Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2012
Source: Ashburton Guardian, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2012 The Ashburton Guardian
Contact:  http://www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3192
Author: Sam Morton

DOPE - IT'S NOT A PROBLEM . . .

An Ashburton woman has dismissed new research on cannabis use 
affecting intelligence levels, saying she has smoked for more than 30 
years and feels fine.

Denise (not her real name) admits cannabis has got her and others 
around her in troubling situations, but believes the drug has become 
ingrained in New Zealand's culture and in her words, "that's just the 
way it is".

The global study surveyed more than 1000 Kiwis and showed that those 
who took up cannabis in adolescence and used it for years afterwards, 
experienced an average decline in their IQ levels of eight points 
when measured at age 13 and 38.

People who did not begin to use cannabis until they were adults, with 
fully formed brains, did not show the same declines.

But the results seem strange and unlikely, according to Denise.

After having her first "session" when she was 16, Denise agrees she 
has always been close to cannabis.

With the exception of a four year stint overseas, Denise often lives 
her life stoned.

Overseas, cannabis was not readily available and was harder to 
access, prompting her to give up.

"I probably only had five smokes in the space of four years, so I cut 
it right out.

"Everyone around me wasn't smoking, so it was easier to just follow 
suit and enjoy the different lifestyle." Denise said.

"But when I got back to New Zealand, it was around, it was there and 
I just snapped back into it."

Denise is now in her 50s and says she remains open and honest with 
her teenage child when talking about the serious risks associated 
with cannabis.

While she doesn't actively encourage teenagers to take it up, she 
believes everybody should be educated on the affects of cannabis and 
the situations that one could get in to.

"At the same time if they want to take that road, I'll support them," 
Denise said.

Denise describes cannabis as her instant mood changer.

For $50 every three weeks, Denise says she enjoys freedom and a worry 
free world.

She smokes her pipe and suddenly the world appears perfect, she feels 
stronger about her ability to achieve tasks and she has unfound confidence.

"I'm definitely more chilled out and it makes me a lot more cruisy.

"I feel like I make more progress and achieve a lot more in my day.

"It's better to be stoned and go through life happy than to be rushed 
off my feet and feel bogged down all the time ... life's too short 
for that," she said.

Intriguingly, Denise told the Guardian she was not addicted and for 
her, cannabis was an "optional extra".

"I don't need it.

"Knocking cigarettes on the head would be really hard for me, but 
putting cannabis down and not going back to it ever again, yeah, that 
would be fine.

"I guess when I'm not stoned, I probably get more paranoid about 
people thinking that I'm meeting expectations, am I doing a good 
job?, but when I've had a little, I'm me and that's it - that's who I 
am," Denise said.

And in case you're wondering, yes, Denise does have a full-time job.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom