Pot helps when used in moderation       There is growing evidence that people with serious mental illness, such as depression, are more likely to use cannabis or have used it for long periods of time in the past. Those who use marijuana to battle the symptoms of illness may be depressed because of their illness, not because of marijuana. Up to 30% - 40% of patients with bipolar disorder are not consistently helped by or cannot tolerate standard medications.       The proposed new Canadian Drug Strategy (officially unveiled this week by federal Health Minister Tony Clement ((oct 2007)))apes the failed U.S. approach of treating drug addiction primarily as a criminal matter, rather than a matter of public health. But despite spending billions of dollars on its ‘war on drugs,’ not a dent has been made in reducing either drug supply or drug consumption in the United States. Rather, the establishment of ‘get-tough’ criminal approaches to drug addiction has filled U.S. prisons with non-violent, often small-scale offenders.”       Just how absurd is the United States “War on Drugs”? Marijuana arrests in the US have topped previous records and are costing taxpayers billions of dollars: Marijuana Arrests For Year 2006 – 829,625 Tops Record High       The "symptoms" or problems, that commonly require medication are - depression, aggitation, anxiety, and stress. These symptoms manifest themselves so severely. I have been prescribed some very heavy meds to help me with these problems. These meds have serious side-effects and can be extremely addictive. The side-effects of the drugs and the illness itself can be very distressing, never mind having to deal with a clinical drug addiction as well. I have found that most people suffering from these problems will self-medicate to ease their minds. Many drink, many take hard drugs and still many more use weed. Most people use a combination of the afore mentioned substances. I for one used alcohol and weed. I experimented in my teens with speed, acid, mescaline and a variety of prescription meds like muscle relaxers and valium. I no longer use alcohol or any other hard drugs to get high. I hate hang-overs and paying for two days for a one night's binge isn't worth it anymore. I am off my prescription meds and now-a-days I smoke pot. I use it medicinally - as a PRN. I didn't just willy-nilly quit my meds. I weaned off of them after years of therapy to learn coping strategies and building my baddly bruised self-esteem.       We are told by our doctors (who have bought into Harry Anslinger's propoganda) that by smoking pot that we are in some way harming our chances of recovery and that we will slip into a great dependance on weed. I have been smoking since I was a teenager. 16 I think. I have always used it as a way to relieve stress, anxiety, saddness, depression and hurts. When I get so stressed out I cannot unwind, a toke is about the only thing that will set things right. Pills don't work fast enough. I am instantly put at ease - a small pipe or two will do me.       Try explaining that to your doctor or therapist. They have been trained that self-medicating is bad. Sure I agree, if you do it with harsh chemicals or alcohol. It is harmful if you rely on it all day every day. But pot is non-addictive and it doesn't fuck with your brain like pain-killers, benzos and who knows what else. As with any medication you begin there will be side-effects you must learn to cope with or wait for them to go away with regular use. Pot works the same way. Once you are using it regularily the side-effects become managable.       I have tried "their" medications. Those things came with so many side-effects it was unreal. They made me slow and dull-witted. I gained weight and kept getting told to lose it. I had physical symtoms that were very uncomfortable: nausea, dry mouth, strange tastes, and bowel problems to name a few. Never mind the dangers that came in the warnings for the drug. Those could be potentially deadly. I am not going to deny their meds helped - because some of them did. What I do want to say is that pot helped too. I used it as a medication. I didn't wake and bake every day. I used it as needed. If I was feeling all wound up I had a toke. If I needed help sleeping on a particular night. I'd toke. I am in theray and have been on a weekly basis for the last 4 yrs. I now understand where I was, where I am now and where I want to be in the future. I am much better at recognizing when I am in fragile mood. I can see the beginning of an uncomfortable period and take a toke to ease the way. It helps so much to keep me sane. I don't think I'll ever stop smoking pot. It really does help me to live a normal life - or as much of a normal life that one afflicted with mental illness can live.       There is proof now that smoking pot can releive depression in small doses. Isn't that what we have been saying for years? No one listens when they think you are breaking the rules...