Marijuana - good or bad?

[Dave Campbell]

I am quite pleased with this thread as a whole, as long as you glance over some of the early stuff. And we have discussed at length whether it is good or bad for you. Whether it should be legal, illegal, etc. Many interesting and valid points were brought up.

I was hoping more people would have commented on my question about the affect of it on your cubing. But in general terms, I did see some people state it makes them relaxed more, that it helps them to focus on things better, etc. So my question, which seems inevitable, is this:

What should happen if someone chooses to compete in an official WCA competition high? I don't think we have a rule against this. I saw someone walk up to the timing station at Worlds, put his beer on the side of the timing station and do an official solve.

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

 

[MichaelErskine]

How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

Jealous?

 

[fanwuq]

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

That would be awesome! I see nothing wrong with it. I don't think any drug can significantly change cubing performance (at least improve it).

 

[Edward]

It still amazes me how many people here actually do drugs.

 

[waffle=ijm]

It still amazes me how many people here actually do drugs.

HAHA
SWIM loves it

 

[Escher]

What should happen if someone chooses to compete in an official WCA competition high? I don't think we have a rule against this. I saw someone walk up to the timing station at Worlds, put his beer on the side of the timing station and do an official solve.

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

If it works for you, it works for you...
I actually intend to do this (not set a WR unfortunately) once I've set a few times I'm happy with in competition and can be more relaxed about each solve.
I've only ever solved while high a couple of times and that was before I was at all fast, I'd like to try soon after warming up a bit.

I don't think the WCA should ever set a policy on it.

 

[Ethan Rosen]

PEOPLE SMOKE WEED CUZ THEY THINK THEIR COOL. POTHEADS ARE STUPID AND THATS THE FINAL ANSWER RIGHT OFF THE BACK, NO EXCEPTIONS. IF YOU SMOKE IT GUESS WHAT?, YOU'VE JUST RUINED UR WHOLE LIFE...

Thanks for stating your opinion in this thread, even if some of us don't share the same opinions as you.

One useful tip: to get more respect on this forum you really should press the key to the left of the letter "A" on your QWERTY keyboard. Make sure the little light on your keyboard that comes on when you do this is turned off. Contrary to popular belief, that little light does not signify that "Respect me more" mode is engaged.

Chris

Hey Chris, just pointing out that the "A" key is placed in the same place on dvorak as in QWERTY, so next time you give this explanation you could include that. I also believe that "A" is placed similarly in the colemak layout, but next to "A" in colemak is a second backspace key. Next time you give this explanation you could point out that colemak users should not follow that advice, just to avoid confusion.

Also, @rubiksmathmaster

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Just want to point out that literally everything you posted is false and you might not want to ever say that in front of people who actually know what they are talking about. You can thank me later.
Also, please try telling people like Barack Obama, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Phelps, and 42% of the nation that their lives are ruined.

 

[qqwref]

PEOPLE SMOKE WEED CUZ THEY THINK THEIR COOL. POTHEADS ARE STUPID AND THATS THE FINAL ANSWER RIGHT OFF THE BACK, NO EXCEPTIONS. IF YOU SMOKE IT GUESS WHAT?, YOU'VE JUST RUINED UR WHOLE LIFE...

I decided to recompile this into a bit of freeform poetry

people smoke weed cuz they think
    their cool. potheads are stupid
        and that's the                  FINAL answer
                              right off the back,
                      no exceptions.
if you smoke it
                      guess what
                                                 ?,
 you've just          RUINED           ur whole life

                       ...

 

[blade740]

I am quite pleased with this thread as a whole, as long as you glance over some of the early stuff.

Like the first 20 or so pages.

 

[daniel0731ex]

I am quite pleased with this thread as a whole, as long as you glance over some of the early stuff. And we have discussed at length whether it is good or bad for you. Whether it should be legal, illegal, etc. Many interesting and valid points were brought up.

I was hoping more people would have commented on my question about the affect of it on your cubing. But in general terms, I did see some people state it makes them relaxed more, that it helps them to focus on things better, etc. So my question, which seems inevitable, is this:

What should happen if someone chooses to compete in an official WCA competition high? I don't think we have a rule against this. I saw someone walk up to the timing station at Worlds, put his beer on the side of the timing station and do an official solve.

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

lol it reminds of this vid:

BTW is it silicon spray at 0:25 ??

 

[cmhardw]

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

I think this is something we should take very seriously, because marijuana use is still illegal in most places. I think this should be banned from tournaments, on the grounds that most places consider marijuana use illegal. From a legal standpoint it's like asking how people would feel if a fast speedcuber assaulted a spectator before going up to the timer to set their WR? The activity engaged in is illegal, and thus its use must be banned from tournaments. Now this brings up an interesting point about marijuana use in tournaments where marijuana is legal.

Hmm.. I think drinking a beer during a tournament should be allowed as long as you are of legal drinking age, and as long as you do not cause a disturbance of any kind to other competitors.

In this case though, I think marijuana should still be banned at tournaments, even if it was legalized worldwide. The problem is that marijuana use at a tournament would cause a disturbance to other competitors via the second hand smoke.

Hmm.. This is interesting, this question actually has me rethinking my stance on legalizing marijuana, or at least on its regulation. If marijuana use is legalized, and its use is allowed in public, then the second hand smoke would cause people to feel effects of marijuana who might not want to. This would be a huge negative in my opinion.

How do places like the Netherlands, or places where marijuana use is legal, handle this issue? I think this is a huge issue that must be taken into consideration. If second hand tobacco smoke has ill effects, then second hand marijuana smoke has even worse effects to those who might not want to feel any effects of the THC at all.

Perhaps marijuana should either not be legalized, or should be strictly controlled and it's use only allowed in certain areas with set restrictions. Consider a home with an infant where the parents smoke marijuana regularly. What are the effects of repeated exposure to second hand marijuana smoke to infants as their brain develops? I think this might not be a good situation to allow the more I think about it.

Chris

 

[masterofthebass]

Chris,

I don't think Dave was implying that someone were to smoke inside the building during a competition. WCA regulations suggest that a venue should be smoke free, and that would definitely apply to marijuana smoke. I don't see a reason for a person under the effect of marijuana to be banned from a competition, as long as that person is not acting out of the ordinary, and creating a disturbance.

On the second hand smoke issue, I definitely think that if marijuana was legalized, most public places would still not permit the use of it inside. It would be segregated in places, just like tobacco is. As for experiencing second-hand smoke on the street, I really don't think passing by someone smoking a joint is going to make you feel anything.

 

[PatrickJameson]

Hmm.. I think drinking a beer during a tournament should be allowed as long as you are of legal drinking age, and as long as you do not cause a disturbance of any kind to other competitors.

2f) Competitors must obey venue regulations and conduct themselves in a manner considerate of others at all times during the competition and while at the competition venue.

In this case though, I think marijuana should still be banned at tournaments, even if it was legalized worldwide. The problem is that marijuana use at a tournament would cause a disturbance to other competitors via the second hand smoke.

I'm not sure how it is in other parts of the world, but in most indoor places that would be appropriate for a competition smoking tobacco is prohibited anyway. We don't seem to have a problem with that at the moment(at least as far as I know).

Hmm.. This is interesting, this question actually has me rethinking my stance on legalizing marijuana, or at least on its regulation. If marijuana use is legalized, and its use is allowed in public, then the second hand smoke would cause people to feel effects of marijuana who might not want to. This would be a huge negative in my opinion.

How do places like the Netherlands, or places where marijuana use is legal, handle this issue? I think this is a huge issue that must be taken into consideration. If second hand tobacco smoke has ill effects, then second hand marijuana smoke has even worse effects to those who might not want to feel any effects of the THC at all.

Perhaps marijuana should either not be legalized, or should be strictly controlled and it's use only allowed in certain areas with set restrictions. Consider a home with an infant where the parents smoke marijuana regularly. What are the effects of repeated exposure to second hand marijuana smoke to infants as their brain develops? I think this might not be a good situation to allow the more I think about it.

Again I remind you to think about tobacco second hand smoke currently. Of course I don't fully know the effects of both, short term and long term, so I'm just putting that thought out there.

 

[qqwref]

Hmm.. This is interesting, this question actually has me rethinking my stance on legalizing marijuana, or at least on its regulation. If marijuana use is legalized, and its use is allowed in public, then the second hand smoke would cause people to feel effects of marijuana who might not want to. This would be a huge negative in my opinion.
[...]
Perhaps marijuana should either not be legalized, or should be strictly controlled and it's use only allowed in certain areas with set restrictions. Consider a home with an infant where the parents smoke marijuana regularly. What are the effects of repeated exposure to second hand marijuana smoke to infants as their brain develops? I think this might not be a good situation to allow the more I think about it.

We have the exact same problems with tobacco smoke IMO... if I'm out walking around I don't want to have to deal with secondhand smoke of either kind, and I'm sure both kinds of smoke can be damaging to kids (not sure if the effects are known). Personally, as someone who doesn't do either drug, I find tobacco smoke even more annoying than marijuana smoke. I think lawmakers would treat both drugs similarly, though - if tobacco smoke is only allowed outside or a certain distance from offices/restaurants/etc then I'm sure the same restrictions will be applied to marijuana smoke. The two problems have the same causes and the same solutions.

 

[blade740]

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

I think this is something we should take very seriously, because marijuana use is still illegal in most places. I think this should be banned from tournaments, on the grounds that most places consider marijuana use illegal. From a legal standpoint it's like asking how people would feel if a fast speedcuber assaulted a spectator before going up to the timer to set their WR? The activity engaged in is illegal, and thus its use must be banned from tournaments. Now this brings up an interesting point about marijuana use in tournaments where marijuana is legal.

Hmm.. I think drinking a beer during a tournament should be allowed as long as you are of legal drinking age, and as long as you do not cause a disturbance of any kind to other competitors.

In this case though, I think marijuana should still be banned at tournaments, even if it was legalized worldwide. The problem is that marijuana use at a tournament would cause a disturbance to other competitors via the second hand smoke.

Hmm.. This is interesting, this question actually has me rethinking my stance on legalizing marijuana, or at least on its regulation. If marijuana use is legalized, and its use is allowed in public, then the second hand smoke would cause people to feel effects of marijuana who might not want to. This would be a huge negative in my opinion.

I think most everyone would agree that smoking in the venue, or really in any public, central area that would expose others to secondhand smoke should be illegal according to the regulations. What Dave is asking, I think, is this: what if someone were to smoke before competing (outside, away from everyone) then come back inside and set a world record while high?

On the one hand, you could compare it to setting a world record while drunk, but it could also be considered (by some people) a performance-enhancing drug. If we let someone compete after using marijuana, should we let someone compete after using a drug that might be helpful? What about Caffeine? I think it's clear that if someone uses a substance that gives them a clear advantage over the competition it's cheating, but can we really keep cubers from drinking energy drinks at competitions?

 

[cmhardw]

WCA regulations suggest that a venue should be smoke free, and that would definitely apply to marijuana smoke. I don't see a reason for a person under the effect of marijuana to be banned from a competition, as long as that person is not acting out of the ordinary, and creating a disturbance.

This I would definitely agree with, and if marijuana were legalized, or the competition were held in a place where marijuana use is legal, then I think the smoking outside solution would be one that could be viable. As long as the competitor doing so realized they could still be kicked out if they created a disturbance inside the venue. The same would obviously apply to anyone drinking alcohol at a tournament.

As for experiencing second-hand smoke on the street, I really don't think passing by someone smoking a joint is going to make you feel anything.

Yes, and I agree with that, but not everyone would. There are people who are adamantly against the use of marijuana, many of whom post in this thread. Assuming marijuana were legalized, it would be a huge issue to people who are against marijuana in general if people were allowed to smoke on the street. That is moreso why I was asking how the Netherlands handles this issue, as I am sure in the Netherlands there are people who are adamantly against marijuana use.

Again I remind you to think about tobacco second hand smoke currently. Of course I don't fully know the effects of both, short term and long term, so I'm just putting that thought out there.

Yes, but sadly tobacco is allowed around newborns, and this is detrimental to their health. Allowing marijuana smoke around newborns has potential to add another substance that newborns can experience second hand that might be detrimental to their health. Obviously the smoke debri would be, but I don't know about the effects of THC on newborns, or even if anyone knows.

Chris

 

[DavidWoner]

I was hoping more people would have commented on my question about the affect of it on your cubing. But in general terms, I did see some people state it makes them relaxed more, that it helps them to focus on things better, etc. So my question, which seems inevitable, is this:

What should happen if someone chooses to compete in an official WCA competition high? I don't think we have a rule against this. I saw someone walk up to the timing station at Worlds, put his beer on the side of the timing station and do an official solve.

To help put it in the right perspective, the question could also easily be: How would you feel if someone beat a WR after he or she smoked a joint?

I have found the effects to be entirely negative, doubly so as far as team BLD is concerned. However, cubing at home is different from cubing in a competition. In a competition, more stress and more nerves are a large factor, and the use of marijuana could downplay these. I know I generally have problems with nerves, especially as far as clock is concerned. While I am certain that smoking would eliminate my nerves, I think it would also greatly impair my ability to solve. Looking ahead as much as I do and turning as fast as I do requires (for me) more concentration than any other puzzle. Basically, the cons outweigh the pros.

I think if someone were to break a WR while high I would probably feel bad for them, because it most likely would have been faster if they were sober.

 

[daniel0731ex]

while skimming through the posts in this thread, i sometimes misread "marijuana" as "nakajima". :fp

 

[Dave Campbell]

Yes, i most definitely did not mean the competitor is cubing like a rock star with a joint in his mouth at the timing station. I assumed all of this discussion was treating the use of marijuana in the same fashion as tobacco, done outside preferably away from others who do not wish exposure.

I don't think any drug can significantly change cubing performance (at least improve it).

I don't think i agree with this. Everyone reacts to substances differently. Like Andrew pointed out, i too have seen cubers use Redbulls (or similar drink) at a competition to make them feel more awake and aware in an effort to set good times. If i am not mistaken, i think Ryan did this before winning the 2007 US Open.

I think if someone were to break a WR while high I would probably feel bad for them, because it most likely would have been faster if they were sober.

Again, though, this is just how it affects you. I have seen first hand someone outperform themselves while solving shortly after smoking a joint. This person was hitting 11s back when 13s were fast.

I'd worry about having the regulations different depending on location. If we say the WCA standard mirrors the legislation of the venue's location, we could be giving an unfair advantage to the competitors at that competition (and let's be honest, the Dutch guys are fast enough already!).

 

[esquimalt1]

while skimming through the posts in this thread, i sometimes misread "marijuana" as "nakajima". :fp

haha nice