“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief. ”

Did he just say that? Do you realize Will that many, many LEGAL drugs are addictive? Doctors are always prescribing addictive drugs to people.

“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”

uh, I kinda think that antidepressants and psychotropic drugs in general are “substances.” And yeah, I wouldn’t recommend using them in general to find relief either. They sure as heck didn’t help me out at all.

Cannibas definetely should be legal,It helps in all different areas other than mental health,It can’t be no worse than lithium i mean come on! Who is this guy trying to fool,dont want anyone taking an addictive drug to get over a problem.It’s happening everyday eveywhere.

While I am thrilled that they are doing more studies at ways to help people who have depression, as thrilled as I am; I am also a little worried at why would we be doing so many studies in regards to how cannibas can help. There are so many studies that link depression and addiction. I am one of those people who is in recovery from addiction to many unhealthy things and used to suffer from depression and for me it was insightpros.com and the people who loved me and supported me that got me to where I am today. I do believe that not everyone is the same and maybe hopefully cannibas will help others out there.

This is old news people. A book was published some years ago that reports the same thing. The Biology of Marijuana. Peace. It amazes me at how primitive are society still is.

It’s been proven marijuana it self is not addictive … Some people do become addicted to the high (these people have personalities were they would be prone to being addicted to various drugs).

I my self do self medicate for depression (seasonally) with marijuana because it does help and there are NO side effects (night tremors, sexual side effects, irregular heart beats, and weight gain) … I have tried Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Paxil; they simply do not work for me and are not worth the side effects.

It’s easy for people to say something is addictive if they NEVER tried it. The only reason why it was outlawed in the first place it that Mexicans and black jazz musicians were giving it to white teens in the 1960s … and we don’t wont white America exposed to that now do we.

I personally smoke it about maybe 5-6 times a year … Does that make me an addict?

Brain washed Idiots!

“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.” huh?? what do they think it is with the pills anti-depressants?? fucking idiots. Weed helps me!

Please educate yourself instead of regurgitating the misinformation you’ve been taught as truth. Marijuana is not physically addictive. No one has ever died from an over dose of marijuana. It is safer than aspirin.

Please, please educate yourself on the benefits of marijuana and its prohibitive history. You may be quite surprised to learn you’ve been blatantly lied to your entire life. Are still being lied to, in fact.

You can start here norml.org and here leap.org for some excellent information on marijuana and the drug war in general and how IT is the cause of our drug problem and not the drugs themselves.

I agree with a lot of the others here about other commonly used anti-depressants being substances, and addiction from those other medications like Prozac, et. al. aren’t much better, but some of these prescription drugs can have pretty serious side-effects, and many of those can become addictive. It doesn’t make much sense, but some anti-depressants have a side-effect of depression, which only makes it that much worse on the person with the condition, sometimes resulting in suicides, although it’s not too common. I don’t think cannabis would really resolve the issue of depression. I think it’s just adding another medication option to the already huge pile of choices that we have out there right now. People don’t want or need more options, they just need something that works. Unfortunately, so far, there’s really nothing out there that does work effectively for a lot of folks. It all seems to lead right back to Square One.

At any rate, that’s my two cents.

“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”
No one except the FDA.

You know big pharma rules when the healing community you want to be admitted to is making you take a synthetic prescription psychotropic because you are using an herbal psychotropic.

i love green it was legalized i would be so happy so f… all the politicians that are trying so hard to keep it from being legalized.

I agree with posters who say marijuana should be decriminalized. It’s preposterous for my government to tell me I cannot grow a WEED and use it any way I like.

As a person with depression, however, I have to say that smoking marijuana only provides temporary relief, and may well delay a person’s motivation to get help from professionals. I also tend to agree that high doses of marijuana probably act as a depressant (tho not as much as alcohol).

i think this is a very good article due to its objectivity. the marijuana high can be a great spiritual experience but if you do not know how to deal with the mental effects it can be distressing. in order to use marijuana effectively you have to force yourself to overcome any depression (that you think) it may cause you. What you have to realize is that you can gain control of your emotions and grow in a positive way at any time. but in order for psychadelics to provide this positive effect you have to be ready to face your denials and shortcomings and be ready to develop humility. if you cant you could have a horrible trip and even drive yoruself crazy. addiction to material sense pleasure is always damaging to mental emotional and spiritual health though, and if you are thinking about using cannabis to help you with depression or another psychiatric disorder, i would suggest reading the Bhagavad Gita or the Tao Te Ching or even the teachings of Jesus and be ready to be introspective and courageous in your attempt to gain control of your mind and find the peace you need. this is coming from a dedicated stoner of 3 years, although i just quit (for at least a few months, and definately as a habitual behavior) recently as an act of renunciation so that i might find greater spiritual freedom. i will say though, that pot can help you discern peoples distortions (especially in the bullshit mainstream media! lol) from truth, and can greatly help you to recognize your false ego and to eliminate it and the suffering you cause yourself by identifying with it.

i hope this helps anyone that may need it =]

peace&love

I think the whole cannabis debate is a point of interest for regular “potheads”, with no real use for the drug apart from recreational purposes. They’re always looking for an excuse to justify their use of the drug. I love drinking coffee, but if i consumed 10 cups it would almost certainly have an adverse effect. I find many positive effects from cannabis, but if you have an addictive personality, severe anxiety will set in when you can’t maintain a supply of weed.
If you smoke to cure boredom, or depression, then expect severe paranoia. What am saying is, “you have to have something going on up top!” in order to receive the positive effects.
I have colleagues who use cannabis to improve their artistic output.
“I think its time to discuss your philosophy of drug use, as it relates to artistic endeavour!” (William S Burroughs)

I’m currently trying to stop a fairly heavy usage. I’m also on anti-depressants and have been for 10yrs - they don’t work but withdrawal side effects and the threat of hospitalisation or lithium makes me reluctant to come off them completely. I struggle to get hold of my supply living in the middle of nowhere and get stressed when I can’t get hold of any. I’ve convinced myself that cannabis helps my depression, it motivates me, allows me to get on with work and gives me a ‘normal’ function.
I read all this contradictory stuff about it causing depression/helping with depression and I feel that no one will give me an honest answer. All I am completely sure about is that when I don’t have it, the big sleep becomes more attractive. Am I merely suffering withdrawl effects, or is the physical lack of cannabis contributing to my underlying problem. I know I’m an addict, but is there no easier way of finding out what the hell is going on - life is unbearable

Another thing that may effect the testing of this is that In most states it is absolutely illegal to have Cannabis. In my opinion the stigma of this alone might lead to guilt of useage and maybe even higher anxity then something legal would. Thats just my opinion. Being a mother and a wife and living a rather normal life Id be scared to keep and use pot at my home. I do however think that it would be a much safer alternitive to many of the man made substences that we use.