Fellow Californian Cannabis users: How much consumption per week qualifies as a heavy user?

[Foxhound3857]

This is one of the stranger threads I've seen here in the past 26 years. And I have seen a lot of strange ones here.

For Disney points, my vape is actually named after Star Wars.

 

[kdonnel]

There does not seem to be any hard-written criteria about how much one has to consume to be labeled a regular, moderate or heavy user.

I believe that is rooted in the fact it is still federally a schedule 1 drug and that severely limits study opportunities.

 

[kdonnel]

In the Western World, yes for the most part. Just don't try bringing it into a National Park, still against Federal Law. We took a tour of Alcatraz and Yosemite and in both cases, Park Rangers warned marijuana and CBD products are still illegal there. And it is a huge issue right now for the cruise industry because they have to follow International Law and go to places where such products are still illegal. Punishable by the Death Penalty some places, like Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

I was talking about how you can now discuss usage and likely not be shunned as a druggie or pot head.

 

[disneychrista]

I'm not concerned about it, I'm just curious what the hard numbers say about how much one has to consume regularly to be considered a heavy or moderate user. There does not seem to be any hard-written criteria about how much one has to consume to be labeled a regular, moderate or heavy user.

You are right there isn't any hard and fast numbers at this point. My opinion, what you describe would fall under "binge" use. You don't use it everyday, which IMO would be required to be considered a heavy user, but when you do use it is several gummies. I see it as similar to when one as 2-3-4 drinks in an evening.

 

[tvguy]

You are right there isn't any hard and fast numbers at this point. My opinion, what you describe would fall under "binge" use. You don't use it everyday, which IMO would be required to be considered a heavy user, but when you do use it is several gummies. I see it as similar to when one as 2-3-4 drinks in an evening.

I have trouble even judging what is moderate alcohol use. I have two glasses of wine a week normally. I have had several Doctors say they consider me a non-drinker at that level. Never developed a taste for hard liquor.

 

[kdonnel]

I have trouble even judging what is moderate alcohol use. I have two glasses of wine a week normally. I have had several Doctors say they consider me a non-drinker at that level. Never developed a taste for hard liquor.

Alcohol, not being a schedule 1 drug has been extensively studied.

As such there are accepted usage categorizations.

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-a...cohol use includes:,by people younger than 21.

Excessive alcohol use includes:​

• Binge drinking—Four or more drinks for women, or five or more drinks for men during an occasion.
• Heavy drinking—Eight or more drinks for women, or 15 or more drinks for men during a week.
• Underage drinking—any alcohol use by people younger than 21.
• Drinking while pregnant—any alcohol use during pregnancy.

Moderate alcohol use​

• Moderate drinking is:
  • For men—two drinks or less in a day.
  • For women—one drink or less in a day.
• Keep in mind that a beverage that you drink might have more than one standard drink of alcohol in it.

 

[tvguy]

Alcohol, not being a schedule 1 drug has been extensively studied.

As such there are accepted usage categorizations.

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html#:~:text=Excessive alcohol use includes:,by people younger than 21.

Excessive alcohol use includes:​

• Binge drinking—Four or more drinks for women, or five or more drinks for men during an occasion.
• Heavy drinking—Eight or more drinks for women, or 15 or more drinks for men during a week.
• Underage drinking—any alcohol use by people younger than 21.
• Drinking while pregnant—any alcohol use during pregnancy.

Moderate alcohol use​

• Moderate drinking is:
  • For men—two drinks or less in a day.
  • For women—one drink or less in a day.
• Keep in mind that a beverage that you drink might have more than one standard drink of alcohol in it.

It is interesting that many cruise line unlimited drink packages in the past year have put a 15 drink cap per day in place.....unlimited now means 15.
I can't even imagine 15 alcoholic drinks in one day or that enough people were exceeding that that they had to put the cap in place..

 

[kdonnel]

It is interesting that many cruise line unlimited drink packages in the past year have put a 15 drink cap per day in place.....unlimited now means 15.
I can't even imagine 15 alcoholic drinks in one day or that enough people were exceeding that that they had to put the cap in place..

My son and I and his friend and father took a graduation cruise when the boys graduated from high school.

Every day starting around 1-2pm we noticed the bars on board would start periodically ringing a bell.

It was not until the 5th day of the cruise we found out that the bartenders rang a bell when someone hit their 15 drink limit for the day.

1-2pm.

Edited to add:
Of course on a recent Las Vegas trip I was in the binge drinking category several days of the trip so I am not one to talk.

 

[disneychrista]

It is interesting that many cruise line unlimited drink packages in the past year have put a 15 drink cap per day in place.....unlimited now means 15.
I can't even imagine 15 alcoholic drinks in one day or that enough people were exceeding that that they had to put the cap in place..

Can they pay OOP for drinks if they exceed 15? 15 drinks in a day is a lot but I can also see how easily someone could hit that. A couple mimosas or bloody Mary’s at breakfast. A couple beers at lunch. A few cocktails while lounging at the pool. A couple glasses of wine at dinner. A few after dinner drinks. That would be too much for me even spread over 12-15 hours.

 

[tvguy]

Can they pay OOP for drinks if they exceed 15? 15 drinks in a day is a lot but I can also see how easily someone could hit that. A couple mimosas or bloody Mary’s at breakfast. A couple beers at lunch. A few cocktails while lounging at the pool. A couple glasses of wine at dinner. A few after dinner drinks. That would be too much for me even spread over 12-15 hours.

I believe you can get more than 15 drinks a day, but you have to pay. Although at first I think on Carnival they cut you off at 15. Although the scenario you lay out adds up to just 10 drinks. I'm 6' 3" and 240 pounds and I would be out of it before 10.

 

[kdonnel]

Can they pay OOP for drinks if they exceed 15?

That is no for Carnival. ( I think the policy applies to most Carnival owned lines, so Princess, etc)

In fact the limit is 15 drinks whether on the Cheers! program or paying à la carte.

 

[disneychrista]

That is no for Carnival. ( I think the policy applies to most Carnival owned lines, so Princess, etc)

In fact the limit is 15 drinks whether on the Cheers! program or paying à la carte.

I think 15/day is quite generous.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I have trouble even judging what is moderate alcohol use. I have two glasses of wine a week normally. I have had several Doctors say they consider me a non-drinker at that level. Never developed a taste for hard liquor.

My brother consumes more then I do, he says the amount I use is very little compared to what he averages. But he works from home, so he has a bit more liberty in that regard too.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My brother consumes more then I do, he says the amount I use is very little compared to what he averages. But he works from home, so he has a bit more liberty in that regard too.

So, all in all, it sounds like you take very little, nothing to concern yourself with. I would just continue to smoke, chomp some gummies and have a drink once in awhile. Enjoy.

 

[Foxhound3857]

So, all in all, it sounds like you take very little, nothing to concern yourself with. I would just continue to smoke, chomp some gummies and have a drink once in awhile. Enjoy.

The reason I rarely drink is because my mother is a chronic alcoholic. I see what it does to her and I want no part of it. =(

Addiction is horrible.

 

[Foxhound3857]

As I LITERALLY get the Addicted achievement for 1,000 posts. Irony is a sour lady indeed.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

Being concerned is absolutely a sign you need to reconsider something. Does it absolutely mean you have a problem? No. I’d say it is especially important if you had a parent who had a substance use disorder.

A 5 mg dose does effect the mind in a similar way as a single shot of alcohol. THC is in no way safer than alcohol. One may need to consume 2-3-4 gummies to get a good high. Just as one might need 2-3-4 drinks to get a good buzz.

My friend who was concerned had no reason to be. It was Halloween through NYE, and our friend group has several birthdays in that time, including hers. She was drinking a single drink at birthday or holiday parties. She stopped once the events every weekend stopped. She was concerned mostly because our high school health class scaremongered her into thinking that drinking every weekend (regardless of amount) meant she was an alcoholic.

Do you have a source for THC being as dangerous as alcohol? Because when it comes to liver damage or cancer, THC causes much less harm. There's a reason cannabis is sometimes used to treat various health and mental health conditions while alcohol is not. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425761/ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol https://healthfully.com/how-many-drinks-per-day-cause-cirrhosis-of-the-liver-7959793.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590051/

I've been taking a quarter (10 mg) gummy on occasional weekends for several years and I have not built up any resistance, 2.5 mg still gets me where I want to go. Even if I were taking a whole gummy or even 4 in a single day, that's still not as much damage to the liver as even 1 shot of alcohol, much less 4. Building resistance is not evidence that they're the same in terms of health effects. If you have sources for your claims, I would genuinely appreciate you sharing.

 

[disneychrista]

My friend who was concerned had no reason to be. It was Halloween through NYE, and our friend group has several birthdays in that time, including hers. She was drinking a single drink at birthday or holiday parties. She stopped once the events every weekend stopped. She was concerned mostly because our high school health class scaremongered her into thinking that drinking every weekend (regardless of amount) meant she was an alcoholic.

Do you have a source for THC being as dangerous as alcohol? Because when it comes to liver damage or cancer, THC causes much less harm. There's a reason cannabis is sometimes used to treat various health and mental health conditions while alcohol is not. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425761/ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol https://healthfully.com/how-many-drinks-per-day-cause-cirrhosis-of-the-liver-7959793.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK590051/

I've been taking a quarter (10 mg) gummy on occasional weekends for several years and I have not built up any resistance, 2.5 mg still gets me where I want to go. Even if I were taking a whole gummy or even 4 in a single day, that's still not as much damage to the liver as even 1 shot of alcohol, much less 4. Building resistance is not evidence that they're the same in terms of health effects. If you have sources for your claims, I would genuinely appreciate you sharing.

I think you may be reading more into my comments then intended. Yes, if someone is concerned about their drinking, smoking, etc then should really stop and evaluate, especially if they have a parent or other relative who has a substance use disorder. I am not saying nor meaning that wondering the act of wondering means they have an issue.

I never mentioned or meant to apply anything about the health effects of consuming THC being equal to alcohol. I was only meaning that smoking weed or consuming a gummy has similar effects as drinking alcohol in that both impair you. It not safter to consume THC than it is alcohol if you are going to get behind the wheel of a car, etc. Though I will say one can only assume that smoking pot can't be good for your lungs. I know I can not smoke it because it causes me to have breathing issues/asthma for a few days after.

I have no sources on the health effect of THC. I am also not a medical doctor nor do I play one on the DIS.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I think you may be reading more into my comments then intended. Yes, if someone is concerned about their drinking, smoking, etc then should really stop and evaluate, especially if they have a parent or other relative who has a substance use disorder. I am not saying nor meaning that wondering the act of wondering means they have an issue.

I never mentioned or meant to apply anything about the health effects of consuming THC being equal to alcohol. I was only meaning that smoking weed or consuming a gummy has similar effects as drinking alcohol in that both impair you. It not safter to consume THC than it is alcohol if you are going to get behind the wheel of a car, etc. Though I will say one can only assume that smoking pot can't be good for your lungs. I know I can not smoke it because it causes me to have breathing issues/asthma for a few days after.

I have no sources on the health effect of THC. I am also not a medical doctor nor do I play one on the DIS.

And I would never ever get behind the wheel while under the influence of anything. I've lost someone dear to a DWI. Offenders don't get punished nearly enough for how dangerous their actions are to the public.

 

[kdonnel]

It not safter to consume THC than it is alcohol if you are going to get behind the wheel of a car, etc.

It seems to be as common as drinking and driving based on my anecdotal experience. A day does not go by that I do not smell weed coming from a passed/passing car. I wish that was not the case.