thing. Doesn’t matter if it’s not physically addicting.

I’ve gone from every day smoking to nothing multiple times. Never had trouble getting to sleep. But I did have wildy fucked up and vivid dreams.

I have no idea what the meaning behind that is. But if my only withdraw symptoms are “vivid dreams”, is it really that bad? In the grand scheme of drug withdrawals, that’s super mild.

That’s like taking paracetamol for a permanent headache. It’s effectiveness will wane and over time you’ll need stronger and stronger anaesthetics. It’s to treat the symptoms rather than the cause.

And if you were to stop, you might feel a desire to go back on it, due to the lack of free dopamine it gives you. No matter how ‘strong’ that addiction is that psychological want for it can cause relapse

Okay, you’re probably addicted and your friends are clearly alcoholic.

I’d say that’s the correct take on drug use. Are you trying to argue that you’re not addicted?

People react differently to all substances, the real test for addiction is if you can stop doing it for say, 3 weeks in a row, not how often you do it… You can do it once a month and still be addicted but as long as you can stop for 3-4x longer than you usually would, you’re probably not

You get physiological withdrawal effects from weed. Problems with sleep, for example.