I feel the same as you...somewhat. I don't want my children drinking/smoking cigarettes. I keep a stash Oxycotin in the house. It is left over from breaking my toes. I have not looked at the prescription to see if the pills have expired.

But if it came down to having a choice, I would rather my kids smoke pot rather than drinking or smoking cigarettes. Cigarettes are so expensive now. If one smokes a pack a day, is it really less expensive than marijuana?

I don't know! For anyone reading this who might know how much it cost for MJ and tobacco, I guess how much each are "used" may have an answer?

Well, a pack of cigs is about $5. A gram of mj is $20. If a gram lasts me a week (it does) than it's cheaper than cigs. So it's also cheaper than alcohol.

I'm with you. I have 2 grown sons and when growing up, I hoped if they chose to do something, it would be weed. No fighting, no alcohol poisoning, no drunk driving, no dangerous sex, etc.

Living in California and spending half a century (geez) observing things - I really dislike alcohol and what it can do to people. The only real problem in my mind is the left-over stigma associated with mj among people who don't know anything about it. There are still people who feel better taking oxy's or morphine from a dr. than smoking mj, although the statistical data on the danger of the pills is off the charts and the mj danger isn't even on the charts. (Of course there are many that need the stronger drugs).

Kids shouldn't smoke mj of course, but given the choice of a kid 'experimenting', I vote mj.

I have been putting off the next elimination of a drug to see if the MMJ has been effective with helping me go to sleep. I take Ambien and it has been great to just close my eyes and wham! no problem.

This last batch of brownies has been strong so I have only eaten 1/2 of a small square (approximately 1/2" x 1") for sleep. I am going to eliminate the Ambien tonight and see how long it takes to take effect. I will eat the brownie earlier in the evening, at about 9:30 PM. If I need more, I will vape for an immediate effect.

I am pleased that the meager amount of cannabis I have purchased has gone a long way. Then again, my benefactor has been a good part of why it has cost me so little money.

My hope is to find a variety that has a body effect and no mind effect. Not sure if that is possible.

I am still trying to get the hang of vaping. DS said I have heated the cannabis too much and that is why my lungs are not happy. He said there should be no smoke when I exhale...at all.

The study does not start until August/September. The seeds purchased on my behalf are not ready since it has only been since June and plants do not flower for a few months.

I may visit the local compassion club again just to see if they have varieties available that are supposedly for MS. However, I will have to call first since the governor of AZ has made it difficult for dispensaries to start.

I'm certain you'll find a strain that gives a 'body buzz' versus the head fuzzies. That's what hash does for me. Most strains of MJ make me either head-loopy or paranoid (neither a good thing), but some did give the relaxing, calming body buzz, so they're out there.

I think MJ is much like anything else, each person responds differently to different strains.

My synthetic THC (capsules) give me only the body buzz, and even then that was only when I began the medication. I'm used to the euphoric side effects of the medication now, so I don't get that 'buzz' feeling.

By the way, the pills (synthetic) are dreadfully expensive, and are a far cry from being as helpful at the plant itself.

I wish my insurance covered Sativex. Grrrrrr....

Last night was a disaster. It felt like I was awake all night.

Something tells me I am addicted to Ambien.

So what to do tonight. I had eaten a whole brownie last night and had a terrible body buzz. My entire body tensed up and even my ears had a titinitus hum. Every once in a while, my body would relax. I find it ironic that my expectation was that cannabis makes a person melt but so far, I have not experienced this.

So what to do tonight. Do I reduce the brownie amount and try again to deal with a potential sleepless night because I am trying to break the need for Ambien?

Do I take an Ambien and get a night's sleep and try again another day?

Maybe I will cut the brownie dose in half, cut the Ambien in half.

i know I am strong enough to break the Ambien addiction because I was able to break my nicotine addiction.

Just as with cigarettes, I have to be willing to be uncomfortable. That is the most difficult mental obstacle, the willingness.

All those of you that are/were addicted to anything know what I mean.

I do know what you mean Aarcyn, going from a 2 pack a day smoker to cold turkey, and dealing with the side effects. You're right, if you were able to quit smoking, you can definitely quit Ambien.

With that said, I am not familiar with Ambien, but it sounds like you may need to 'taper' off, rather than abandon completely right away.

I'd ask your GP, neuro, pharma... whoever may be able to answer questions about Ambien dependency and stopping the medication.

DH and I took the short drive into Phoenix to visit the compassion club which acts as a rudimentary dispensary to buy whatever cannabis buds are available. Edibles, candies, tinctures, sodas are all on the list of things to try.

I had just finished baking breads so I took along a fresh loaf to offer as a trade.

There was a choice of two...Double Dream, a sativa and Purple Kush, an indica. For my "donation," I chose a small amount of Double Dream to see how a sativa affected my sx's and a larger amount of Purple Kush that will help with the insomnia plaguing me during the hot summer nights.

The young man who helped me was named Carlos. As I sat down to talk, I got out my bartered bread and urged him to tear off a piece and sample taste.

First question was whether the loaf was medicated.

The bread works a certain amount of magic without any additional ingredients. He said he was not able to make a trade but when I suggested he make the gram measurements "happy," he was more than compliant.

I also procured a strawberry/banana lollipop.

As I was preparing to leave his office, the young boss came in and Carlos immediately told him about my attempt to use my bread as a trade.

The boss asked if it was medicated.

And upon a small taste, he asked me if I wanted a granola bar edible. There is a gram of cannabis in a square measuring about 1 1/2" x 2".

The cost of my bread is about $6 retail and the bar is about $10 or $15 so it was a good trade.

I tried the granola bar last night. I cut off 1/3 and ate before getting into bed. I felt a small effect but by 1 AM, I had to give in and used the vaporizer for a couple draws in order to create the mindset I need for sleep.

I will try a larger amount of the granola bar tonight.

Ingredients: granola, peanuts, cashews, almonds, oats, raisins, cranberries, white yogurt chips, cannabis, honey, brown sugar, Tahitian vanilla.

It tasted very good. No green tinge.

one more thing...

When I attended a meeting about the locations of dispensaries, the big objection is having cannabis stores located near ANYTHING!

The ultimate irony is that there is a drive-through liquor store in one of the strip malls...

The Compassion Club has a storefront sign. It is not high profile. The place is located along a road where houses have been converted into small businesses. The area is surrounded by homes, a church, a children's facility, chain restaurants.

The fear that teenagers will be roaming the area waiting to break in to rob everyone is just plain silly. There are no drug addicts looking to score.

I see young entrepreneurs running these initial shops. My guess is that in about 10-20 years, these young adults will own the fancy houses up on the mountains above my own.

A drive thru liquor store??!! Now that sounds like a great idea...

I look forward to the day when the people who make the laws in my state get the boards out of their arses and pass the cannabis bill so I'm not buying & inhaling whatever I can get my hands on. I hate the mind effects of the stuff I'm using, which makes me not use it, when in fact it helps quickly and completely to reduce the Sxs that reg meds don't help.

Until then I wait and feel jealous of those like you who can be informed consumers.

That sounds DELICIOUS, medicated or not!