[quote=“thunder thighs, post:3, topic:1095”]yeah, a big difference between how native americans used tobacco (from what i understand) and current civilized americans is not only how much they used it but also the relationship they had (and still do have) with the actual plant itself as a something used ceremonially, not just for the nicotine fix.
as for marijuana, i definitely think it’s wayyy too demonized in much of civ culture. i really don’t see the problem with smoking every now and then. but if you use marijuana as a way to avoid problems it can lead to inaction and can perpetuate certain issues rather than having a positive effect on your life. i guess it really comes down to why and how your using it.
when it comes to shrooms and other hallucinogens i’m not sure though. Is it bad to dive into that plants world without having the proper “gear” and know-how? i know for instance that there are certain ancient taboos in many cultures that define when, how and when certain plants can be used. we civilized folks don’t have those taboos and i can’t help but think that those taboos probably serve a very important purpose. is it disrespectful to the plants to use them as simple “recreational” weekend party drugs and ignore the important taboos and rules they come with? on the other hand, who’s to define how they should be used?[/quote]
i just read my last post and thought of something: maybe in rewilding how we relate to certain drugs, we need to scratch the whole vague idea of what constitutes a “drug”. all plants are drugs in the sense that they have an effect on you to some degree or another. you could expand that and say that all things are drugs too because everything has some effect on your being as well. it’s just that some things have more of an effect than others.
maybe i’m just over thinking this… :