So why is it that some people choose not to partake in using marijuana? The typical user may have difficulty understanding people such as these since it invokes such feelings as peace, tranquility, euphoria and sexual arousal in themselves. The following tips might give you some insight into understanding your friend, partner or family member.
Just Saying No?
Being a friend sometimes means trying to understand. That said, sometimes a person's reasons are their own. Without having to push the issue, think about what reasons your buddy may have for not lighting up.
Reefer Paranoia/Psychosis
For some users, especially previously heavy users, what was once a fun "high" can now be described as feelings of being persecuted. Rather than joining in on the conversation going on around them, they will feel withdrawn and anxious. Oftentimes, turning into themselves so much that the paranoia can go so far as to produce hallucinations such as hearing voices, seeing things, or sustained false beliefs.
Ganja Headaches
Today's THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content (the active component in marijuana that gets you high) has been estimated to be 20% higher than it was twenty years ago. This could be the reason some say despite purchasing medical marijuana, which should be free of pesticides and other toxins, users are complaining of migraine-like headaches.
Illegal/Not Socially Acceptable
It could be simply that knowing the bud is acquired through illegal channels takes the fun out of the buzz. Most people, after all, really do not want to be arrested. Fear can be an intense motivator. If the person is particularly moral or religious, it would vastly differ with the teachings of their belief system.
Mary Jane is Expensive
Using any type of controlled substance is expensive. If the party has a limited disposable income, perhaps they cannot afford the habit. Some might say, better to nip it in the "bud" before the habit becomes too costly.
Is That It?
In some individuals, marijuana doesn't affect them noticeably at all. They do not feel euphoric nor numb, nor calm. They simply do not see the appeal.
Self-Control
For instance, a particular user may know that he has work in the morning and that he doesn't tend to be as focused after a night of partying; he might politely decline. A dieter may know that a case of the munchies could set them back in their efforts and not want to risk it.
A fear of losing control of oneself may be enough of a reason for your friend to decline. Some people really like to have their feelings and thoughts come from a rational place.
Health Damage
While many will tell you that marijuana is a soft drug, or even a safe drug, a medical professional will tell you that short-term memory is directly impacted by usage, changes in appetite, memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills. Not to mention, there is approximately three times the amount of tar in a marijuana cigarette than a tobacco cigarette. Though most users smoke cigarettes more often than ganja, there are some that claim both habits run roughly the same degree of risk for emphysema and lung cancer.
Addictive Personality
Knowing you have an addictive personality is the first step in preventing a problem. If you know you don't know when to quit at cards, or that it was really tough for you to give up alcohol, why would you even start taking something else?
Pre-Existing Medical Condition
It can be hazardous and potentially dangerous to combine prescription drugs with illicit ones. Not even necessarily from a strictly physiological reaction, but a mental one. A person with schizophrenia or another form of psychosis such as bipolar disorder, should never indulge in drugs. This can set back their progress working through an episode or even cause one.
Guilty by Association
Without a prescription from a doctor, marijuana use is illegal. This means having to deal with criminals (dealers) or other colourful people that the user may not ordinarily associate with. Such risky behavior can garner unwanted attention directed at themselves.
Hopefully, having read through some of these ideas, you can gain a better understanding of why your friend is being a killjoy.
Heather Allan - Freelance writer, Lover of Pets and Children, Diplomas in both Software Engineering and Writing for Publication.
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