“Smoking makes me feel better”
“Lots of people know me, know I do pot, and they think that I’m a pothead. But really, the thing they don’t realize is that I have a reason for it.”
Many people who are interested in trying marijuana or who have relatives or friends who do wonder, "What does it feel like to be high? Most marijuana users experience distinct symptoms when they smoke or consume marijuana such as: getting hungry, relaxed, happy, and confused. Some users even say marijuana’s mind-altering effect—the “high”—is also beneficial. They claim using the drug chills them out, expands their mind, and makes them more creative. Since the 1960s, marijuana has had this mystique as an aid to artistic life.
Studies
Studies have proved that smoking cigarettes activates a dopamine-driven pleasure and satisfaction response differently in males than in women, using a new brain imaging analysis method. The study used a new way of analyzing PET (positron emission tomography) scans to create “movies” of the dopamine response during smoking to demonstrate for the first time that smoking-induced dopamine activation occurs in a different brain region and much faster in nicotine-dependent men. Most men who have smoked always say that smoking weed calms and clears their minds. Which is a fact.
Mental Health Benefits
“I started smoking 3 years back, I had crippling depression and anxiety. The weed kind of numbed my negative thoughts and emotions, which helped cure my depression. It made me a lot happier, and I made a lot more friends. Now three years later I realize it also numbs my other emotions, so now I’m trying to cut down on smoking, because I am sure I won't fall back into depression, to try and live a little, for real this time!”
Anxiety disorders are increasing at a high rate among people nowadays. The common reasons include a huge workload, relationship problems, and tight schedules. All of these combine to cause the onset of ailments like sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and headaches. Cannabis can induce the release of endorphins. They make you feel better about yourself. With its regular use, you can drive the problem of depression away gradually. A study also suggests the same and highlights the ability of cannabis to sharpen cognitive abilities. Thus, cannabis acts as a therapeutic medicine in the treatment and helps in clearing your mind to regain your mental health.
Spiritual Benefits
Today, men use cannabis in their spiritual practice. Rastafarians and some Hindus and Sikhs use cannabis in religious ceremonies. Other men use it in ways they consider spiritual, such as for reflection, contemplation, or personal growth. The relaxing effects of cannabis help men gain a different perspective when trying to understand difficult life situations. Some believe that cannabis, as a plant, has something to teach them.
Cannabis is used by some to increase an appreciation for and connection with nature. People also use cannabis to bond with each other. These feelings of connectedness contribute to an overall sense of “oneness.”
Social Benefits
Today, men often use cannabis for specific activities and occasions. When used properly, it helps some to relax and concentrate, making many activities more enjoyable. Eating, listening to music, socializing, watching movies, playing sports, having sex, and being creative are some things people say cannabis helps them to enjoy more. Sometimes, they hit a pot to clear their minds and gain confidence in their social lives. Maybe try hitting a pot if you want to hit up on someone.
Cannabis, used socially, often becomes part of a person’s daily routine without negative health, social, legal, or economic consequences. Most people use it responsibly to improve the quality of their lives, similar to the way others use alcohol or coffee.
In conclusion, people who don’t use cannabis may not understand why others do use it. The same is true for those who have tried it and didn’t see any benefit. However, with a better understanding of the reasons people use cannabis, we can look past the stigma and assumptions. From here, it will be easier to find ways to enhance the benefits and reduce potential harms to individual cannabis users and the wider population.
