Thread: Marijuana and Success... Possible?

Originally Posted by Runum

In my experience it's certainly not a harmless drug. The quality of what you purchase varies greatly. It's unfiltered and burns the trachea and lungs. Once ingested it does remove your drive or ambitions. It is mind numbing. It does affect your judgment. It does increase appetite. It is illegal.

IMHO, the only reason it will ever be legalized would be for the tax revenue.

True. You never know what you are getting if you consistently make street purchases. But in this day and age I highly doubt that a drug dealer would spend more of their precious money to lace a drug with something that gives a high alternate to cannabis.

And your statement about burning the trachea and lungs only applies to those who smoke out of cigars and/or pipes. What about those who use vaporizers to produce only steam and pure THC to consume?

Originally Posted by Oski

True. You never know what you are getting if you consistently make street purchases. But in this day and age I highly doubt that a drug dealer would spend more of their precious money to lace a drug with something that gives a high alternate to cannabis.

And your statement about burning the trachea and lungs only applies to those who smoke out of cigars and/or pipes. What about those who use vaporizers to produce only steam and pure THC to consume?

I disagree, I do know that unscrupulous dealers that would lace it with stuff that could get you hooked, crack, PCP, etc. They could make you a daily customer. I have seen it done, messed people up. They also cut it with trash that wouldn't get any thing high just to make the sale and money. Again, no regulation.

I do agree that there are other ways to get the THC into your body besides the conventional way. However, I venture to guess that most users still roll their own and ingest the conventional way.

Also, I do know plenty of good ole boys around here that have smoked 20-30 years of their lives away. They loudly assert, daily, that they are not hooked and they can quit anytime for 20 years. I do believe that they are not hooked physiologically but I also believe that they are hooked in the sense that it's all they know. You know the kind, they fill out my tenant applications every time I have a vacancy.

one thing no one has mentioned....


the amount of weed smokers out there, not many companies target them. 1 out of every 3-5 people I know, even in the high class town I live in, smoke weed. Granted many of them would rather spend their money on that then something else- the fact is it is still an untapped market.

Man, some day I gotta post my history w/weed to this thread.

Quitting weed was the single most important thing I ever did to speed up my success.

It was years until I realized this, though.

One day, I looked back and wondered: What happened?

When did I start paying taxes on time?
When did I start growing my business exponentially?
When did I start to have more money?
When did I start to meet all of these amazing people?
When did my life start moving-- fast-- so many more opportunities, and accomplishments?

It all started about 4 weeks after I had my last joint.

That was about 20 years ago.

Amazing.

-Russ H.

Originally Posted by Russ H

Man, some day I gotta post my history w/weed to this thread.

Quitting weed was the single most important thing I ever did to speed up my success.

It was years until I realized this, though.

One day, I looked back and wondered: What happened?

When did I start paying taxes on time?
When did I start growing my business exponentially?
When did I start to have more money?
When did I start to meet all of these amazing people?
When did my life start moving-- fast-- so many more opportunities, and accomplishments?

It all started about 4 weeks after I had my last joint.

That was about 20 years ago.

Amazing.

-Russ H.

So... I know a guy who smoked with the Grateful Dead. Not to bust your balls but your post is a little too one sided

Originally Posted by Rawr

So... I know a guy who smoked with the Grateful Dead. Not to bust your balls but your post is a little too one sided

I disagree Rawr. Russ is only relating his personal experience after deciding to quit. That is his reality, whether you think it's one sided or not.

It depends on what kind of person you are. I've tried marijuana before, it's actually safer than alcohol. As long as you don't overdo it, it's all good.

Originally Posted by Runum

Russ is only relating his personal experience after deciding to quit. That is his reality, whether you think it's one sided or not.

Totally agree. Not saying anyone else would have the same outcome.

Just me.

Originally Posted by Rawr

. . . I know a guy who smoked with the Grateful Dead. Not to bust your balls but your post is a little too one sided

. . . well, I never actually *smoked* w/the Dead (unless being in the audience counts!)

But you know I'm a Deadhead.

You also know that the bass player for the Dead, Phil Lesh, is one of my clients, right?

That I engineered and installed Phil's entire home sound system?

That I followed the Dead until Jerry died?

Smoked my last J at a Dead show? (Valentines Day, 1988)

That I almost got busted w/weed at this New Year's Eve show? (Cop just told me: "Mind if you put that away?"

Never smoked w/Phil, though. I was stone cold sober and he was detoxing at the time (he wound up getting a new liver a few years later). We talked about music, mostly. Opera and modern classical music, actually (he composes modern classical music, has an amazing opera collection on CD). And we both have a bizarre sense of humor, so we joked around a lot.

Also remember talking about being a dad and what it was like to have a family.

-Russ H.

Okay, as a regular user (3-4 times a day on average), and being someone who I would consider to be successful, I want to voice my opinion on this.

I smoked pot for the first time when I was 18 years old, with some older friends of mine. A lot of my peers had tried it before I did, and being the responsible kid that I was, I did my research first. Yup, I spent hours and hours researching online before trying it myself.

I decided that it was something that I would like to try, and I felt that the risks associated with it weren't quite what people tend to think.
Instead of writing several pages about my opinion on every aspect of it, I'll leave the details, statistics, and arguments against common beliefs for later (if I decide its worth posting at all)

MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH MARIJUANA HAS BEEN AWESOME.
I smoked for about a year straight after first trying it. Started out with it kinda slow, then spent a summer working at UPS sorting packages. Between that, working on cars (my own and my friends), and helping out a little bit around the house, I always looked forward to unwinding at my friends house with a pipe and a bag of weed. Some times a few grams would last a week, other times I'd blow through an ounce in a work week. A little bit much? Maybe. But I busted my ass every day at work, stayed active with my hobbies from BEFORE pot (cars and LEGAL drag racing), and was a lot more responsible than most of my friends who spent every night out drinking and going to partys.

Decided to get a new job (which required a drug test), so I stopped for a few weeks, got the job, and only smoked once and a while for a couple of months. Met a girl who wasn't too sure about the whole weed thing, so I gave smoking up COMPLETELY (With the exception of a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert, and Australian Pink Floyd) for almost exactly a year. At this point my girlfriend had become curious, tried it herself, enjoyed it, so I got back into it. I've been a daily smoker ever since. I vaporize (a different method of getting the psychoactive chemicals without the other "harmful" smoke), so I use much less quantity, but on an average day I smoke 3 or 4 times.

I've gone from being the youngest person working at my job when I started, quickly working my way up to being in charge of several other people (All several years older than me, between their late 20's and early 40's) and consistently increasing my departments sales by an average of 23% while keeping track of and collecting over $300,000/yr and adding a new account every 2 months or so. All of this has happened since I took up smoking after my 1 yr break, and I only seem to be doing better and better.
Oh, and I was going to school full time (Up until last semester I cut back to 3 night classes) all the while.

The people I hang out with outside of work are all successful in their fields, too. Some of them are working on getting degrees, some have finished school and are starting out in their careers, and some are like me and kinda do their own thing, juggling full time jobs and school and various other activities. Most of them are occasional smokers with a few "regulars" in there.
I've also met and know of a BUNCH of successful people who smoke a lot more than I do, and have been doing so for longer than I've been alive. College professors, lawyers, businesspeople... I think you would be surprised to know just how many highly successful people smoke marijuana.

Enough about me though, I'm just one example.

If you feel like marijuana has taken control of your life, then yes, stop. Or start getting better quality weed. And yes, I'm serious. Get ahold of a good sativa strain and you might be surprised at how motivated you get. A lot of times I'll come home from a long day at work and just feel like sitting down in front of the computer and doing NOTHING, but after vaping, I get good ideas! Clean and organize my desk, clean out my car, find a new recipe and make something good in the kitchen, or best of all.... I GET IDEAS! Ideas for businesses, websites, etc.! (I'm working on 3 at the moment, doing my research and planning so I can narrow it down to just one to concentrate on at a time)

I'm not SUGGESTING you smoke weed, in fact I agree with what everyone else is saying... if you have to ask, then stop!
I just feel responsible for representing a big chunk of the population (people of all ages, backgrounds, and current situations) who use marijuana and who aren't harming anyone (including themselves). It isn't for everybody. Neither is booze. As I said earlier, I rarely drink, and if I do, its one... MAYBE two if the time is right. I'm a LOT more productive under the influence of marijuana than I am alcohol, and marijuana has helped me to see things from a different perspective and with a better understanding than before.

This goes to EVERYONE: Marijuana should be used RESPONSIBLY, and each individual should be responsible for knowing what their limits are and what works for them personally. But PLEASE, don't generalize or stereotype the marijuana using population as a bunch of deadbeats who go nowhere in life and who's lives are controlled by the drug. This is NOT always the case! The reason you don't hear about more successful people who happen to use marijuana is because it is illegal (Or decriminalized in my situation) and has a bad reputation!
I'm sure that if the laws were different and it were more socially accepted, your lawyer or accountant or real estate agent or business owner or brother/sister/mother/father might be more open about it. But instead, most people keep it a secret and no one knows.


Hopefully my post doesn't upset anyone, but I feel I have to stand up for what I believe in, which in my case is marijuana.


P.S., want to see an example of a true pothead being EXTREMELY successful in business? Search "Marc Emery"
Want to see some more successful potheads? Maybe they aren't multi-millionaires, but they've fought for what they believe in and I'd be willing to bet have been more successful in reaching for their own goals and dreams than a LOT of people, look at Keith Stroup or Tom Forcade.

My goals are the big bucks, a private jet, exotic cars, and several houses in exotic locations. Big goals, but I know I can and will reach them. And I'll probably not be able to pass a drug test (Marijuana only, thank you) the entire way.
That's just me though (And no, I'm not at all ashamed or shy about telling everyone I'm a proud toker...obviously)

speedingpenguin-

If I'm doing my math right, sounds like you've been smoking for about 3 years.

Reading your post brought back lots of memories.

I felt much the same way, when I was smoking.

BTW, my comments are not intended to denigrate, or be condescending. I'm just relating what I felt at the time, and how I feel now. At the time, I felt my life was *much* better b/c of weed.

It was all about perspective. How I looked at things. And how things looked to me.

-Russ H.

"Hemp Should Be Recognized As An Aide To The Human Condition!"

Naturally, I'd like to add my own spice to the thread. Consequentially, here I am to leave my comment. Unfortunately, I really should be getting back to work as I am very busy and important. Bare with me, this place consumes to much of my time. That's right, I said it. And in between "hits," it's a great entertainment piece. I truly relish in the misinformed opinions and late heads with the real information trying to explain to nubs how it really is out there. It wets and damps my noodle.

Check mate.

But here I am and here I go, I'm BryanC and I'm only going to tell you how it is and how it should be... in a perfect world. (You know that special place where everything works right.) In my factually correct absolute opinion, it's truly a tragedy that the social engineers would attempt to separate humans from bud and then herd the flock through tools such as the public education system, the mass media, and myspace... to name a few. Into believing it's an "unacceptable" or "detrimental" chemical.

What they're not telling you is this: The human relationship with hemp can be traced back several hundred million years to the dawn of monetary-based-civilization it's self.

It was not until the 1930's and 1940's that the actual idea of pot being a "bad" thing came into human society. It was not until it affected the profits of the cartels and monopolies that it finally reached fruition. All of a sudden with the release of Reefer Madness there was a massive tidal wave of Government-backed propaganda to sever that special bond the human species has with the plant. And to destroy it's social credibility among the masses, the Federal Government invented the word: Marijuana.

It is truly a shame because it's a proven fact that it was used by our founding fathers during the Revolutionary Wars and was even consumed on spot during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

But remember, it was deemed illegal by the same people that brought you these beneficial under achievings:

• The human collateralized national debt accredited to an interest bearing debt based, inherently bankrupt, fractional reserve banking system.
• The unconstitutional and collectively misunderstood 16th ammendment to tax our Incomes.
• A fraudulent and corrupt indoctrination camp known as a public school to mold you into Human Resource. A Cash Flow producing worker, tax payer, and interest paying fiat debt slave.

God gave us this planet with unlimited resources to accommodate our condition and progression. A fertile and plush environment for each human to flourish and develop. Hemp is that one special thing that God gave us to enjoy the experience of this reality. Hundreds of years from now, intelligent and free thinking human civilizations will use the plant as if it were an everyday commodity. God would not have given us this complete world of plenty and then made his exclusive consciousness expanding plant illegal.

For the Government to steal the one thing from us that:

• Enhances social interaction and cooperation.
• Relieves severe stress and calms anger.
• Amplifies your creativity and spirituality.
• Highlights innate human knowledge and opens new realities only the chemical can provide.
• Increases memory and overall critical thinking capabilities.
• Eliminates fear of uncertainty and provides a clearer focus on how to accomplish goals.
• Treat numerous amounts of illnesses and refreshes your bodily functionality.
• Enrich your love life and sexual drive.
• Expands human relationships and presents new social opportunities.
• Swells your enjoyment of life and relationship with nature.

It truly is a complete scam on the population and challenge to our ancient Cannabis influenced heredity to actually make it illegal. With a bonus slap in the face that they convinced the masses it's something "bad" Factually, it is a plant that man has used for hundreds of millions of years. Made illegal only to protect profits.

-Bryan C.

Bryan C,

I've smoked for over 10 years. I live in the adirondack mountains where some of the best cannabis in the nation is grown.

Whether or not anyone buys into your story cannabis still has it's negatives. Making a person completely lazy is the worst one (in addition to the carcinogens).

Not taking action isn't really fastlane ya know. Sure it may have some medicinal properties, but I view it more as a hindrance to achieving success in life than anything else.


I'm currently not smoking, btw, but my family still does....

Originally Posted by Webjunky

Bryan C,

I've smoked for over 10 years. I live in the adirondack mountains where some of the best cannabis in the nation is grown.

Whether or not anyone buys into your story cannabis still has it's negatives. Making a person completely lazy is the worst one (in addition to the carcinogens).

Not taking action isn't really fastlane ya know. Sure it may have some medicinal properties, but I view it more as a hindrance to achieving success in life than anything else.


I'm currently not smoking, btw, but my family still does....

I don't know where you're getting your information from.

Smoking Cannabis is 100% beneficial to us. Maybe you should try some yourself and lighten up. You're in the Arcadian Mountains... or w/e... I heard there is a boagie with your name on it.

Sincerely yours,

Bryan C.

BryanC,

Your continued lack of respect for other members of these forums is getting old.

If enough forum members continue to complain about this, you will be banned.

Forum Members: If you find BryanC's continued taunting and disrespect annoying, either PM the Mods, or report his posts as spam and tell us how you feel about his behavior in the "reasons" field.

-Russ H.

Russ H.,

You're right, I'm probably being facetious at best but, I'll try to tone it down. The best thing to do when this happens is to just give me a warning and I will tone it down. It'll be another post to add to your post count and a warning for me to stop before I get into far deep the under side of the pool.

I do believe it's in both of our best interests to avoid a ban. I am just going to go a head and apologize up front for anything that may happen in the future. For circumstances outside of my control, should I get banned... I personally don't know what I'll do or how I'll take it out on the forum.

I'm highly irrational at times and I have no control over it. It's a subjective flaw inside my head. I'm serious bro, sometimes I get online and don't even know WHAT I type. So if something were to happen and I hang myself because I can't log on anymore or I create a 100 accounts and spam the forum... Up front... my apologies.

Truthfully man, I'll have done it out of my amplified emotions.

Hopefully, this can be another new beginning for all of us.

Much "respect,"

-Bryan C.

Originally Posted by BryanC

I'm serious bro, sometimes I get online and don't even know WHAT I type. So if something were to happen and I hang myself because I can't log on anymore or I create a 100 accounts and spam the forum... Up front... my apologies.

That is called being high. Good luck with that.

I call group hug! What do you say guys?

Dude,

Despite some of the ridiculous crap you've written here, I've always thought that you were on the okay side of the line...and I never would have recommended banning you (and I have a feeling there are others here who would agree)...

But, you just lost my support with this comment:

Originally Posted by BryanC

So if something were to happen and I hang myself because I can't log on anymore or I create a 100 accounts and spam the forum... Up front... my apologies.

That level of disrespect to hosts of this forum is utterly and completely unacceptable.

Grow up.