Half of Americans (50%) say they have tried marijuana at some time, a new high point for this behavior that has been inching up over the past quarter century.
Story Highlights
50% of U.S. adults say they have experimented with marijuana
About one in six Americans (17%) are current users
Three in four Americans are concerned about effects on young/teen users
My smoking habits have changed a lot as I get older. When I was in college, sure smoke all day. These days maybe before bed or once im done with all my shit for the day. Otherwise it makes me unable to do anything productive.
If you're not in a legal state, look into delta-8 products. They're derived from hemp instead of cannabis, so they're legal in most places (in the US, at least), and they contain THC delta-8, which is a very slightly different molecule from the THC found in cannabis. Different enough that it's legal enough to be sold in gas stations and smoke shops.
I find that they tend to have a lot of the pain relief and relaxation effects of normal cannabis, but without nearly as much of the psychoactive components. You can still get high on delta-8 products if you really want to, but it requires a lot more product than regular cannabis to get to that point, so it's not a financially sound way to get high.
You can get delta-8 in a lot of different types of products, from edibles to vape liquids to hemp flower that you basically smoke like regular weed. Personally, I'd recommend the vape products, as they tend to go into effect quickly and it's pretty easy to control your dosage with them.
In my experience it doesn't help with pain nearly as much as people act like it does. But it helps with relaxation and mood. Still better than not having it.
That's fair. Everyone has their own experience. Personally for me if I'm in pain and take some edibles, I am aware there is pain, but my brain doesn't care about it. Certainly an interesting experience IMO
Marijuana doesn't help with pain specifically, but some of its other elements like CBD can reduce inflammation by allowing more bloodflow since it relaxes your veins through dilation.
I inhaled like I would with an inhaler, and those always worked right (back when I needed them). Regardless, it's been 19 years since I tried it, and I don't see any reason to start something else that's not great for my health.
Over the years, I have done my part to introduce people to THC. First in high school, then a long break. This year, I bought some gummies for the hell of it when I noticed we were walking past a weed shop. My partner tried it for the first time and loved it.
50% seems low to me, but I guess we have a huge elderly population. To my surprise, my father told me that he tried it when his wife's brother offered it. He said he didn't get high. I think he wasn't taught how to properly inhale. But it goes a long way to showing the growing acceptance. He was very anti-drugs when I was growing up.
I can believe this. I see jobs for like $12 an hr that requires a drug test and a background check. Definitely been lucky enough to not have to go through it, or have anyone care if I did.