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HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN?
Biology 202
2004 First Web
Paper
On Serendip
HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN?
AKUDO EJELONU
Pot, weed, grass, ganja and skunk, are some of the common words used to describe the dried leaves drug known as marijuana. Marijuana is a cannabis plant that is "usually smoked or eaten to entice euphoria." (1). Throughout the years, there has been research on the negative and positive effects of marijuana on the human body and the brain. Marijuana is frequently beneficial to the treatment of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain. However, researchers such as Jacques-Joseph Moreau have been working to explain how marijuana has harmful affects on the functions of central nervous system and hinders the memory and movement of the user's brain. The focus of my web paper is how the chemicals in marijuana, specifically cannabinoids and THC have an effect on the memory and emotions of a person's central nervous system.
Marijuana impinges on the central nervous system by attaching to brain's neurons and interfering with normal communication between the neurons. These nerves respond by altering their initial behavior. For example, if a nerve is suppose to assist one in retrieving short-term memory, cannabinoids receptors make them do the opposite. So if one has to remember what he did five minutes ago, after smoking a high dose of marijuana, he has trouble. Marijuana plant contains 400 chemicals and 60 of them are cannabinoids, which are psychoactive compounds that are produced inside the body after cannabis is metabolized or is extorted from the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids is an active ingredient of marijuana. The most psychoactive cannabinoids chemical in marijuana that has the biggest impact on the brain is tetrahydrocannibol, or THC. THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana because it affects the brain by binding to and activating specific receptors, known as cannabinoid receptors. "These receptors control memory, thought, concentration, time and depth, and coordinated movement. THC also affects the production, release or re-uptake (a regulating mechanism) of various neurotransmitters."(2) Neurotransmitters are chemical messenger molecules that carry signals between neurons. Some of these affects are personality disturbances, depression and chronic anxiety. Psychiatrists who treat schizophrenic patient advice them to not use this drug because marijuana can trigger severe mental disturbances and cause a relapse.
When one's memory is affected by high dose of marijuana, short-term memory is the first to be triggered. Marijuana's damage to short-term memory occurs because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. "One region of the brain that contains a lot of THC receptors is the hippocampus, which processes memory."(3) Hippocampus is the part of the brain that is important for memory, learning, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivation. It also converts information into short-term memory. "Because it is a steroid, THC acts on the hippocampus and inhibits memory retrieval."(4) THC also alters the way in which sensory information is interpreted. "When THC attaches to receptors in the hippocampus, it weakness the short-term memory,"(5) and damages the nerve cells by creating structural changes to the hippocampus region of the brain. When a user has a high dose of marijuana, new information does not register into their brain and this may be lost from memory and they are not able to retrieve new information for more than a few minutes. There is also a decrease in the activity of nerve cells.
There are two types of memory behavior that is affected by marijuana, recognition memory and free cells. Recognition memory is the ability to recognize correct words. Users can usually recognize words that they previous saw before smoking but claim to recognize words that they did not previously see before smoking. This mistake is known as memory intrusions. Memory intrusions are also the consequence of THC affecting the free cell of the brain. "Marijuana disrupts the ability to freely recall words from a list that has been presented to an intoxicated subject."(6) For example, if a list of vocabulary words presented to the intoxicated subject and few minutes later, they have to recall the words that were on the list. The only words that they remember are the last group of words and not the words that are in the beginning of the list. This is an initiation that their memory storage has been affected. "The absence of an effect at short term delay times indicates that cannabinodis did not impair the ability to perform the basic task, but instead produce a selective learning and/or memory deficit."(7) I did a study with two college students (Student A and Student B) who both smoke marijuana every other week. This particular study was done an hour before, while and after they were under the influence of the drug. Student A was watching television before she smoked marijuana, was asked which advertisement was splayed before the show started and she got four out of five of her answers correct. After this first section, she smoked a small dose of marijuana twice within an hour. Fifteen minutes after she smoked her last blunt, she continued her regular activity of watching sitcoms. When a commercial would come on, I would ask her simple questions like what happened before the show went to a commercial break. Her responses would be macro-answers about what was going on but when I asked her what the main character was wearing, she did not remember. This was ironic because the protagonist wore a bright yellow suit that my friend commenting on earlier when the show began ten minutes ago. Her short-term memory is weakening because she was only able to remember big picture information and not small picture. Though the results are interesting, I know that I would have had different response on someone else because it depends on how often the user smokes and if they have good memory prior to smoking weed.
Marijuana also impairs emotions. When smoking marijuana, the user may have uncontrollable laughter one minute and paranoia the next. This instant change in emotions has to do with the way that THC affects the brain's limbic system. The limbic system is another region of the brain that governs one's behavior and emotions. It also "coordinates activities between the visceral base-brain and the rest of the nervous system."(8) I am now going to use Students B to describe how emotions are affected by marijuana. Students B is an articulate and well spoken young woman who has a troublesome relationship with her best friends which gets her upset and tense up. But after she smoked one high dose weed, her body was relaxed however, she had trouble formulating her thoughts clearly and would talk in pieces and was jubilant. It has been researched that a person needs to have high dose of marijuana would be in the state of euphoria. High dose of marijuana is measured as "15mg of THC can cause increased heart rate, gross motor disturbances, and can lead to panic attacks."(9) Thankfully, Student A did not experience any of these extreme examples.
College students usually smoke marijuana because they are stressed over schoolwork and feel that marijuana can help them unwind. I have encountered marijuana smokers who are chilled and have no worries in the world but after the effect of the drug wears off, they're sometimes capable to tacking their problem or at the original state that they were in before the drug. The effects of happiness that marijuana usually cause to the user is not a lasting effect because even though a user smokes weed to get away from the troubles of his/her own life, they still have to face these problems after the effects of the drug wears-off. In a survey with college student, an organization called, parents: the Anti-Drug interviewed college students and found that "compared to the light users, heavy marijuana users made more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention."(10) This was evident through my second experiment with Student B but not everyone who smoke high doses of marijuana experience the same affect.
The chemicals in marijuana bring cognitive impairment and troubles with learning for the user. "Smoking [marijuana] causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused but cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Some researchers believe that has changes may put a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs such a cocaine and heroin."(11) To prevent such harm, one must be cautious of their actions. Those who do not do drugs do not risk harm. So please the next day you light up, remember you that you central nervous system and brain will be at risk.
2)Marijuana: The Brain's Response to Drugs, A Good Web Source
3)Mind Over Matter: Marijuana Series, A Good Web Source
4)Alcohol Addiction & The Limbic System, A Good Web Source
5)Marijuana: The Brain's Response to Drugs, A Good Web Source
6)Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Learning and Memory Impairments Produced by Cannabinoids, A Good Web Source
7)Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Learning and Memory Impairments Produced by Cannabinoids, A Good Web Source
8)Marijuana and the Brain by John Gettman. High Times, March, 1995, A Good Web Source
9)Alcohol Addiction & The Limbic System, A Good Web Source
10)Parents. The Anti-Drug. -- Drug Information, A Good Web Source
11)Marijuana: Marijuana Brain Effects, A Good Web Source
Comments made prior to 2007
I smoked pot straight now since I was 13 years old Im
25 now I smoke it everyday literally through a Bong. I do not smoke
well im at work but as soon as im off and for the remainder of the
evening till I end up going to bed I do smoke. Now I read your page
about the effects pot has on short term memory and brain function,
Since I started smoking pot my asthma has vanished my grades went up in
school my mind learns at quicker rates and my short term memory is far
from gone There isnt much I forget about, unless it is because of my
selective memory. Were the people that you tested on already marijuana
smokers and also there are diff things to be taken into consideration
when testing a substance for example the way it was grown marijuana has
to be grown with nutrients and fertalizers to become potent enough to
smoke for a high but when people use these fertilizers and such they
sometimes do not leech the foods out from the plants which could lead
to all kinds of bad side effects Im wondering if this kind of
inforamtion is taken into consideration when giving test subjects
marijuana to smoke or ingest.
I have no side effects other than a burnt out feeling after smoking all
nite, and in teh morning of course but no brain problems like teh ones
your website describes ... Chris, 7 July 2006
Yeah...i disagree on a lot of things that you have to say about this. Like for one some of the things you mentioned only happen while you're high, but after the high goes away those things do as well. Marijuana is not addicting like other hard drugs or alcohol. Also marijuana helps people with ADD, makes them focus better, and sometimes learn better. Sometimes when you smoke your nerves are more dull, but sometimes they can be more alive, so to speak. You need to know that everybody reacts to marijuana differently. So these test that your doing don't go for everybody. You need to let people know that or else thats kind of false information. Something that really got to me is when you were talking about how people do it to relax and get their mind of things and once the highs gone all the problems come back. Well once again everybody reacts differently to marijuana. A lot of people when there high talk a lot about there problems and life in general. What I'm getting at here is that while their high they can figure out there problems because being high brings you into a new type of world and you think about everything more carefully. It's like it opens up your brain and lets you think more into your thoughts and about whats going on. A lot of times they can solve their problems like that, especially when there is someone there with them to talk to. Marijuana also brings people together. I know someone who hated a bunch of people, but then one day ended up smoking with them. Next thing she knew, they were all the best of friends. I know a group of people and within that group you've got your "gangster" type, Punk type, goth type, preppy type, hick type, and the list just keeps going. All of them probably wouldn't even talk if it wasn't for marijuana bringing them together. I have a lot more to say but, I'm not going to because I have pretty much proved my point. Also marijuana brings the creativeness out in people. Some of the greatest authors, poets, music artist, painters, and so on, get their great ideas or create there masterpieces by being high.
P.S I would also like to add that I am a chronic user and I could remember your whole entire report on it. I also have excellent grades in school, in fact better than when I didn't smoke. I also would just like to add one more thing: You will not understand or ever be able to know how or what marijuana does to you unless you do it yourself. Trust me I once was all anti-marijuana and always said that it does all these bad things to you and blah blah blah. Well now I actually know how it really does make people feel because I have experienced it and everything there is in that type of world.
P.S.S I do agree with a few things that you had to say ... Jen, 9 November 2006
Hi, I really found this information very useful because it IS a misconvention among most of the college/university goers that marijuana increases concentration and increases the work capacity of an individual. I personally believe that it DOES increase the work capacity of the abuser to some extent, that's when the drug abuser is not in a "stoned" state of mind, but then too, what is at stake is the brain and central nervous system malfunctioning, which degrades the intellectual, job and social skills. So in my opinion, it's not a good deal ... Ankur Gupta, 25 February 2007
allright tell me something if you say a list of say 20-30 vocabulary words and you were asked to read them over, then you were asked say 5 minutes later to remember as many of those words as you can, do you really think you'll be able to do that? no i bet if you asked 100 people to do that that around 90% of them wouldnt be able to do it.
also riddle me this batman, how many people die each year from drunk driving accidents? now dont im pretty sure you've been drunk, and maybe once smoked pot in your life right? well which had a more sever affect the weed or the alcohol? yeah the alcohol!
im a stoner i will proudly say that. but if i have the choice between alcohol and weed i'd take weed anyday. i've driven high that isnt a problem. when im high i drive a little slower then normal and im lookin for the nearest 7-11.
weed isnt a drug it has no addictive characteristics what so ever!!! ciggaretes kill more people then alchol,guns,and pissed off husbands who come home early.
now weed doesnt lead to other drugs what so ever, i've been smokin the stuff everyday for the past 4 years and i have yet to even think about trying other drugs. if mother nature didnt want us to smoke it she wouldnt have put it here!
its as simple as that!! ... Reader on the web, 21 July 2007
Hello, I was told about this site as a friend of mine was completing a research paper. As I looked over it, there seems to be lots of misinformation involved, and my friend has abandoned this site. I wouldn't mind if you read through all of my message carefully. To start off, the following statement is not backed by any scientific evidence what so ever. "Marijuana impinges on the central nervous system by attaching to brain's neurons and interfering with normal communication between the neurons." This has been proven to be false on multiple occasions since the 1970's. Cannabinoids to not not impinge on the nervous system what so ever, this isn't lysergic acid we're dealing with. "Marijuana plant contains 400 chemicals and 60 of them are cannabinoids" This quote right here is misleading. Every plant is comprised of hundreds of chemicals. In fact, they're not even chemicals, they're just substances that comprise the plants' structure. Also, the majority of cannabinoids that are also found in cannabis are produced by the body naturally. Also regarding cannabinoid receptors. "These receptors control memory, thought, concentration, time and depth, and coordinated movement. THC also affects the production, release or re-uptake (a regulating mechanism) of various neurotransmitters." This is simply false, I do not know where this source came from. Your brain does not use cannabinoid receptors for memory, thought, or concentration. Next,saying that "When one's memory is affected by high dose of marijuana, short-term memory is the first to be triggered." is also blatantly false. Marijuana does not directly impact memory, but short term memory only when high off of THC or CBD is affected because the user may be 'distracted' if you will from the plant it self. Also, referring to a 'high dose' of marijuana is ridiculous. There is no such thing as a high dose of Cannabis because there is no possible way to overdose. It is strictly impossible. The most obnoxious quote that i've read from this site is, "Marijuana also impairs emotions. When smoking marijuana, the user may have uncontrollable laughter one minute and paranoia the next." I cannot believe that this would even be published. MARIJUANA DOES NOT CHANGE A USERS STATE OF MIND. PEOPLE CAN MAKE THE SAME RATIONAL DECISIONS AS THEY WOULD WHEN NOT USING THE PLANT. PERIOD. I am actually appalled by what I've read here, and I'm even more appalled by the sources you've used. Unlike true informational sites, you've only used web sources. That is completely absurd. If you look at any reasonable fact site about Cannabis you will see that the sources that are used are mainly from published books and factual citations. Please realize that much of what is on this web page is completely false and misleading. I wouldn't mind hearing a response soon to defend your case ... Spiros Thomas, 7 November 2007
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
Weed-no For Me!
Hi,no weed for me!
grown up in a house of 7 sisters and 1 brother i had started bad hibits. my oldest sister and my aunt brought drugs home in the 1980's, all though is started back in the early 50's and 60's it seemed then everybody was a pot head of sometime, not everyone- well the 80's hit my odest sister Ecicka had problems in her behavior, out of that brain problems to becuase everytime she was out with wrong people after my mother told her to stay away from those types of people,she went any. Well my odest sister never realy been a good guide for us as being a leader. what took place is that she ending up getting so high she moved to other drugs. the drug she started off with was marijuana, then form there it was pouder cocaine, then "Crack" after that she stared getting into saling drugs and going after bad people like her self afterwards she was in and out of jail alot. Now I understand why because it was the lie she so call chose for herself. Am not here to jugde or be jugde myself, but from seeing how they have ending up, Both sisters now are on Crack and one sister has a long live diasese that she has to live with it for the rest of her life. As a matter of fact- because she started off with Marijuana- wanting to search for the bigger high that she was not getting from weed. now its crack. Some People go to bigger drugs and they never stop doing it they just go to worst drugs- and it also leads to promiscuity and criminal active as well- So no thank you- dont do weed- and dont be a weed snoker- And dont believe the "HIP" I Myself is ok. thanks to myself control over my life, and believeing everything that you hear is not aslways true and facts- but just doing me and whatch my own self, and correcting my life style- I thank my creator for helping me make right choses in life. When it all comes down to it thats what you have to do- make a better way for your self, And in life you will feel better, aboout "YOU" because realy thats what's its all about-
"Peace" To all-
I do believe the "Hype". You
I do believe the "Hype". You are stating things that are not true. Marijuana is a not a gateway drug. If your sister was seeking a high that marijuana could not give her, then it's her, not marijuana doing that. Marijuana itself does not cause people to want to move onto other more powerful drugs. If that was the fact, then every person smoking pot, would also do, heroin, cocaine, and meth, but they do not. If someone wants to smoke marijuana, then it's their decision and not yours. Some people can handle things like alcohol and marijuana, and some cannot. Also, where were your parents at the time all these drugs were coming into your home? I cannot say but I will also assume that alcohol was probably involved in all this drug taking also. I do not smoke pot nor drink alcohol much, but it is wrong that marijuana is illegal all the while a far more safer substance to use than the legal alcohol and cigarettes.
mj CAN be a gateway drug if
mj CAN be a gateway drug if you let it. it makes you think "why not?". makes you more carefree. i didnt believe it at first, but it's true. i mean i havent done any other drugs because i wont let weed ruin me but i can definately see why people would try other drugs after smoking it.
REPLY
grown up in a house of 7 sisters and 1 brother i had started bad hibits. my oldest sister and my aunt brought drugs home in the 1980's, all though is started back in the early 50's and 60's it seemed then everybody was a pot head of sometime, not everyone- well the 80's hit my odest sister Ecicka had problems in her behavior, out of that brain problems to becuase everytime she was out with wrong people after my mother told her to stay away from those types of people,she went any. Well my odest sister never realy been a good guide for us as being a leader. what took place is that she ending up getting so high she moved to other drugs. the drug she started off with was marijuana, then form there it was pouder cocaine, then "Crack" after that she stared getting into saling drugs and going after bad people like her self afterwards she was in and out of jail alot. Now I understand why because it was the lie she so call chose for herself. Am not here to jugde or be jugde myself, but from seeing how they have ending up, Both sisters now are on Crack and one sister has a long live diasese that she has to live with it for the rest of her life. As a matter of fact- because she started off with Marijuana- wanting to search for the bigger high that she was not getting from weed. now its crack. Some People go to bigger drugs and they never stop doing it they just go to worst drugs- and it also leads to promiscuity and criminal active as well- So no thank you- dont do weed- and dont be a weed snoker- And dont believe the "HIP" I Myself is ok. thanks to myself control over my life, and believeing everything that you hear is not aslways true and facts- but just doing me and whatch my own self, and correcting my life style- I thank my creator for helping me make right choses in life. When it all comes down to it thats what you have to do- make a better way for your self, And in life you will feel better, aboout "YOU" because realy thats what's its all about-
"Peace" To all-
First off let me point out the errors in your comment. The first sentence contains horrible grammar. Substitute grown for growing, the letter I is always capitalized if alone, and Habit is spelled with an a. Oldest is spelled o l d e s t, stop missing the letter L. Really is spelled like so.Because is spelled like this remember (BE Cause) combine the two words. Every time is two words not one. The brain issues cannot be attributed to the use of marijuana. Let me also point out that the marijuana didn't lead herself to stronger drugs that was her herself, because she wasn't happy with what she already had. This in turn can mean that she is the type who likes to push the limits. So ultimately her willpower was weak. Also let me point out she wouldn't most likely start on cocaine. Cocaine was expensive even in the 80's it was more expensive then now around $125.00 per gram. So if she was using anything with cocaine it was most likely crack. If she was in and out of jail a lot she was most likely trying to get drug money (more likely to be related to brain and behavior issues). Everything you have stated here is in no way attributed to marijuana. It boils down to the fact that she was discontent with her current high, and im sure she understood the risk she was taking with the other drugs. Oh and by the way JUDGE is spelled like this.
Oh and to everyone out there I compiled this work while being stoned so HAH!
List of correct spellings
Habit, oldest, Ericka, because, every time, Oldest (again), really, powder, selling, a lot, disease, smoker, don't, OK, believing (if the word ends in E you cant add ing to it), always, watch, choices, that's, about. Some of these misspellings repeat.
You cannot even spell your
You cannot even spell your words correctly, yet you want to sit there and put other people down for smoking something that was once legal inside the US. You sit there on your high horse trusting in what the government tells you. The truth is those pharmaceutical companies are creating, (notice I said creating) synthetic drugs that they call medicine that is slowly killing your major organs so that, you (the dummy) can take even more drugs that leads to more dis-ease in your body. These people do not care about curing any dis-ease that you may have, because if they did cure you they would not make all of those billions of dollars off of you each and every year. Think about this for a minute, how many recalls do they announce almost each day for the medicines that they create inside a lab? Plenty. Marijuana has so many uses, however they will not tell you that look up the history of marijuana and it's many uses you will be shocked.
omg! i second this! i love
omg! i second this! i love this.
but Seriously, too all the other haters out there did you know that medicines and vitamins can be sold even if not FDA approved, and the FDA only deals with a problem from one of these unapproved pills, such as when people are believed to start dying from them. So let's see has weed ever killed anybody? It is estimated that a whole joint would have to be smoked in a half second each for over an hour straight in order to die from smoking. I want someone to even try to smoke a whole joint that fast. Weed's not killing anybody, but unapproved drugs that are legally sold are killing people. So in the right state of mind it is completely logical to have weed being allowed to be sold legally too.
DAHHHH
first of all this is not a spelling contest!!!!!!!!.....and everyone has the right to think whatever they want....all i can say is that MARIJUANA IS BAD FOR THE HUMAN'S ...so im not the DUM here OK =)....LOVE YOU
I love weed
I have 4.0 GPA in college smoking weed everyday and before school. I get A in all my classes including math. Those who say weed kills the brain don't know the truth. I wish I started smoking weed way earlier because it makes me realize things in its true colors. But there are a lot of bad quality weed out there on the streets. Thats why it should be legalized and regulated.
Yep
Sounds perfect man. That just proves to all the ignorant people out there that it is a good and peaceful plant that can be worked with.
well not for everyone...................
Well not every shoe fits all feet.But you have to find your crorect size. Just smoke enough to relax the mind remember that overfeeding causes constipation and discomfort. Dont mess your brain by exeeding the stated dose of euphoria
Look im high, but look at all this shit im writing! Ha ha, sorr
Well, each has its ups and downs, but imagine if they get negative side effects, well we can just say that they are marijuana impaired, haha! or.. allergic to it. Well since you said they also have the way it was developed, if it has a negative side effect,they should have it to where they get a group like International Association for Food Protection, instead of food protection it should be, "International Association for Marijuana Protection" so that citizens, or anybody who wants to consume it doesn't get negative side effects. For one more addition; and continue to make families of America prosper through a mind enhancing product. Also "Mary" should be sold at Walmart, hahaha!
Marijuana is not a gateway drug.
Saying that smoking marijuana leads to cocaine/heroine use is like saying drinking milk as a child will lead to alcohol use.
I've smoked for a long time and I haven't experienced any of these symptoms. I'm more alert when I'm high, actually.
You're bogus. [: I promise.
no, not exactly... there are
no, not exactly... there are A LOT more people starting 2 drink alcohol, than hard stuff by smoking marijuana ;)
MARY JANE
marijuana isnt bad ive been smoking for 7 years now and i do it just for fun and well lets say you can only live once. i do it for art and music.. it helps me pay more attention and exspand my mine. it makes me make great music. but thats my point of view. i think its just a phase that everyone goes threw at least once in their lives.
i totally agree with
i totally agree with you..............where do you live , do yoiu teach music , guitar stuff and are you in halifx
tacos
sound really good right now.
Weed weed its good for your
Weed weed its good for your heart.
the more you toke.
the better you choke [:
Keep it all in perspective...
Having been a pot smoker in my teens to mid 20's, now 36. I understand the pros and cons through personal experience. My first experience as a teen was not good and I smoked way too much and got the spins, thought I would never smoke again. Later experiences changed and when I would get stoned there were times when I felt so happy and felt so good that I thought I wanted to feel this way forever. Keep in mind that many users may have tried other drugs like myself having a bad experience with Meth for several months and though I was going to Overdose. Meth is BAD period!! That probably caused later experiences with Anxiety.
As the stress of life took hold with growing older and more responsibilities, pot would start to give me anxiety and eventually panic attacks. I would have ocassional have good experiences and to this day miss those days. I dont smoke anymore and do miss the good times and amazing laughs I had in the past.
I do think that the new bio engineering is good and bad, as it makes the pot much more stronger, but there is a little more predictibility in the outcome of the different strains as they have a better idea of the effects.
In my opinion it should be legal, we need the tax revenue and people need to be responsible just as using alchohol. Everything should be in moderation and this daily all day usage is self medication. It should be occassionally enjoyed no more than once a week or for medical pursposes in my opinion.
Also keep in mind that alchohol effects people different and Pot is no different. It will effect some people the same and others differently. The Human experience is a complex one and so are we. There are so many variables in this life!
It may be good for you and very bad depending on the person! Moderation with everything in life, too much is not good except for Money and Love!
Thank God for this experience and be good to each other!
Peace and blessings to you all!!
weed tricks your mind into
weed tricks your mind into thinking it's good but in all reality its eating up your insides you just feel so good about feeling good you forget about what it's really doing to you i use to smoke at least 12 blunts a day for at least 7 years straight stop for 6 months start again stop for 2 months start again i really realise that it enlightened me and took alot of my good qualities away at the same time it taught me to see the lies that are being told from the truths i will never forget what i learned from my piff and sour experience but i hope never to go back goodbye chapped lips goodbye bloody eyes
should I continue?
Im in 10 th grade i was thinking baout 2 options either smoking once a month or every 3 weeks until i feel content with quitting.
2nd smoke this year summer and then quit and become prepared for 11th and 12 th grade
because i have been deepressed because i moved recenatlly and its a whole different lifestyle practically and im not in the right mind state to make an big descions or blaze and im waiting once i feel content to start blazing; but i rember in 9th grade after i first did it i always was talking about doing it but i didnt know about addiction the only thing im mainly worrying about is the mental addiction if i smoke once month i think i will alwyas have that craving for weed and not be completely satisfied with my ordinary hobbies. It relates to partying, everything is fun but partying is the funnest thing to do.
anyone feel free to comment
Hey man, if you don't think
Hey man, if you don't think you're in the right mind-state to be smoking drugs, then you shouldn't. If you're depressed then weed isn't the answer, there have been many studies that it can eventually lead to depression. If you're looking to feel comfortable, then just get some exercise and eat right. Try and make some new friends, but not people who base their good times around drugs, that's an awful path to go down and you will lose sight of what's important in life. You're only in grade 10, you don't want to grow older and be one of those loser pot heads. I've seen too many bright, young people get caught up in drugs and don't have too much to show for it. I used to be a pot head, but luckily i snapped out of it for my last year of grade 12 and am going to university, i also feel ten times better since i've quit. The high of marijuana is an illusion. Stick to your gut though.
I Dont think i can take that
I Dont think i can take that one seriously.....
marijuana is okay
Ive been smoking MJ for a year now and i think its not so dangerous like alcohol I always get the munchies and it makes me think of everything thats happening in my life i think of the past, present, and future and listening to music while high is the best.
To anyone opposed to weed....
I've been smoking for about 2 years now.
The first time I smoked weed, I got so high that I had a hard time remembering wtf was going on. I thought it was okay, but wasn't really a big fan of it. I used to get paranoid, was unable to think clearly, like the stereotypical stoner, however as I smoked more, the better it got. I could remember MORE, higher attention to detail, different perspectives on whatever problem.
I tried it a few more times and I started to enjoy it. I started to smoke up with my brother, and since I was new to weed, I was pretty much useless high. However, after time I got used to it. I can function completely normal when I'm high (well, not extremely high lol)
Weed is excellent when used properly. If it's not disrupting your job, relationships, finances, etc, then I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.
Does it make you tired? yes.
Does it make you hungry? yes.
Is that basically all it does? Yes!
Does it make you want to go out and murder people? no.
Does it have withdrawal symptoms if you stop? no.
It's not addictive. When I don't have weed, it might suck for like 10 minutes, then I just get on with my shit.
It won't permanently change negative or positive behaviors, it will help you bring out the feelings you desire. If you have no motivation to do anything, weed isn't for you. It's giving us a bad name, however, if you can find it's advantages and use them whenever you deem fit, it's excellent.
Maybe weed isn't for everyone, however it's unfair to say that it's not right for everything. There are TONS of drugs worse than pot, and I'm just talking about prescription.
The world is what you make it, if you think weed ruins lives, well, you're an idiot. Look at whatever example you're getting your facts some and evaluate the PERSON. Pot doesn't change people.
I'm in my second year of business at university and I smoke weed every day. It doesn't make you a walking zombie.
i COMPLETELY agree with you
i COMPLETELY agree with you :)
woooooord man, i know what
woooooord man, i know what you're talking about when you say pot will help you bring out the feelings you desire. I'm not a frequent pot smoker or anything ... I might smoke up with friends a few times a month or whatever.
But earlier this year our high school went on a ski trip, and me and my friends were all snow boarding. We had a couple runs and everything was fine, then I bust out a fat ass joint on the ski lift.. We finished it off before we got to the top, and my mind was blownnn.... Then i popped in my ipod headphones, through on some beats, and started down the hill. It was the greatest feeling in life man ....
Believe meee, that day, pot really brought out the feelings i desire. Sports and pot, its where im at.
keepin it reefer real.
Ur crazy weed causes cancer
Ur crazy weed causes cancer and is bad for your body. Weed has 10 times more cancer causeing chemicals that tabacoo. The active chemical in weed is THC which kills braincells. Any one who smokes weed should think about stopping.
wow...
are u nuts??? tabacco kills more people then pot and it doesnt do anything bad to your body or anything unless its laced with chemicals and u can choose to buy the good natural green.... dont be stupid be stoned
ha
and what are your sources? thats bullshit. sorry but it is.
No kidding. If weed caused
No kidding. If weed caused cancer then why would they prescribe it to cancer patients? Actually, it's because it slows the process down to keep it from progressing so fast.
look it up for your self
ther has never been a single case of cancer from olny smoking weed. thc does not cause brain damage. the high itself is caused by the thc telling your brain cells to fire off randomly. not buy causing them to shut down like alcohol. i have been smoking cannabis for 5 years and have all A but a C in my first class but thats just cause i dont like mornings. get your facts strate befor you start making accusations.
do your homework
that is not true, marijuana is actually used to slow cancer cells and kill if not fully spread, modernized tobacco has products like rat poison. there are two main kinds of marijuana, indica & sativa. one stimulates the mind and the other relaxes the muscles in your body. btw there has been no death ever reported from the use of marijuana.
u r brainwashed !
there is not a single case of cancer due to weed smoking unless it was a sprayed weed. but thats why it should be regulated and legal so weed would be available in high quality and healthy
tobacco vs Weed
oh yea that must be why every year about 440,000 people in the U.S. alone die from smoking tobacco and not even 1 person, in about 6,000 years of marijuana history, has been reported dead due to a direct affect of marijuana smoking.
Also there are more people who overdose and die from "legal drugs" such as Tylenol and Asprin every year then weed, but they are still available for almost anyone to buy. Everyday there seems to be a new drug that hits the market claiming that it can cure your problems but for most of the time the side effects to those medicine are much greater than the problem they try to cure. i think the government doesn't care about the well being of their people all they care about is how much money am i walking home with. thats why they come out with drugs to solve conditions that most people have not heard off.
And the theory that marijuana is a gateway drug is total B.S.
i've been smoking pot for about 4 years and yet not once have i ever wanted to try anything else and never will.
oh yea that must be why every
oh yea that must be why every year about 440,000 people in the U.S. alone die from smoking tobacco and not even 1 person, in about 6,000 years of marijuana history, has been reported dead due to a direct affect of marijuana smoking.
Also there are more people who overdose and die from "legal drugs" such as Tylenol and Asprin every year then weed, but they are still available for almost anyone to buy. Everyday there seems to be a new drug that hits the market claiming that it can cure your problems but for most of the time the side effects to those medicine are much greater than the problem they try to cure. i think the government doesn't care about the well being of their people all they care about is how much money am i walking home with. thats why they come out with drugs to solve conditions that most people have not heard off.
And the theory that marijuana is a gateway drug is total B.S.
i've been smoking pot for about 4 years and yet not once have i ever wanted to try anything else and never will.
Agree to disagree
I started smoking at the tender age of 13. I was a straight A student and had great focus. I was not a major pot head by any means, nevertheless, weed didn't affect my grades or focus. When I attended college, I stopped smoking due to the belief that marijuana killed brain cells.
I have never had worse grades in my life. It was difficult to focus and again I do not blame my lack of weed intake. I think I got caught up in the party scene. I do blame alcohol for making me hung over and not allowing me to go to class. But likewise, if I smoked weed I'm sure I'd blow classes off.
The point of my story is, I have no one to blame for my failures but myself; and I have no one to thank for my accomplishments but myself.
I began smoking weed again post college and I feel it helps me see things from a different perspective. When I sober up, I reflect on what I thought when I was high and I adopt a lot of my high theories. Yes sometimes I get really silly, but I like it. I have never hated myself for doing something when high. However, when I'm drunk I do some things that I wish I could take back. So weed is my drug of choice and I like to smoke everyday. I still enjoy drinking once in a while and I'm sure a lot of people have various reasons why alcohol is bad for you-and it can be. Fast food is also bad for you-everything in moderation-weed, alcohol, junk food etc.
So if you think weed is bad for you, then don't smoke it. If you enjoy weed, then keep doing it. Just make sure to be safe. Let's agree to disagree and let's just get along!
Love,
Proud Pot head :)
Your calling him crazy, and
Your calling him crazy, and telling him that THC kills brain cells... But your the one who spelled YOUR incorrectly? And no, THC does not kill brain cells, it's the smoke that kills brain cells. You kill brain cells if you smoke cigarettes, but you don't see idiots smoking cigarettes. (Well, you do, but there are average people who smoke them too) You need to use your intelligence and speak correctly if your going to 1. Insult them on they're mental stability, calling them stupid
and 2. Making a valid argument.
I smoked weed for about a year but have stopped by choice. It just wasn't working out for me in my current situation, which will change soon. Will I go back to it? If I feel like it.
The truth
I just want to respond to this nonsense with the scientific truth: According to a survey of the latest medical research:
There is absolutely NO connection between cannabis and cancer, in-fact cannabis may aid against cancer. There has been observations of tumors shrinking in cannabis users (but more research is needed).
Cannabis causes incidences of emphysema and lung disease at 1/17th the rate of cigarettes at equivalent levels of usage (basically smoking MJ all day every day). This is typically considered negligible (I would).
General lung function is definitely impaired if you regularly smoke MJ (at a rate of about 4-5x that of tobacco). This is the source of broad statements that "MJ is 5x worse for you than cigarettes", and makes perfect sense considering that cannabis smoke is held in a smoker's lungs longer per-toke in general. This is a completely reasonable and obvious side-effect of smoking... anything. For those who don't smoke all day, every day, it is not really a serious concern.
If you have never tried cannabis and wish to remain in the dark, that's your business. If you tried it and didn't like it, then go ahead and tell people what happened. Please though, don't spread lies about its medical effects when you have no clue what the truth is.
I agree.
There have been recent studies that the cannabis in marijuana also helps with Alzheimer's. So the fact that every one saying that MJ is so unhealthy is unnecessary. Cigs are way worse and ACTUALLY DO cause cancers ad death to the smoker, and in some unlucky cases those near smokers. So if you don't like pot BACK OFF!!! Some of us might. Its is no less healthy then breathing air now days with all the pollution.
Weed is not addictive
Ive smoked for months straight and stopped suddenly to get a job. No problem. Then I started again and continued for over 2 years straight then just one day i quit. No problems.
Im not feining for it or anything.
It doesnt take a scientist to
It doesnt take a scientist to figure out the effects of pot on the mind, just look out on the streets, but yet why cant we grown up as society. just like kids stealing from a cookie jar, lousy parents never taught us to know better, is this pattern gonna continue or are we gonna at least do somthing for ourselves to set a better example
Kronic user here
Well first off, pot is highly addictive and anybody that's in denial and argues it, does'nt have a clue. they just dont get it. Its like you are not fully there, in la la land. A way to escape reality, when reality is just to much to handle. A substitute of a real life wich is short livved and in the end not the answer folks. Wasted time away from reality might be fun for a lot of us, but to much can lead to a more serious problem for most of us. How else can you explain 6 adults and one friend of the family getting together to smoke weed regularily livving such a poor lifestyle. All of these people have worked and held jobs at one point in there lives. Now 1 of them only works. They are aged 26, 30, 36 and 46, 54 and 54 all on welfare or some sort of disability. These people are all different ages with the youngest age 26 being the only one that is still employed, with a good job. They are all pot heads. The other being 30 years of age, a single father with a small daughter in kidergarden. He does have some education and certainly would have been capable of doing some type of work, instead lying down crying depressed in his parents basement suit alone, without the knowlege of how to support himself livving with his parents, much or less a small child making poor decisions in his parenting way to often. He has his excuses and I dont disagree with them, he doesnt know better. He is using our welfare system to support himself and using his daughter to collect additional monies on top of everything. I do relize that people have to eat, but dont you think it would be less expensive for all of us and the ministries, if he had never been exposed to any type of drugs by his piers, who have brainwashed him in to believing it's okay to smoke pot and do substances, since he was a young child. DO you expect anybody to believe this is okay? I do realize that this bad lifestyle has been implimented by his piers who are coincidentally some of the other pot heads of the six. BOO HOO he should deal with it in a more gentlemanly manner for sure. The drugs combined are effecting his judgment duhh The next up from the group is 36 years of age. He is also an outsider, and a good friend of the 26 year old son,the youngest. He used to go to work, and always made the effort to earn a decent livving by himself with his imediate family about six years ago, who dont use or support any type of drugs. With excellent careers relying on themselves. Then he got introduced to pot by his buddy and the rest of the other family group. Now he has not worked for 5 out of the past six years and is in in need of ministry to support him self, "age 36" this is sad. Stealing and relying on others to pay his way when without the pot could have been avoided completely cmmon. Common sense to some, ignorance to others. I admit this, because I am the 36 year old who has lost control of my life due to pot. Yes we all react differently I agree, thats just it, we dont know for sure until its to late the user becomes addicted and there thoughts become altered and brains turn to mush, not doing much of anything hypothetically speaking. Does anybody get this stuff or are we just plain stupid, ignorant. Rather than blaim we need to understand and limit the use of pot so we can begin to make change rather than hide behind this substance wich is highly addictive. It is not okay, the body is not naturally healing itself therefore it's false. We are not made to do this in result we suffer. The next individual is the mother of 2 and a third givven up for adoption that she couldnt support, because of her poor decisions obviously related to pot and smoking when she was young. She is also grandmother to the young daughter mentioned earlier on. She supports and condones her sons with there poor decisions, growing her own pot in her own backyard, exposing her grandchild and kids to the substance at such an early age. Having wasted a good portion of ministries income on weed rather than food and clothes supporting that son she gave up, or that child she neglected to take care of by not saying no to drugs and pot. Yes it sounds like I am uncool to you us pot users ,but I am speaking the truth. Literally having the daughter watering those pot plants and laughing about it. DO you think this woman should have ever smoked pot. This cannot be okay, the pot should be stopped asap before another life is ruined. The next person is the 54 year old father who hasnt worked either using ministry to support himself, I could keep going on forever with these peoples hardship related to the use of pot. I dont think I shoud have to, it should be common sense really. When are we gonna ban this stuff for good? We are slowly and silently wasting our lives and time on bad habits, rather than dealing with the REAL in a better way, pure of the shit. I hope that I can get my self off pot, to maybe one day live a productive life again. Shouldnt we all, we influence the next generations to come, or are we all just gonna keep playing dumb wasting tax payers money and ruining lives. Lets try give it up and grow up, we are acting like kids, It is are shared responsibilty to discourage pot completely, other wise we will se no end to this mess. This was put out to all of us losers in the world, peace I understand none of us new better to begin with, lets make change
quit hittin that crack pipe
quit hittin that crack pipe bro.
or at least don't confuse the crack pipe with your peace pipe
Oh wow, that cracked me up as
Oh wow, that cracked me up as nothing has in a long time!! Thanks so much. I hope you and your parasite friends have a great life of lamenting on how marijuana has messed you up!! LoL!!
Just a thought
Does pot have an effect? Duh its a chemical substance introduced into the body. But so is everything else if you think about it. A person's diet, sleeping patterns, biological predispositions, current mental and social health and generally where they are in life (just to name a few aspects) all affect the smokers reaction to smoking. It is an interplay between factors.
As for the effects of smoking being either "good" or "bad," the definitions of these words must also be considered. Good and bad are subjective experiences intrinsically immeasurable in any kind of a quantifiable sense. Good and bad are simply interpretations of experiences. Water is "good" for a man dieing of thirst in the desert, but much more of an inconvenience ("bad") for a drowning person.
Everything comes at a cost. It is ultimately in the hands of the individual weigh the pro's and con's of smoking and so long as they exercise their ability to rationally make decisions, I see no problem.
Besides if you spend all your time telling other people how to live their lives, then you arnt living yours. "Get your priorities crooked."
marijuanna
I am a cannabis user and have been since I was 13. I am now 26. I go to college, have been there for a year now. I have been on the dean's list since I started. I have a 4.0 GPA. I smoke weed everyday faithfully twice sometimes three times a day and i have no problem functioning. I am, most of the time in a good mood unless, I am really upset about something but that's not the weeds fault. I work two jobs, go to school full time and raise my son all the marijuanna does is help me calm my nerves so i don't go crazy. When I was pregnant it helped me have an apppetite.
That's the most pathetic
That's the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard as to why you think weed is bad. It sounds to me like you and your "friends" have addictive personalities and are just a bunch of bums leeching off the government, using weed as your excuse...
1. Marijuana is not PHYSICALLY addictive. Mentally, maybe a little, but where I come from that's called a habit. Dope or the lack thereof, will not put you into REAL withdrawal(give you tremors, make you sweat, etc.). Watch a documentary about pot that hasn't been made or supported by the U.S. government F.F. sakes!
2. Weed does not take you to another reality. Whatever you're smoking it's either laced with something or it isn't even weed.
3. If you and your "friends" are supposedly, unmotivated "pot heads", who can't keep or find a job...trust me, it's not because you smoke pot. It's because you're unmotivated "losers" who can't keep or find a job. Don't blame the weed, blame your parents and the way you were raised, blame yourself for not doing anything in school, blame America for being fat, lazy, unmotivated, uneducated fools.
Seriously, smoking marijuana did not mess up your life or your friends'. All of you idiots did it on your own.
Lol sounds like you and your
Lol sounds like you and your friends have more than just weed problems. Are you serious? Have you been to your local watering hole lately to have a beer? Weed is not the problem.
reply to anonymouse
Hi anonymouse
i thought you meant swimming hole with a beer/like in bush/forest area watering hole..lol..then i realised
you meant the pub/beerhall
cause me n friends call the ponds/streams of bushland
we swim in ..we also call that the watering hole..lol
...where ever having a brewsky (beer) or smoke down there Qoute unqoute..lol
(and im not from america i just like using the word BREWSKY)
i.e beer
I am writing a paper for
I am writing a paper for school on how marijuana can effect the body, and what i have come up with is that in moderation marijuana can help people with many things. Marijuana can also become addictive in some cases. I personally think that smoking marijuana should be up to the person wanting or doing it just like drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Marijuana is healthier than both of these so why not.