Substances

As of this blog post date, I am roughly two years alcohol free, over five years tobacco free, and decades since the use of any type of drug. Do I miss them? Not really. I think everyone gets to an age where they realize alcohol use, in any form, does more harm than good. Just a few drinks are enough to ruin a good night’s sleep. Hangovers can be intolerable. And then there is nicotine. I miss nicotine the most, specifically as a stimulant. I think back to the times when nicotine would bring me back around, help me focus when I was just too tired to do much else, and give me time to think. I know now the withdrawal just doesn’t make it worth it, and there is no safe way to use it. Sorry to those in the Zyn world, but I will pass.

As far as narcotics, especially marijuana, I am all for legalization. You can never convince me it is more dangerous than alcohol both for your body and your relationship to others. I think you are better off being a pot-head than an alcoholic, although I would recommend being neither. If you’ve ever been around pot-heads, you know they are pretty laid back and non-threatening people. If you’ve ever been around an alcoholic, a real alcoholic, you know it is a heartbreaking encounter. Personally, I am not a user. Most people give up alcohol and take THC but I’ve not traveled down that path. Even though THC is legal ten minutes from my house, it is illegal here in my state as it is in most of the south. Plus, the “munchies” are not something I need as I manage blood sugar. I also do not think I can handle the THC concentrations in these vapes/edibles, I think they are too powerful. Perhaps if those things change I will reconsider.

For the public toker? I support your right to partake but I cannot stand the smell. In some ways Ohio is becoming intolerable because of pot smoke wafting over. In the old days you’d smell traces of it every now and then, but go to any public place and it’s almost constant. I was on a recent kayak trip and I smelled it the entire time. At Kings Island it’s more prevalent than the smell of popcorn and funnel cakes. A little consideration would be nice.

Now, I want to talk about strength training…