A Stasher brings up a very good point:
One thing that I would suggest… Please stop referring to cannabis as an INTOXICANT. (NORML does this as well.)
Webster’s defines INTOXICANT as “Something that intoxicates”.
1) “POISON” (toxic)
2) “To excite or stupefy by alcohol, or a narcotic to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished.”Unfortunately, many folks have experienced being DRUNK where you lose control and cannot walk, cannot see straight, fall down, throw up, etc. THIS is being INTOXICATED. Alcohol is a poison, and thus a real intoxicant.
A cannabis “buzz” is nothing like this. It clearly should not be in the same classification as being drunk. Nor should it be in the same classification as schedule 1 drugs. Personally, I believe alcohol should be the schedule 1 drug, not cannabis.
To the uninformed, calling cannabis a intoxicant may make them think of it as being DRUNK. Not at all the same!
I believe a big part of the problem in getting that 52% who favor prohibition to change their mind is exactly this misperception. You can hear it in the standard prohibitionist talking point: “Well, we already have enough problems with alcohol, why would we want to legalize another intoxicant?” Whenever I debate someone on marijuana, I like to ask if they have smoked it themselves or know someone who does, because if they haven’t, I know I’ve got one who will cling most to the “marijuana leads to heroin”-type scares.
The other problem with the “intoxicant” definition, aside from the root, “toxic”, which marijuana isn’t, is the use of “narcotic”, which marijuana isn’t, either. The American Heritage Medical dictionary defines it thus:
A drug derived from opium or opiumlike compounds, with potent analgesic effects associated with significant alteration of mood and behavior, and with the potential for dependence and tolerance following repeated administration.
So the open questions in this virtual bowl: Is cannabis an “intoxicant”? If not, what is it? How do we go about breaking the notion that being high is like being drunk? How do we convince people that the marijuana high (in others) is something they should not fear? When we say things like “marijuana is a safer intoxicant than alcohol”, do we make progress by helping the uninitiatied understand marijuana’s relative safety, or do we hinder progress by unnecessarily tying marijuana to alcohol? What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Or, just use this post as an open thread to talk about whatever you like in the comments.
you make a very good point
More to the point about debating the meanings of words, as words to different people take on different meanings its better to look at what marijuana is and does. Some would say that marijauna is a drug, and that is a definition that can be tackled. Marijuana (slang for what it should be called, Cannabis), is a plant (an annual herbacous plant to be exact) and not a drug. A drug by defintition is a chemical that alters physiological states in the body. Marijuana is not a drug, it is a plant that contains a drug. . . and that drug is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), not condsidering the other cannabinoids (as noted by the fact that without THC you don’t get high). A bigger arguement should be that technically speaking marijuana is illegally classified, as THC is Schedule 3 (in the form of Marinol, a medicine) and Marijuana is Schedule 1. And as you all know it doesn’t fit the classifications to be Scheduled either (no health problems, non-addicting, and it most definatly has medical value as noted by the pill.) So make sure when you debate someone on the subject that they know what they are debating because if you are talking about the drug that gets you high its THC and THC is a legal pharmacuetical, remember that hypocrisy.
I dont know what is up but every time I jump over to this page it logs me out, Anyway this is in Reply to Rob
IM sorry But I just dont believe it effects motor skills for everybody.
I have used for 15 years and at one point I was going through a once a week all to my self, well maybe sharing just a little and I was doing all sorts of blacksmithing,Acting and Armor work
Trust me when you are working with steel that is so hot it will burn you down to your bones there is no room for mistakes, I also was driving alot during those times, Let me also add I do not smoke and drive anymore just for legal reasons.
Anyway I still think it is best described as a Tonic
I don’t like this question. “Intoxicant” is one of those words that is taken one way, but the actual definition is slightly different.
I think that, technically, marijuana is an intoxicant, but it doesn’t cause people to become intoxicated(If that makes sense at all.) What I mean, is that it fits the definition, but, to me, intoxication is an inability to maintain yourself in a sober, and respectable way. Marijuana does not give this effect.
You see those sirens pop up in your rear view, and your sober instantly. Granted your scared shitless that they’ll know you’ve been smoking, but you can maintain your behavior, unlike being “intoxicated” due to alcohol.
Some people use intoxicant or variations of to describe something more on the line of mystifying.(ie an intoxicating fragrance) and not necessarily the dictionary definition of the word.
Others use the word intoxicant to describe essentially the altering of your physical or mental state, not a poisoning.
Anyway, I don’t think that using the word intoxicant is harming any type of efforts because I don’t think that most people use it a strictly as the dictionary.
If anything cannabis is an elevator of consciousness, and I think that would describe it slightly more accurately.
It appears we do not have a word in the English language to properly describe being under the influence of cannabis. We may have to, yet again, adopt (steal?) a word form another language. I’ve often used the Rastafarian term “irie”, which seems to describe the cannabis high appropriately and in a positive tone:
Irie: (I respect I eternally) refers to positive emotions or feelings, or anything that is good. Specifically it refers to high emotions and peaceful vibrations.
Although the negative from using this term could be the association with a culture that isn’t well understood or respected in American culture.
Cannabis CAN definitely affect motor skills, frequent user or not. I’ve smoked with newbies that haven’t been able to walk (mostly due to mental preoccupation with surroundings and inner thoughts, and of course unstoppable laughter on occasion as well) when high. On the opposite side, I smoked every day (most days a couple or few times) for a couple years and sometimes still got so high that well coordinated physical movement was difficult or impossible.
I remember one time a few buddies and I were passing around a blunt, a pipe, and a bong on one of the guy’s back porch. After a few rounds, it was my turn to get up and grab the bong. When I stood up and started walking towards my friend, I was literally moving like a zombie. Dragging one foot behind, two arms out in front/out to the side. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until one of the guys saw me and just starting laughing hysterically. I was able to correct myself and, for the most part, pull myself together after I realized how ridiculous I looked. Haha I was a victim of some Frankenstein greatness!
But, intoxicant? No. It’s not toxic, and it takes a hell of a lot to get to that point. Those situations don’t usually happen on accident, and there SURE don’t happen when you’ve gotta be somewhere
It’s not like alcohol, where in most cases the more you have, the more you want, and you’re ability to control your intake is diminished as you consume more.
I’m working on it I’ll let you know
The word my not be the perfect term to decribe the effects of MJ but, It is the term used by the masses. We can fight to change the language or we can fight to change the the laws…
I choose the latter.
I don’t think the word intoxicant would be appropriate in this case.
It’s all just semantics man. I’m not too worried about it.
Just get High.
I GOT IT! Tonic is the best way to describe it, Tonic is something basicly used to improve your qaulity of life so here it is
The Chronic Tonic, is best used for……..etc
I would list all its uses but I think that we all know what they are.
And to add to the diminishing control, IM not so sure, I really think it depends on the indavidual
because I am one who actually functioned better completly blazed, but I also have a.d.d. so im also the exception
I don’t think the word properly fits what cannabis is. It isn’t really toxic to your body, which is what the word implies. It certainly can “diminish physical and mental control”, especially at high doses.
I think it is different for every person. I personally dont think marijuana effects my motor skills. I can perform any task stoned that I can perform not stoned. On the other hand I have met people, who after smoking a joint, cant tie their shoes.
I would say alot of it has to do with how often you use. Anyone who has been a daily toker for years is more likely to be able to better manage themselves. A first time user on the other hand is likely to be more “impaired” not so much “intoxicated”.
being under the influence of marijuana can be intoxicating but compared to the almighty Alcohol, it’s mild.