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News & ArtsFriday, August 14, 2009
Drugs Re: Why did you stop smoking pot?
Posted by Lindy West on Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Hi, Dave! I am a person who no longer smokes pot (kind of). I wrote about it once. It involved the Kingdome, an acquaintance's creepy older brother, and my foot:
On March 26 of 2000, I watched the Kingdome implode from some weird overlook in West Seattle. I remember it clearly because: (1) Holy shit! The Kingdome imploded! And (2) March 25, 2000, was the last time I smoked pot. At the time, I wasn't super into smoking pot, but, you know, it seemed like an okay idea. I was at a party! They were going to implode the Kingdome! But that night, the night before they imploded the Kingdome, something odd happened to my brain, which we can go ahead and call "hours and hours of nonstop crippling terror." Time was moving backward. What was happening to time? Where was my foot going? Was my brain controlling me or was I controlling my brain? I had to curl up in the fetal position on a lumpy loveseat and wait for morning. Then we walked to that weird overlook, and then the Kingdome fell down. My friend who was with me that night still likes to make fun of me: "What's the matter, Lindy? Are you afraid to walk backward because it's like you're walking backward in time?" Anyway, pot sucks.
The thing with my foot was really scary, I swear. If you would like to read the rest, it is here. Goodbye.
1
When I started smoking pot it was cheap and a lot less dangerous. As I got older it became more expensive and harder to get, so I just said fuck it. Now I get my pot in pills. It's less intense and I use it to keep my appetite up. Way cheaper and not dangerous either.
2
well, stay away from acid, then, lindy.
there is paranoia-producing weed and there is non-paranoia-producing weed.
there is paranoia-producing weed and there is non-paranoia-producing weed.
4
You know, there's a store selling pot on Aurora.
Two for one pots.
Definitely stay away from acid - a friend of mine had really bad flashbacks. Peyote's fine, but tastes like ... you don't want to know.
Two for one pots.
Definitely stay away from acid - a friend of mine had really bad flashbacks. Peyote's fine, but tastes like ... you don't want to know.
5
The first indication from a Slog poster that smoking marihuana may not be the most wonderful thing in the world--thanks, Lindy! (Are you sure your job is secure now?) Best wishes.
6
I've never really liked pot. The negative effects of being high were easier to cope with when I was younger. During high school, I'd take a hit if the pipe was being passed around. It was sort of fun but also a lot of other indescribable things that gave me experiences ranging from "meh" to "oh fuck no".
Now that I am much older, all the not-so-fun aspects are far, far worse. I tried just _one hit_ a few months ago after many years of not smoking at all and it was a disaster. Although the specifics and details are different, the overall intensity of my experience was similar to Lindy's.
I've been since told this isn't uncommon among people with ADD, which I have.
Now that I am much older, all the not-so-fun aspects are far, far worse. I tried just _one hit_ a few months ago after many years of not smoking at all and it was a disaster. Although the specifics and details are different, the overall intensity of my experience was similar to Lindy's.
I've been since told this isn't uncommon among people with ADD, which I have.
8
This is why you should only buy quality BC Bud. Or maybe they could treat it like tobacco, a far more addictive and adulterated substance?
9
Stopped smoking pot a little while after moving to Seattle, the paranoia it began to cause me was not fun. Would try again once a year or so, still no fun. Recently tried some stuff grown in Northern California, it was much more mellow, no paranoia. I think different strains can have very different effects.
11
@10 - sounds good in theory, but for some folks the paranoia returns in the form of panic attacks a couple decades later. Other folks that I know seem to have no problems.
I was a wake and baker from age 19 - 41, but all of a sudden I started having these horrible fucking crippling panic attacks.
("i'm having a heart attack, "i need to get out of this house and walk around," "i think i am diabetic," "I'm going to fucking die," "my wife is going to fucking die," "my daughter is going to fucking die.")
I've been mostly off the weed for a little over a year and a half now and the panic attacks are finally subsiding. I'm good for a bong hit or two every four or five months, but anything more than that and I'm screwed.
I don't regret a single toke i've ever taken, but my advice is beware the boogie man that lurks around the corner when you hit middle age.
BTW - my pic above is from a comic book that a friend made about my stoned life. That's me enjoying a hit while taking my morning dump. Aw...the good old days.
I was a wake and baker from age 19 - 41, but all of a sudden I started having these horrible fucking crippling panic attacks.
("i'm having a heart attack, "i need to get out of this house and walk around," "i think i am diabetic," "I'm going to fucking die," "my wife is going to fucking die," "my daughter is going to fucking die.")
I've been mostly off the weed for a little over a year and a half now and the panic attacks are finally subsiding. I'm good for a bong hit or two every four or five months, but anything more than that and I'm screwed.
I don't regret a single toke i've ever taken, but my advice is beware the boogie man that lurks around the corner when you hit middle age.
BTW - my pic above is from a comic book that a friend made about my stoned life. That's me enjoying a hit while taking my morning dump. Aw...the good old days.
12
As the only slogger with a weed reference in his name I feel the need to comment: If it makes you paranoid, don't smoke it, if not and you like it then smoke it, its not a big deal. For me, it relaxes me and makes me think slog and the internet are funny
@11 I hope that doesn't happen to me but were it to happen to me, I'd blame it on the acid i took in highschool every weekend =)
@11 I hope that doesn't happen to me but were it to happen to me, I'd blame it on the acid i took in highschool every weekend =)
13
Yeah, I had the same thing happen. Did my share of drugs in college, including smoking lots of pot. Then one day my brain said 'ENOUGH'. Every time I smoked pot after that I got the 'hide in the corner because everyone thinks I'm stupid' disease. Not fun.
14
Funny thing you should mention it, but I also found weed began inducing paranoia back in the mid-80s, so I swore it off. Neuroscientists are currently "discovering" what proficient meditators have known for millenia--states of relaxation and stress reduction can be experienced simply by meditating:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200…
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200…
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