For the last 5 years, I've been a frequent cannabis smoker.
It began when I first moved away from home. I'd led a quiet, normal life until that point.
I moved to an area where I knew no-one except one or two new colleagues. In particular, I grew close to one person I worked with.
Initially, I began smoking cigarettes. People were talking about "dope" and I decided to give it a try. If I'm honest, for two reasons:
- Curiosity.
- I guess I thought I would make some friends this way.
I enjoyed it and did make friends with a number of people.
Since then, I've smoked it most of the time.
Last summer there was a "drought", this made good quality skunk or resin difficult/impossible to find and increased the price.
Its been a sellers market around here since then.
Getting sick of scumbag dealers and the "hassle" of obtaining a supply, I'd began looking into legal alternatives.
I found
Spice Gold. This mixture reproduces some of the effects of cannabis but does not contain the active ingredient (THC).
I've been smoking this (mainly in a bong) for the last month or two.
Last week I felt like trying something totally new. I opted to buy
Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds. They are described as:
LSD-like effects, but less intense, with less visuals. Trip lasts 6-8 hours; tranquil feelings may last additional 12 hours. Sleep is deep and refreshing after trip, however some users may experience a hangover characterized by blurred vision, vertigo, and physical intertia.The active ingredient is
LSA.
These are legally available in the UK and cost around £3 for five seedsI'd never taken anything of this type (or even close) before.
At 17:30 i opened the pack. I'd bought 10 but being new to these, I decided to take four (generally recommended number to 'try').
Using a penknife I removed the outer layer and scraped off the white bits as best I could.
I then gave each a quick burn with the lighter.
Again using the penknife, I crushed the seeds then split them in half.
At 17:40 I placed one in my mouth, checking i could stand the taste.
I could so I put the rest in.
I chewed then held them in my mouth for maybe a minute or two then swallowed.
This wasn't on an empty stomach and for the first hour, I thought nothing was going to happen.
As 19:00 approached I was feeling very intoxicated, similar feeling to being very drunk. I found my interest was in random things and would start laughing for no reason. I was watching TV and it felt like the programme was jumping out of the screen.
Shortly afterwards I lost most cognitive function. I guess I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I remember it was after 20:00 and I'd received an SMS message. I tried to respond but was clearly in no fit state to do so. I felt being in contact with anyone at that point was probably a very bad idea so switched the phone off and put it away.
I watched Rory Bremner and found it hilarious (to be fair, it always is anyway).
During the show, I noticed time seemed to slow down. I felt tens of minutes had passed in just a minute or two. This lasted for many hours.
I watched BBC 4 who had some shows on about 1997. I remembered many details about this time, things I've not considered for years.
I was concerned about my breathing for a short while and was concious as to whether I was breathing or not. This passed after about 30 minutes. I would also find myself one minute running my fingers through my hair, the next biting my finger nails then dropping my arms down again. I suspect this would have looked insane if someone else had seen it.
Around 23:00 I opened the window to get some fresh air. I leaned on the window ledge looking out. I felt totally detached from everything going on outside.
Around 30 minutes later, I started to feel a little more "with it" and resolved to go to bed - in a bit.
My mind drifted onto the negative parts of my life and i felt pangs of anxiety and a little fear. Then I'd feel euphoric and all would be great.
At 00:30 I went to bed. Thinking I might have been in for a long sleep, I set my alarm - I never normally do this on a Sunday.
I couldn't sleep so after what seemed like an eternity (was only an hour), I got up, had something to eat and went back to bed.
I must have finally drifted off around 02:00.
This morning, I woke around 08:45. I almost felt hungover, just without the sickness.
The whole experience has proven to me two very important things which I guess I've always know but have convinced myself isn't the case:
- Messing with our bodies and minds in such a way is potentially very dangerous. I can't help thinking what i must have looked like/been like last night. I'd never want to see anyone in that state - ever.
- On a more fundamental level, using cannabis doesn't become a problem the first time you smoke a joint. Nor is it a problem if you smoke it once in a blue moon. Regular use of this creeps up on you and before you know it, you need it. You tell yourself "I don't need it, i want it". That isn't true. I am pleased I took the seeds for this reason. It was a short time in my life showing me what I've done over the last few years and where its led to.
I have now thrown the remaining seeds down the toilet.
I will not take them or anything like them ever again.
I have no intention of buying cannabis or any substitute again.
I can sum up the experience as: enlightening but scary. I never want to feel that out of control ever again.
Before I started smoking (anything) I used to enjoy life, be full of vigour and be reasonably level headed. I feel I've thrown caution to the wind over the last few years. My career has probably not progressed in the way It would have had I not smoked it. My personal life is certainly not what It should be or what it was.
Drugs of any kind are bad.
But. As a country, its not the drugs themselves which need to be tackled, its the supply of drugs.
Cracking down on dealers doesn't work. There are
always ways and means of obtaining them.
We must discuss this important subject as adults instead of being lectured to like children.
The problem for most people in the UK with drugs is the associated crime. The crime is typically one of the following -
- Drug induced crime - People committing crime under the influence of drugs.
- Dealer related crime - Violence against anyone who might cross them (turf wars, creditors, etc)
- Economic crime - Crime to obtain funds to purchase drugs.
The first you will only ever eradicate if no-one takes drugs. Quite honestly, that is never, ever going to happen - but we can reduce the numbers.
Dealer crime will go once the "dealers" are licenced chemists.
The last one is in my view, the biggest crime related to drugs use. The problem is that in a black market economy, demand is always high, supply always low. This means people have to pay a lot of money to get whatever it is they are after.
In a regulated market, you can control pricing, quality, supply & identify those in need help - intelligently directing resources where they are needed.
Dealers can't exist without customers. They will eke out a living for as long as they can, but when demand dries up, they have to move on.
I know this won't be popular with many people. But the fact is, drug use is so endemic amongst the younger generations of this country that action must be taken soon. The so called war on drugs has only managed to cause inconvenience for drug users, It has never reduced the demand.
Finally, I could go on to make a case for alcohol being prohibited due to the effect it has on the health of people and the effects on society, but we know prohibition doesn't work - Just ask the Americans!
