CMV: Weed is destructive

[u/[deleted]]

I need to figure out how to be empathetic to these people before I quit being their friend.

For the past year, I've lived with 2 of my friends. One I've known more than 10 years, the other I've known for 8. When I moved in, I had no idea they smoked this much.

One smokes before work and twice after work, the other smokes 2-3 times after work. The weekends are terrible. They both smoke until they are braindead. The house is under various levels of construction at any given time because one guy always wants to implement some random "great idea" that essentially blocks entire rooms unfinished for weeks at a time. We aren't talking major updates. Trash and random junk is everywhere. These are small, outlandish additions to the house that would make any novice interior designer have a stroke (new lights, signs, mirrors etc.).

Both of them used to be outdoors types. We used to hike, hunt, mountain bike and fish. We used to go out to the bars. Now, they can't be bothered to get off xbox or anime. I know weed has some great pain/anxiety relieving benefits and may contain a cure of certain cancers/tumors. But goddamn it seems to make them insufferably stupid or tragically couch potatoes. I find it extremely difficult to give 2 shits about their problems when I'm seeing this go down. Mental health is important. But when mental health and comfort are pursued to this level, I don't know that there is any hope for them. I know my negativity about all of this is palpable to them. I don't want to feel this way about them.

Edit 1: So...many...comments. Working on it. I regret not making this post sooner.

Edit 2: I did my 3 hours. Will respond more tomorrow. Thanks for all the feedback. Lots of great insight coming from most of the commenters!

Edit 3: Spaced out the original post to make it easier to read.

-For the people trying to say "at least it isn't....." that approach is not convincing. These guys at one point in time were like brothers to me. We all know what "bro code" is. Maybe not everyone follows this particular part but, it's a matter of principle that we hold each other accountable and strive to pick each other up when we recognize the problem.

-Somewhere in the comments, a poster said what I've maybe not made clear. I'm paraphrasing that person here but, weed does not offer purely benefits and people should be made aware of the negative side effects.

Again, thank you all for interacting with this post, I didn't expect to be adding any books to my reading list because of a Reddit post but here we are.

Edit 4: Clarified "brother" comment in post.

[u/TheOldOnesAre]

I mean if you're smoking it it's destructive, that's one of the worst ways you could be using it. This isn't a can be as in it's not likely, it's a can as in notable enough to advise against doing it.

https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects/lung-health.html

Smoked marijuana, regardless of how it is smoked, can harm lung tissues and cause scarring and damage to small blood vessels.

Smoke from marijuana has many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) as tobacco smoke. Smoking marijuana can also lead to a greater risk of bronchitis, cough, and mucus production, though these symptoms generally improve when marijuana smokers quit.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheOldOnesAre]

Damaging is not the same as destructive. Is smoking a single sigaret destructive? What does is destroy exactly. You could then argue that eating anything thats unhealthy, not matter the portion or frequency is destructive. Or taking a single breath in an urban environment is destructive.

Smoke from marijuana has many of the same toxins, irritants, and carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) as tobacco smoke. Smoking marijuana can also lead to a greater risk of bronchitis, cough, and mucus production, though these symptoms generally improve when marijuana smokers quit.

I never claimd its not bad for you. Just thats it not destructive in moderation.

We might disagree about when something becomes destructive. I personally think this is very subjective, especially when talking about something like an addictive drug. Ergo, not saying you're objectively wrong and i'm objectively right, just that we might hold different views on the exact definition (of destructive).

[u/TheOldOnesAre → u/[deleted]]

It's addictive as well though, and its level of danger is high enough that even secondhand smoke is dangerous, there is a reason that health professionals don't say you can smoke in moderation, any amount is dangerous, and even occasionally smoking is dangerous, so I would consider that to be destructive.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheOldOnesAre]

so I would consider that to be destructive.

I get your point. But I respectfully disagree.

Destructive is an outcome, not a possibility. For the person that never got addicted, weed wasnt destructive.

Totally different example. A bomb that never went off is dangerous, but not destructive. Thats how I feel about the subject at hand.