OT - Marijuana -altered states of reality

[Guest guest]

jcastron writes:

> I never smoked pot and have the same aversion to the circus and all other

> acts of cruelty towards animals.................

It is hard to explain what the experience was like...because an experience is

so personal, especially a spiritual one...and this was spiritual indeed.

I am not meaning to say that one must use a mind altering drug to accomplish

awareness. I was merely trying to share an " awakening " that happened when my

mind was in an altered state...I didn't just " think it " I connected on a

higher plain with the elephants and what they were feeling. I wasn't thinking

about what they must be feeling, I was actually feeling it.

This is the best I can offer in sharing my experience but I will say, that

there would have been no way to have felt what I did in a sober state of mind.

I neither advocate or condem the use of mj but I do think that if it is being

used, it should be in moderation. Indigenous people use(d) it in a

ceremonial manner as far as I know, just as they did (do)peyote and mescalin.

There

is a difference between taking peyote and going to a broadway show and taking

it up in the mountains and being guided by the Tibetan Book of the Dead. One

is a fun time and the other is a mind altering spiritually connecting life

altering experience.

[Guest guest]

Marijuana has a constructive side. It is an excellent medicine, it

abets youthful idealism, it is a great relaxant for those so

inclined, it aids creativity in some endeavors, and it can make for

positive social experiences with other uses.

On the other hand, I won't let potheads work in my lab. I have to go

over their stoichiometry, they lack creativity when it is required

for problem solving, they don't honor time constraints, they can't be

bothered with chores they don't like, and they just don't appreciate

the seriousness of our work. When human lives are in the balance you

don't call potheads to the rescue.

It is fun to imagine forcing the world's greedheads and the jerks in

government to smoke a joint or two, but I really don't think it would

change them. Potheads often tout enhanced creativity, but I have not

seen it in the world of science. The most creative people are

creative by nature and they tend to be forever dissatisfied.

[Guest guest]

Once upon a very long time ago, we had a kid work for us that used MJ on a

weekend " recreational basis only " . He never used it at work, but we never

saw him on weekends to know the effects it had. Over the course of the 3

years he worked for us, his quality of work slowly slid down the hill. The

last day he worked for us was the day he came in stoned because he needed

" relief " from the stress of a bad relationship with is long time live-in

girlfriend. I happened to be out of the country that week or I would have

fired him on the spot, but my partner ignored the issue and just told him

not to do anything serious, just sweep up and clean stuff not running.

Three hours later he was without an arm because his judgment was so impaired

that he thought he could remove a stuck piece of metal from a CNC mill

without shutting it down.

That little incident cost us over $40,000 and that was 18 years ago.

You want to smoke MJ, go for it, but there is no way you will convince me

that it is a good thing, a safe thing, a viable thing in the workplace, on

the streets, or anywhere else. It may relieve pain. It may be the best

thing since sliced bread, but I for one do not buy it.

Regards,

Bruce Guilmette, PhD

Survive Cancer Foundation, Inc.

<http://survivecancer.net> Http://survivecancer.net

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:34 (NIV)

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of VGammill

Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 9:58 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] OT - Marijuana -altered states of reality

Marijuana has a constructive side. It is an excellent medicine, it

abets youthful idealism, it is a great relaxant for those so

inclined, it aids creativity in some endeavors, and it can make for

positive social experiences with other uses.

On the other hand, I won't let potheads work in my lab. I have to go

over their stoichiometry, they lack creativity when it is required

for problem solving, they don't honor time constraints, they can't be

bothered with chores they don't like, and they just don't appreciate

the seriousness of our work. When human lives are in the balance you

don't call potheads to the rescue.

It is fun to imagine forcing the world's greedheads and the jerks in

government to smoke a joint or two, but I really don't think it would

change them. Potheads often tout enhanced creativity, but I have not

seen it in the world of science. The most creative people are

creative by nature and they tend to be forever dissatisfied.