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Edit: The full title/question is supposed to be: Is it accurate to say a marijuana high makes you "more conscious", while being drunk on alcohol makes you "less conscious"?
The question is pretty straight forward, and that's the best way I can describe it from my personal experience.
I suspect the "more conscious" part plays a role in why some people become paranoid if they smoke marijuana and get high. I don't know if it's accurate, but I have a theory that the reason marijuana makes people paranoid is because the people it has that effect on are used to being detached and the marijuana high makes them instantly "more conscious" or "more present" in a way that they're not used to.
If you agree with the basic idea that my main question suggests, do you think that smoking marijuana or drinking alcohol a lot can tug your default (sober) level of awareness in one direction or the other? For example, marijuana making you more sensitive, in touch, and planting your feet more firmly on the ground, and alcohol numbing you out, making you less in touch, and detaching you? I do believe it's known for sure that medically, excessive drinking of alcohol can make people depressed, which in that scenario I think is very similar or the same as what I mean by "less conscious" or "detached".
My son would be unhappy, anxious and basically depressed. He would take a little cannabis and become alive, bright and witty and chatty. Pretty much like someone taking amphetamine medication. It appeared that the cannabis was substituting for some chemical deficiency in his brain. Dopamine I would think. If I remember correctly, cannabinoids attach to dopamine receptors which would 'raise the level of conciousness'. But usually people who take cannabis become 'dopy' and less alert, pretty much like alcohol but to a greater degree. So I would say generally no, cannabis does not raise the level of conciousness. The more cannabis one smokes the duller one gets.
I would say it's more like one becomes more self-conscious, or at least more capable of introspection and self-examination. If it's a strong Sativa one might feel like sensory experience is more vivid and immediate. This can be very intense at times, and some people just can't handle it.
Alcohol has pretty much the exact opposite effect, at least for me.
I think more conscious is a great way to put it, more aware. I believe pot provides access to areas of the brain we don't normally have access to. When drunk and you have a great revelation, the next day you realize it wasn't so great, but when high and you have a great revelation, it's still a great revelation the next day. I have had life changing (for the better) realizations and clarity from getting high.
Hmmm, it's funny, while it makes you more detached I feel alcohol also makes me hyper-aware. Everything also just feels/seems weird...like the way people look, speak, what they're saying...just the idea of BEING seems weird...I don't know if anyone can relate. Pot just mellows me out, it doesn't do all that much to me.
Marijuana makes smokers think they are brilliant and artistic, but all it really does is making them dopey and slow (and less interesting). Perception and reality are different. But that is what drugs do, they alter your perception of reality.
Marijuana makes smokers think they are brilliant and artistic, but all it really does is making them dopey and slow (and less interesting). Perception and reality are different. But that is what drugs do, they alter your perception of reality.
Similar to those who can dance SO WELL after a few beers.
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