Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I was wondering peoples opinions on whether or not you can be a successful and improving poker player AND also be a weed smoker. I do find that it helps to relax me when I'm stressed out, and this helps to alleviate some crushing defeats so in that way it does help my poker game.

On the other side, at times I'm felt left feeling a bit 'foggy' the next day. There are the claims that marijuana affects your memory and braincells also, but I'm not always sure what to believe regarding marijuana. There are all these medical claims, and all the claims denying the effects, but both sides argue so passionately, that its hard to know what is true.

There are also the claims marijuana decreases your ambition and makes you more lazy. These effects can also deter one's success in poker.

Please let me know what you guys honestly think regarding this issue. I'd love to hear your opinions.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I think for most people it will have a negative effect on their game. However, for someone that is anxious and that anxiety causes them to tilt easier it may be beneficial. I was a heavy smoker for years (recently quit) and I know I played worse when high. I would make bad reads and have a worse concept of position and blinds in tourneys. But I don't know, people react so differently to marijuana that it really depends on the person.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering peoples opinions on whether or not you can be a successful and improving poker player AND also be a weed smoker. I do find that it helps to relax me when I'm stressed out, and this helps to alleviate some crushing defeats so in that way it does help my poker game.

On the other side, at times I'm felt left feeling a bit 'foggy' the next day. There are the claims that marijuana affects your memory and braincells also, but I'm not always sure what to believe regarding marijuana. There are all these medical claims, and all the claims denying the effects, but both sides argue so passionately, that its hard to know what is true.

There are also the claims marijuana decreases your ambition and makes you more lazy. These effects can also deter one's success in poker.

Please let me know what you guys honestly think regarding this issue. I'd love to hear your opinions.

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Both "claims" you mentioned are ture.. Do u not notice them urself from smoking? If you get past these "side affects" and control the drug everything is fine.. If you find urself getting stoned and wanting to play Xbox the rest of the day, its most likely a problem. If you can smoke between 4 sessions spread thoughout the day and not lose motivation, then your fine. Also remember drugs affect each person differently, only you can tell if its affects are -EV on you and how much so.

For me, I only really had a problem with lazyness. Setting goals has helped me overcome this. I might be a slightly better player if I quit all together, you might too. If you really need to decide quit for a month and see how you play.

**If I remember correctly, the THC blocks (slows down) the blood from getting thru your brain which produces the high. I don't think it kills brain cells.. someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

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**If I remember correctly, the THC blocks (slows down) the blood from getting thru your brain which produces the high. I don't think it kills brain cells.. someone correct me if I'm wrong.

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No, the "high" is produced by THC receptors in the brain.

Also, THC is non-toxic, and does NOT kill brain cells.


AB

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

ummm dont play high?

being a smoker wont affect your game if you are doing it after your sessions not before. Im sure a majority of poker players smoke.

the stuff about losing motivation and becomming lazy is propoganda.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering peoples opinions on whether or not you can be a successful and improving poker player AND also be a weed smoker. I do find that it helps to relax me when I'm stressed out, and this helps to alleviate some crushing defeats so in that way it does help my poker game.

On the other side, at times I'm felt left feeling a bit 'foggy' the next day. There are the claims that marijuana affects your memory and braincells also, but I'm not always sure what to believe regarding marijuana. There are all these medical claims, and all the claims denying the effects, but both sides argue so passionately, that its hard to know what is true.

There are also the claims marijuana decreases your ambition and makes you more lazy. These effects can also deter one's success in poker.

Please let me know what you guys honestly think regarding this issue. I'd love to hear your opinions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah man

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

During the day, when I do pretty much all of my grinding, I stay off the weed. There's no way that I can consistently make the right decisions across 10 tables while stoned. I get blazed pretty much every night and find that I can competently play in a couple of mtts or one cash game - anything more than that and I'm asking for trouble.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I'm addicted to the nicotene in the joints I roll (grass and berekley menthols.. aka Dot Cotton Specials) so I end up getting blazed most of the day. I tried smoking bongs but everytime I did that I couldnt look at the monitor without getting tunnel vision.

Overall it effects my memory, I can't really recall how a player played a hand more than a few seconds ago... sometimes my mind goes blank during a hand aswell. The plus side is I can play all day!!

I think the best drug for me has been alcohol... I've hit more final tables when I've been wasted than I have been sober.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

If you're playing below your level, you can probably get away with it. I tend to smoke at my fish-heavy home games, and do well. However, the nights I stay sober I tend to do better.

While looking over the league stats for my monthly 3-table tourneys, I've noticed the potheads dominate the leaderboard. Of course, we also tend to smoke a bunch during the early insane unlimited rebuy period, slow down as antes kick in, and stop entirely on the final table.

I'll sometimes show up at a cardroom coming down from a buzz, and occasionally have a drink or two later on, but I've so far not gone out to the parking lot for a smoke mid-session as a lot of people do. But then, I'm still a small stakes player and am trying very hard to be a winner at it. Once I've logged enough hours to be comfortable with my ability, my attitudes may change.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

You are dumb.

You have admitted to carrying out a crimimal offence (if you are British or American).

Marijuana and the law: are they compatible?

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

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You are dumb.

You have admitted to carrying out a crimimal offence (if you are British or American).

Marijuana and the law: are they compatible?

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call it civil disobedience, the law is imperfect

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

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You are dumb.

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Actually sir, you are dumb. In the UK and Canada posession of 'small amounts' (in canada this is up to half an oz.) has been decriminalized.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

When I play high I find I'm more relaxed and don't go on tilt as much but I also find myself making looser calls, especially on draws. It impairs your judgement a little.

It's probably best to wait until after your poker is done for the day to smoke. Getting stoned after having a good session is a lot of fun anyway. For me it's like doing two drugs at once.

As far as weed making you lazy, I will say that since starting to smoke daily I have accomplished very little outside of poker. But there are other factors at play there too.

I would say that weed and poker are compatible though, wether you play high or not. Probably much more so than a normal job.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

Iam exclusively smoking when playing live poker with one specific group of people.
As iam not really used to the effects of MJ i alwyays try to only smoke a little.

As far i havent noticed a decline in my poker skills.
But my guess is that if i would start smoking when playing online poker i would utterly fail.
My mind just gets a bit slower wich isnt a big deal in live games as they are awfully slow anyway, but online this can kill you i guess.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

Its -EV, certainly. Not nearly so much as booze, but no one can seriously claim that their game is enhanced by weed.
As far as occasional use not while playing, it affects everyone differently. I've met plenty of idiots who couldn't play poker. Some burn, some don't.

FWIW, I play in a weekly run home tournament league with 35 players. A substantial minority of the players smoke a lot. None of them made the top 10 this year. But then again if you were to look at the bottom 10, some smoke, some don't.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

They are definitely compatible for some people. See Shaniac, [censored] it Holla Ballas, Phil Laak, et cet.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

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They are definitely compatible for some people. See Shaniac, [censored] it Holla Ballas, Phil Laak, et cet.

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OMG dont forget shaundeeb [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I had smoked a decent amount in college and hadn't smoked for a few months until sunday night. All of monday was a huge fog, I logged on to play, felt I was in a fog, lost a buyin then quit. I don't think I'll smoke up for a long time unless I know I won't be playing the next day.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I find that i play bad poker when Im high

i can't stop though

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

grunched ...

When I smoke, I get much looser (than I should be) and make rash decisions without thinking through all the possibilities. Thus, I play worse.

My home game friends *insist* on smoking a fattie before we start our STT games, because they know this and want to shake the TAG off me. It's also why I can't play regularly online (because I'm always smoked at home). But at a B&M I'm on nothing worse than caffeine and play at my best.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

stop smoking while and before poker. for real. i used to drink when i played, same effect. treat it like a job and you'll be on your game. smoke to celebrate your victory. i don't have a drink unless im $100 up in a 3/6 game.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

This post is more on a personal type level and I think has no business in a poker forum. But I will level with you, I have found some "drugs" on a casual level to be benefical to me when playing poker, such as high doses of caffine, that has helped me somehow be more alert and make much better reads, small doses of alchohol have made me a more fearless player and I make smarter bluffs that I normally would not even attempt because I would be afriad. I belive that marijuana may have a good effect in calming you but helping your play may be more complex, (being a better player doesn't involve quick fixes like drugs it involves focus and hard-work. Though I could see marijuana being helpful in helping you focus on a hand or a read, persay which may lead to better decsicion making on a situation by situation basis, however the shortterm memory distotion would hurt you in a game with players you don't know well as you would have diffuclty remembering there past plays with good detail, so it may be benefical in a game with people whom you know there style.

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

I used to blaze heavily and it is definitely -EV. Like everyone else has said, wait until your session is over. BTW, smoking = BEST cure for a bad beat

Re: Marijuana and Poker: are they compatible?
 

Normally weed is not going to make you play better, but it might cause you to think that you play better.

However, if you have to much stress that prevents you to play well, then weed might unwind you a little which will cause you to play better.

For me weed doesn't work well with poker; mainly because I get horny as hell and the game doesn't interest me anymore.