Does marijuana help or harm integration?

[ControlledChaos]

I have a like/dislike relationship with marijuana. I often go on and off with it. In a way I attribute it towards pushing me closer to psychedelics like DMT and shrooms. It did slightly usher in the same strange but beautiful emotions that Ayahausca cast a light on and explained the meaning of. But all of my Aya journeys seem to take on an anti marijuana narrative, writing it off as a numbing agent and nothing more. Often after my ayahuasca sittings I end up staying away from weed only to invariably be pulled back into it. I must ask questions like does it harm my integration? I feel like some messages from the aya regarding what I need to do, mean I must stop weed to work harder. Yet at the same time I have to give weed credit in its own right for bringing more beauty to the surface of my psyche. I'm conflicted. What do you think of marijuana? In terms of connection to oneself and to the integration of Ayahausca's lessons. Does it harm or help?

 

[Fridge]

Hi,

Hmmmm, does it harm or help? I think that's a very subjective question that differs from person to person.

Personally I enjoy cannabis thoroughly since over 2 decades now and I would say yes, it helps me with integration. However it only helps and I am sure integration would also work without it, using other ways like meditation or similar.

I decided to respond to this, because I have had a similar experience, with other substances though. One night I took mushrooms and realized that I drink way too much alcohol. I was about to become a full on alcoholic. That was about two years ago and I haven't even touched a beer ever since.
To me it seems like Aya is trying to communicate a similar message to you. You mentioned that you have a like/dislike relationship with cannabis. This could indicate that cannabis is not providing you with the benefits it used to and you start to realize that deep inside.

Just to get back to the question whether it helps or not... Cannabis helps me in so many different areas of my life and I don't want to miss it at this point in my life. That might change one day though. Intuition helps greatly to navigate through life in my experience and I am sure you will know which way to go, soon.

I hope that this helped a bit and I am sure there will be others to give you input regarding your question.

 

[ControlledChaos]

Hi,

Hmmmm, does it harm or help? I think that's a very subjective question that differs from person to person.

Personally I enjoy cannabis thoroughly since over 2 decades now and I would say yes, it helps me with integration. However it only helps and I am sure integration would also work without it, using other ways like meditation or similar.

I decided to respond to this, because I have had a similar experience, with other substances though. One night I took mushrooms and realized that I drink way too much alcohol. I was about to become a full on alcoholic. That was about two years ago and I haven't even touched a beer ever since.
To me it seems like Aya is trying to communicate a similar message to you. You mentioned that you have a like/dislike relationship with cannabis. This could indicate that cannabis is not providing you with the benefits it used to and you start to realize that deep inside.

Just to get back to the question whether it helps or not... Cannabis helps me in so many different areas of my life and I don't want to miss it at this point in my life. That might change one day though. Intuition helps greatly to navigate through life in my experience and I am sure you will know which way to go, soon.

I hope that this helped a bit and I am sure there will be others to give you input regarding your question.

I appreciate your input. I actually wrote this post after I hearing cannabis. Ironically the cannabis itself made me question my own use further. But as for it's past benefits... It sometimes produced the feeling of wonder and awe and curiousity that I had rarely felt since childhood. After I began drinking Ayahausca this same feeling began breaking through when even sober and got amplified and more frequent each time I drank it, culminating in a particularly poignant ayahuasca session where I realized that feeling came from my mom introducing me to nature as a child and my own suppression of everything to do with my mother out of anger due to some traumatic times during my adolescence.

So in a way Ayahausca carried on what cannabis started. But cannabis still gets me there, albeit now that I understand what that feeling is and what it means I'm beginning to feel it even when sober. I also feel that my social skills improved due to cannabis, but perhaps at the expense of some positive parts of my character. But perhaps the rewards of the social improvement made that worth it. It puts me in touch with parts of myself that I tend to ignore when sober. I do appreciate cannabis and I gotta give it credit.

 

[Fridge]

I personally would think about taking another path then giving up on Cannabis as long as the positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects.

I used to consume way to much cannabis in my twenties for example, which ultimately lead me to quit every mind altering substance for a period of 4 years. When I decided to allow Cannabis back into my life I made sure that I will never overdo it again. I have set a routine for the last 6 years that allows me to reap the benefits of Cannabis without it interfering too much with my everyday functionality.

Maybe this would be something for you too? I mean changing up your smoke routine?

 

[Tomtegubbe]

The role of cannabis may change in your life. Maybe there is some habituality that hinders your growth? Cannabis is such an easy remedy with so few obvious bad effects that it often requires staying sober for a while to realize how it may prevent you from reaching your full potential. Staying off from it for a while may help finding better, more intentional ways to take it - or then just continue staying off. I believe it's very personal and depends on the relationship you have built with it.

Generally it's good idea to listen to Mother Aya. And being mindful about all the substances you take and your actions in general is recommended.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I don't think the answer will be as binary as the question.

It comes down to how one uses the substance; what their intentions are, what their motivations are, what their focus is on in using it as an integrative tool etc.

If you're using it to numb yourself then it's probably hindering your integration. However, it's not actually cannabis that is hindering, but rather, how you are using it.

No drug, regardless of if we as individuals love or hate it, is good or bad. It's our use that creates a context of an interaction that is good or bad, which is slightly arbitrary in that it is going to subjectively different from person to person.

I personally love cannabis in most ways. It's a powerful psychedelic when used in particular ways, it has a huge range of benefits, and is relatively benign. It technically pays my bills too, so in a way my life revolves around it.

One love

 

[murklan]

I'm glad that this was brought up. I've been thinking about it myself lately and it IS quite something worth pondering.

For me cannabis is mostly a blessing. It can help me to connect to feelings, ideas, moods and sides of my person that simply has been put aside by life in general. Not that my 'sober life' is bad in general, but it's bi a large extent centered around getting things done. Goal and usage oriented. Weed changes that perspective and makes me really thankful for what my 'sober self' are doing and has done.

Cannabis also can bring up notions that reminds me of other altered states, and what those states has given me. Something that I can think about without cannabis but find it harder to really feel about. So in this sense it supporting the integration part.

But then. It's can also distract me from 'doing the work' with integration, or so I believe. And one thing that I read lately (but don't have any real source to other then a reddit post by someone) is that THC can effect or lower the positive effects (other) psychedelics have on the brain. Very vague I know... But I just cant' find the post again. And with that I also want to say that I don't believe in a reductionist view on the brain. It's more complex then that.

Many good things has been mentioned in this thread.

... It technically pays my bills too, so in a way my life revolves around it.

I don't know if I can ask about is here... But in what way does it pay your bills?

 

[ABe©eDarian]

I'm wed to my weed and it has provided me such assistance that I get offended if someone talks down about cannabis.

The other day in chat someone said psychedelics are powerful tools while marijuana just confuses people's brains or something of the sort. So I was like "umm.. don't be a burnout when you use your weed then tell me I'm not clear when I use mine, thanks." :d

For enhancement of thought and activities, relaxation, pain-relief, sleep aid, etc it has aided me so much.

That being said... there is something special about dmt and aya experiences for me had at times separate from cannabis. I include cannabis in dmt experiences sometimes, but often not because of the extra benefit of clear dreaming and recall. Abstaining from cannabis has benefit for me at times, but so does returning to cannabis yet again after I've done what I set out to do. I might even say that after abstaining and doing another kind of work, it's all the better to return to during the integration.

Know what works for you and don't deny what your higher-self tells you. It can be a lot of help for many people and it can be a crutch for some but that's more about the energy you're working with and motivation than it is about defining cannabis as the culprit.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I don't know if I can ask about is here... But in what way does it pay your bills?

I'm fortunate enough to be a cannabis cultivator as my living.

One love

 

[murklan]

I'm fortunate enough to be a cannabis cultivator as my living.

One love

Aha! I thought you maybe were making double-chocolate-coco-cream-date-bars for the local coffee shop

Now I have many other questions and curiosities. But I guess that is for another thread.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I'm fortunate enough to be a cannabis cultivator as my living.

One love

Aha! I thought you maybe were making double-chocolate-coco-cream-date-bars for the local coffee shop

Now I have many other questions and curiosities. But I guess that is for another thread.

Hahaha I do make edibles from time to time as well :twisted:

If your other questions are cannabis related you can always shoot me a PM (or you can really shoot me a PM about whatever you like).



One love

 

[null24]

I'm wed to my weed and it has provided me such assistance that I get offended if someone talks down about cannabis.

The other day in chat someone said psychedelics are powerful tools while marijuana just confuses people's brains or something of the sort. So I was like "umm.. don't be a burnout when you use your weed then tell me I'm not clear when I use mine, thanks." :d

Hmmm. We could talk about personifying other people's statements and why that happens, but we are talking about relationships to cannabis. Without context, I would say that your statement probably says more about you than it makes any comment about the plant.

To answer OP: there is not a clear answer. It depends on your relationship to the plant. The thing about the weeds is that it is likely the most versatile plant out here in terms of psychoactive uses. It is one hell of a numbing agent, and one hell of an awakening tool. How do you use it? Every day it is on the same level as a few beers after work (which is fine, with caveats), occasionally it can be as powerful as mushrooms or other low level psychedelic.

Using it as a numbing strategy will likely only confuse any attempt to incorporate a transformative or powerful visionary experience, but if you are not acclimated to common usage, it can solidify a relationship with the other. Its friendliness and versatility in use can be the downfall of its user. Crap answer, I know.

I will say this and preface it by saying that I have a very long standing (since 1981) ally relationship with the weeds: my relationships with heavy cannabis users are, to put it nicely, strained. They are not the most dependable people who display high levels of behavioral integrity in my experience. Whether its the plant or them, IDK, but it is a commonality.

 

[ABe©eDarian]

I'm wed to my weed and it has provided me such assistance that I get offended if someone talks down about cannabis.

The other day in chat someone said psychedelics are powerful tools while marijuana just confuses people's brains or something of the sort. So I was like "umm.. don't be a burnout when you use your weed then tell me I'm not clear when I use mine, thanks." :d

Hmmm. We could talk about personifying other people's statements and why that happens, but we are talking about relationships to cannabis. Without context, I would say that your statement probably says more about you than it makes any comment about the plant.

Well I didn't mean to rub anyone the wrong way with the 'I know you are but what am I?' or the 'I'm not what you think I am, 'you are' what you think I am.' I was going for humor. Still I'll just always say me nor my weed are guilty of the accusation that we do something wrong together. But it's a big time catalyst is the best way to put it. What is one doing with it that gets catalyzed? When it's good, it's good.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I will say this and preface it by saying that I have a very long standing (since 1981) ally relationship with the weeds: my relationships with heavy cannabis users are, to put it nicely, strained. They are not the most dependable people who display high levels of behavioral integrity in my experience. Whether its the plant or them, IDK, but it is a commonality.

Do most people in general display high levels of behavioral integrity? Is what we commonly deal with just optics? :lol: I couldn't help myself.

There is one longtime user (at least) that you're close to in a digital way I guess

Jokes aside, I notice it too. I don't really know if it's the drug or not either. I tend to lean towards the drug just enhancing those traits, and not being dependable and displaying integrity may already be part of their character.

Well I didn't mean to rub anyone the wrong way with the 'I know you are but what am I?' or the 'I'm not what you think I am, 'you are' what you think I am.' I was going for humor.

I have to be candid, it did make me giggle :lol:

One love

 

[null24]

Oh! Can of worms opened!

I'm just thinking of all those plans that went sideways because so and so was too stoned, and or not stoned enough to follow through. Present company included, or maybe that's who I'm thinking about.

I stand by my answer to OP, which is: maybe, possibly, could be?

 

[shroombee]

I'm fine with weed. I have best friends who smoke weed and I've enjoyed weed much of my adult life. I have a funny friend who vapes weed and nicotine regularly. She says about her weed "it's very comforting, like sucking on mama's tit, and that's the problem - you don't want to do anything else".

I was a weekend weed smoker for 15 years and towards the end I smoked weed nightly for a few years. 5 years ago I went cold-turkey on weed and porn at the same time. Mostly because I felt these habits weren't doing me any favors. I had intense nightly cravings for about 15(!!!) months. Crazy because I had no idea these things were so addictive and it would take so long for the cravings to end. So I know how difficult it is to quit.

5 years later I am very grateful I have no attachment to weed or porn. I smoke weed maybe once a year and view soft porn a few times a year. It's nice to have some clarity. Since then I've also quit news, TV, movies, Netflix, social media, watching sports, and have unsubscribed to all email distribution lists. The Nexus is the only social forum I visit regularly. As it is thankfully a place of rising consciousness - an oasis in a world that is mostly addicted to drama.

As to the original question - I don't think weed helps integration, as weed has this element of making us believe too strongly the thoughts that our mind's generate. And through plant medicine I look for more clarity, not more noise, not more stories in my head. Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[Cheelin]

Not here to bad mouth cannabis, i’m a longtime grower, processor, and partaker, going on 50 yrs.

Of course, it depends on your dosage and frequency. But, I see no way how cannabis can help integration. In fact, its tendency to cloud clear-thinking and distract the mind, imo, seems counter to good integration.

In fact, whenever i feel i need to take a good canna-holiday, i rely on these other trip-inducing medicines to help me take a break.

I am not saying this is the same for anyone else, or that cannabis does not offer benefits in other ways. The OP asked for opinions, this is mine.

 

[shroombee]

I see no way how cannabis can help integration. In fact, its tendency to cloud clear-thinking and distract the mind, imo, seems counter to good integration.

Well said.

 

[Voidmatrix]

I see no way how cannabis can help integration. In fact, its tendency to cloud clear-thinking and distract the mind, imo, seems counter to good integration.

Well said.

Caveat: I know you guys are stating things subjectively.

My question, for my own curiosity, do you guys feel this is the case for most people in most instances?

Given the nature of this discussion, I think most here would be interested in the work being done by Medicinal Mindfulness out of Boulder, Co.

One love

 

[Voidmatrix]

And Shroombee, considering what you've shared about commutation outlets, I'm really happy you're still here with us.

One love