Responsible cannabis consumers
come from all walks of life and are
good, contributing members of society.
We are able to use cannabis without
problems in social settings or at
home for relaxation, medical or spiritual
purposes, sensory and creativity
enhancement among other personal
reasons. When integrated into a
healthy, balanced and responsible
lifestyle, cannabis is a positive and
highly beneficial part of our lives. Like
anything else, however, too much of a
good thing can be misused or abused.
Since our goal is to attain the equal
rights we deserve, it is important to
dispel the negative myths and stereotypes
associated with pot use. If consumers
want cannabis legal, we must
show that it can be used with a minimum
of harmful effects and that it has
a positive influence, overall.
The Cannabis Consumers Campaign
is dedicated to dispelling the false and
destructive myths about marijuana
and replacing them with an accurate
picture of people like you, who show
that it can be used responsibly and
safely.
Adults need to be mindful about their
use in order to maintain a good relationship
with it and stay out of trouble.
Consider the following:
Responsible use tips / avoiding
misuse and abuse:
1. Be aware of your set and setting,
and whether or not it is
appropriate to use cannabis there.
2. Know how cannabis affects you,
and know your limits. If it makes
you tired or distracted, don't use it if
you need to be alert and focused.
3. Do not use the excuse that you
are “too high” to get things done,
or blame pot for not achieving your
goals, or for a lack of self-control. If
you are, assess how you are using it.
If it gets in the way of fulfilling obligations
and responsibilities to yourself
and your loved ones, don't use it until
after you have completed these tasks
(or don't use it at all. It's not difficult to
stop, as cannabis is not physically
addictive like alcohol and tobacco.)
Cannabis is a great reward at the end
of the day for a job well done, when
it's time to relax. Some prefer to use it
only on weekends or on special occasions.
4. Don't use before work or school,
unless you have a valid medical
reason to do so. Employers have the
right to expect their employees not to
be high, stoned or drunk on the job,
so it is fair to be expected to conform
to reasonable workplace standards.
What you do on your own time is
another matter. College students need
to concentrate and study at school
and while doing coursework. It's best
to hold off until your work is done.
5. Don't drive or operate vehicles
while impaired. Wait at least 15
minutes after smoking before getting
behind the wheel. Perform a sobriety
test on yourself by standing on one
leg to test your balance to determine if
you are impaired or not. Don't drink
and smoke pot before driving; alcohol
impairs skills and judgment; smoking
cannabis does not sober you up.
6. Respect others: Do not smoke in
designated non-smoking areas.
7. Be aware that cannabis can have
a synergistic effect with other
drugs, so take care and be informed
about possible contraindication if you
are taking other any other drugs.
8. Listen to and consider the advice
and constructive criticism of others.
If you are exhibiting behaviors
that make others uncomfortable, you
may need to reassess your usage.
9. Educate yourself about your
rights, health risks, laws, and
consequences of using. With the
exception of medical use in some
states, cannabis is still illegal and
penalties can be harsh.
10. Use by minors is generally inappropriate
and should be discouraged
unless there is a valid medical
reason. If an adult is found by authorities
to have given cannabis to minors,
it can lead to other serious ramifications.
Five Golden Rules
(The best way to avoid the most trouble)
Don't smoke in a car. The smell of
cannabis emanating from a car is the
single most common way people get
busted. In fact, it is safest to keep it in
the trunk, out of sight in a odor-proof
container, such as a glass jar or an
oven roasting bag. Don't use car ashtrays
to hold your roaches or pipes.
Don't sell cannabis; every customer
is a potential narc or snitch, and the
penalties for sales are very serious.
Don't grow it unless you are in a
state that allows it for medical purposes.
Stay within legal limits and keep
the plant count as low as possible.
Don't smuggle. Getting caught crossing
international borders creates more
serious problems than it's worth.
Don't share with minors; cannabis is
for adults. See above.
Corollary # 1: Don't break more
than one law at a time. For example,
if you are driving with cannabis in your
car, make sure your lights are working
on your vehicle and your registration
is up to date. You have a legal right to
possess a firearm, but not if “illegal
drugs” are on your property; that can
add years to a prison sentence.
Corollary # 2: Don't ship cannabis
through the mail, FedEx or UPS (this
can lead to federal charges even within
the same state.)
Drug Testing Tips
It is important for cannabis consumers
to be able to work and support themselves
and their families, just like
everyone else. Drug testing is morally
offensive, job-based discrimination,
since it judges a person by the content
of their urine and not on work performance.
Pre-employment drug testing
prevents many, hard-working
cannabis consumers from joining the
workforce. While it is best to refuse or
avoid a drug test whenever possible
as a matter of principle, for some people,
there seems to be little option.
If you are facing a pre-employment
urine test, abstain from using
cannabis for as long as possible (1-5
days for occasional users, 1-3 weeks
for regular users, 4-6 weeks for heavy
users). Flushyour system by drinking
lots of water or liquids and urinating
as often as possible during that time
period. You can use a home drug testing
kit to check if the metabolites have
exited your body..
Do not submit the first urine of the
day. Take a Vitamin B12 or multi-B
complex to add color to your pee. You
may want to check into other products
to help you pass a drug test, if necessary,
but be careful not to dilute or
contaminate the specimen you turn in.
Now, go and pursue that career. Join
us in demanding “impairment” testing
in place of drug testing. It's only fair
