Lets settle the question: use or abuse?

Okay... the real question that I would like answered is the use or abuse question... everybody has their own personal definition of it, and I have seen hints that people actually don't know the difference. Here are dictionary definitions to help:

abuse, v. -

1. To use wrongly or improperly; misuse: abuse alcohol; abuse a privilege.
2. To hurt or injure by maltreatment; ill-use.
3. To force sexual activity on; rape or molest.
4. To assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words; revile.

use, v. -

1. To put into service or apply for a purpose; employ.
2. To avail oneself of; practice: use caution.
3. To conduct oneself toward; treat or handle: “the peace offering of a man who once used you unkindly” (Laurence Sterne).
4. To seek or achieve an end by means of; exploit: used their highly placed friends to gain access to the president; felt he was being used by seekers of favor.
5. To take or consume; partake of: She rarely used alcohol.

I feel that abuse is taking no considerations with the drug, using it whenever and hap-hazardly. I typically smoke everyday, it doesn't make me an abuser. I am smart about it, like if I need to do stuff, like schoolwork or I need to do sonething with my parents, I won't get stoned. Or just by 'defintion', am I an abuser?

 

by defintion im an abuser.. wow its weird saying that. but anyways, i can still function and do everything that needs to be done. and if i needed to stop i would be able to without any symptoms. typically an abuser wouldnt be able to just stop cold turkey.

 

dude you use weed, but the definitions are so intricate and detailed then i would predict most of us fall under the "abuse" category. I do not abuse weed, but i still dont use it, but i make a point not to mis-use the drug.

 

who gives a fuck what another persons smoking habits are, really... you arent going to die from weed, there is no debate between abuse vs use because I dont think you can really go wrong with abusing it besides getting arrested for it and wasting all your money on pot.

 

its weed, so what? You cant honestly say you smoke like, 1 or 2 bowls everynight, becuz eventually your tolerence will build and youll need to smoke more to get high.

 

Man, if weed was mass produced in packs and sold in shopping malls around the world, Your the kind of person who would demand a manual with it.. Probably even try sue them for not having one..

 

Well fuck then, I was trying to bring up a topic to discuss without people flaming me, and just to have something to talk about, I guess my sig explains who THE FUCK YOU ARE. Does it matter? Yes, becuase non-smokers will label constant use ABUSERS, I wanted to disprove that, or leave it open to debate. But, sure, I'll shut my mouth then.

 

no dont! i see exactly what your saying, my non-smoking friends think that ill become addicted. so it is a good topic, and im going to be my mom for a second and say "if you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything at all" peace

 

Only these two really apply:

abuse, v. -

1. To use wrongly or improperly; misuse: abuse alcohol; abuse a privilege.

use, v. -

1. To put into service or apply for a purpose; employ.

...and "To use wrongly or improperly" is an entirely subjective judgement.

So the best answer I've got is that abuse is when the user judges that his or her use has become detrimental to his/her life in general.

After all, some junkies LIKE being junkies, and alot of speedos like thier drug of choice more than anything else in life. Who are you and I that we get to decide that some other non-offending adult's chosen life style is "wrong" or "improper?"

 

I think this debate(personaly) Goes down to intent of the use. Are you using weed to hide from life, or make something already good even better? If you are drowning depression or hide from a problem by smoking I'd say its abuse. It use when you use the product for enjoyment, or some such.

 

I smoke to relieve boredom. Its like, I can either sit here and be sober, or I can sit here and be stoned. Gee, being stoned is much more fun so thats what I do. I smoke everyday, which by GOVERNMENT definitions labels me (and others who've replied to this thread) an abuser. I dont think thats the case tho. I still go to school, I go to work and pay taxes, I visit my parents, I have a wonderful relationship ...I just smoke everyday also. Millions of americans drink everyday because its fun and thats legal, so whats the big difference?

I think if you consider yourself a weed "abuser" then you should seek help, but I dont think anyone else has the right to make that decision for you. Only you can judge yourself.

 

Yeah, but what if you smoke weed when depressed for the purpouse of enjoyment.

Personally I think everyone smokes weed because they have some sort of problem...

e.g. You smoke weed to relax, because you cant relax with out..

You smoke weed to be able to concentrate better, because you cant concentrate without it.. This is a problem.

You smoke to be spiritually enlightened, because you cant be spiritually highered without it.

You smoke because your bored, problem because you cant entertain your self without weed coz you have a boring mind.

You smoke weed to enchance music or a movie, because you cant enjoy it without it..

You smoke to socialise, because you cant socialise as well without it...

Im being very very general and narrow here. I think weed is too overrated by people lately, and it is losing essence. its a shame

I smoke because weed brings me and old friends together.

 

Non - smokers in general will even label just smoking period abuse for many are simpletons who haven't yet shared our great discovery.

I think geck's right. It comes down to what it's doing to your life, is it fuggin it up in some way yet you continue to use it. That's really a personal reflection type deal. I know people I don't like to hang out with because of how they choose to smoke and what they do when high but it's their world to live in. We have different outlooks on life.

Some people use it to cope with stress and it's beneficial, some smoke as a spiritual sacrament or aid, some just like to get stoned , some smoke for a group identity; someplace to belong, all kinds of reasons people smoke herb and there's really no way to judge them on their reasons.