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Ask an Accountant: Should I Let My Boyfriend Smoke Pot?

TresSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:46 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. This week, an accountant advises a woman who's having a tough time with her boyfriend's pot smoking. Want to throw your hat into the ring? You can submit questions here.

Today's Question:
My boyfriend of over three years has been smoking pot since he was a teenager. I knew this before we started dating, but really thought he would quit by now. He is now 32 years old and still smokes multiple times a day. I've already talked to him about how I don't like it at all and wish he would quit. He then argues that it is better to smoke pot than to drink alcohol or do other heavier drugs. I see his friends that have families and they smoke around their babies and toddlers, but I do not want our kids (if we ever have any) to be exposed to it. Should I put my foot down harder or just let him have his "hobby"?

Signed,
Feeling Low

To see the accountant's answer, read more.

Dear Feeling Low,

It may be true that someone who smokes a lot of pot is no worse than someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, but you are wise to consider your future.

Now unless you are really warped, having kids usually makes you grow up and become responsible to some extent. But since you and he hang around others that haven't changed, my guess is that you can't count on a baby to stop the drug habit.

Now consider some really hard facts. Having kids will cost a lot, and smoking pot will really cut into your diaper budget. Since weed doesn't come with a filter, he is wrecking his health. Not to mention, lung cancer kills! So do you really want your boyfriend to increase his chances of contracting this nasty disease in the future? And don't forget about paying for all that extra medical attention. I don't know about you, but I think that insurance companies take our medical premiums and then tell us it isn't covered when we get sick. Besides, when was the last time you paid less when you went to the doctors? Cut out the weed and you can plow that money into a 401K so that when you retire you won't have to work a part-time job as a Wal-Mart greeter!

The bottom line, as we accountants like to put it, is that you need to find a new boyfriend and hang around with folks that get high on life. Ask yourself the question: how much do I love myself? Take it from a CPA, if you value yourself, the choice to move on with a new guy should add up and pay you many dividends in the future. Good luck!

Signed,
The CPA (Certified Pot Adviser)

Smoking Pot Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

FitSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We all know that smoking pot regularly just isn't good for our health. It can impair learning, affect memory retention and retrieval, and cause perceptual abnormalities (where you think you hear or see something that isn't there). The smoke from marijuana is also linked to lung cancer, and now research shows that chronic pot smoking can raise a person's risk of a heart attack or stroke. When blood protein levels were measured in heavy pot smokers, they were especially elevated - by 30 percent as compared to non pot smokers. These high levels of blood proteins increase the level of triglycerides. This is a type of fat found in the blood, that can contribute to hardening of the arteries and thickening of the artery walls, all of which raise a person's risk for stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.

As if that's not bad enough, smoking pot regularly could cause or worsen psychiatric problems such as anxiety and depression in teens. Now that I am a mom, I'm certainly cataloging all the reasons to just say "No."

Source

Morning Links - Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber Speak About Extortion Attempt

PopSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:30:34 -0800

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber speak out about an extortion attempt - Us Weekly
Rebecca Gayheart and Eric Dane confirm her pregnancy - PopEater
Daniel Radcliffe denies he smoked pot in a London club - PopSugar UK
Chris Martin has yet to sue anyone over Kate Bosworth claims - Celebitchy
Audrina is apparently still in touch with Justin Bobby - ICYDK
A few things to look forward to in Sarah Palin's book - Gawker
Levi Johnston wouldn't mind his son posing for Playgirl when he's older - Fox 411
Wynonna apologizes for Taylor Swift comments - Lifeline Live
Balloon mom and dad plead guilty to keep her from deportation - TMZ
Adam Duritz apparently charmed Emmy Rossum through Twitter - Wonderwall
Fergie's mom believes in her daughter's marriage - I'm Not Obsessed
Adrienne Curry recently lost a lot of weight - The Blemish

Jen and Vince Smoking Pot

PopSugar — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:22:02 -0800

Jen and Vince Smoking Pot
Remember all the craziness over the topless photos of Aniston? Turns out some more funny business may have been going on as well.

The Lowdown on Exercising High

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Recently FitSugar reader mamasitamalita wrote in to ask about her friend who works out while buzzed. Apparently it's more common than I thought, and it's not the only thing people are doing before hitting the gym. An anonymous reader commented

"Sometimes, every once in a while, I will get stoned before yoga or a long run - it helps me to calm down and focus on the task at hand, rather than obsessing about work or personal stresses."

So this brings up another issue. What about working out while high? Although illegal, people still smoke pot, so to find out if it's safe to light up before burning calories keep reading

You Asked: My Boyfriend Changed His Mind

DearSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar--

I am 18 yrs old and have been dating my boyfriend for a year and a half (he will be 21 in October). I'm very confused right now because he and I are planning on moving in together. We have been talking about this for at least six months, but now that I have finally talked to my mom and got her to accept it, he is very crabby and gets irritated when I bring it up. He says I talk about it every day, which I know I don't. My boyfriend is the most hard-headed person I know, so that makes everything difficult.

Well I don't know what to do with that, but on top of everything else, he has started to drink a lot more and go out with his friends almost every night, which I am sure is only going to get worse when he actually turns 21. I have a lot going on and just really need some advice, can you help me?

--Confused Catherine

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear Confused Catherine--

Take this as a huge warning sign! It sounds to me like your boyfriend is NOT ready to live with you, even though he agreed to it in the past. He must have changed his mind, which is pretty disrespectful to you and your relationship, but it's better to find out now before you get settled into a new apartment. He should be honest with you and tell you that he's not ready, or that he changed his mind, or whatever his reason is, instead of turning the tables and insinuating you are pressuring him. If he's too "hard-headed" to listen, well then, he doesn't deserve to live with you in the first place. Living together is a huge step, so if you are struggling with communication now, I would re-think your decision to cohabitate.

Turning 21 is a huge deal to some people, since it allows so much freedom. It sounds like he'll want to be out drinking with his buddies and if that doesn't sit well with you, that is just another reason that living together just might not be the right thing to do at this time. Moving in with someone requires commitment, trust, patience, and respect, and unfortunately it sounds like he's too immature for all that. He needs to "sow his oats" and if I were you, I wouldn't be around when he does. Good luck Catherine.

Source

Marijuana Update: Addiction Rates and Health Risks

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:00:33 -0700

Aside from proposals to tax marijuana to ease budget gaps, the substance hasn't been much in the news since Michael Phelps was photographed smoking a spliff last year. A new Austrailian review of marijuana studies puts cannabis back in the spotlight. According to researchers down under, four percent of the adult population of the world got high in the year 2006 with marijuana use highest in the younger populations of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Researchers also found that pot has a nine percent addiction rate, which is low when compared with the legal substance of nicotine, which has a 32 percent rate of addiction. Heroin's addiction rate is 23 percent, but the study found that about 10 percent of pot smokers become daily users. Unsurprisingly, upper respiratory problems like wheezing, bronchitis, and chronic coughing are associated with regular use of marijuana. A large Swedish study found that using pot before age 18 doubled a user's risk for a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and a separate study found that use of cannabis in high school is associated with dropping out of school. And yet another study found that men that smoked pot daily were four times more likely to have trouble reaching orgasm. Seems like reasons add up not to inhale.

Kristen Stewart Has Her Own Way of Celebrating

PopSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:12:40 -0800

Kristen Stewart has been a very busy girl thanks to her hectic schedule promoting her blockbuster Twilight with Robert Pattinson, but it looks like even if the cult hit is relatively wholesome her extra-curriculars might not be. The 18-year-old actress and a friend were spotted on her front porch in LA earlier this week, relaxing while smoking out of a glass piece. Considering how quickly she's rising to stardom thanks to her new movie, we'd think Kristen would be a bit more aware of the paparazzi because something tells us that the mothers of all those Twilight fans might not approve.

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Kristen Stewart Smoking Pot

PopSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:44:25 -0800

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Mischa Barton Smoking Pot

PopSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:13:17 -0700

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