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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
POSITIVE AND negative
LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, YOU TELL YOUR DOG TO GO ONE AND IT DOES BUT EVENTUALLY ITS GO GO BACK TO DOING WHAT IT WANTS UNTIL ITS FULLY TRAINED... THATS BASICLLY WHAT YOUR DOING TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU SMOKE.. YOUR TRAINING IT TO GET USE TO THE SIDE EFFECTS... AND AS FAR AS DOIN GOOD IN SCHOOL IT HELPS YOU DO BETTER IF THATS WHAT YOU WERE DOIN IN THE FIRST.. YOUR JUS STUPID IF YOU LET IT FUCK YOU UP IN SCHOOL... WEED DOES MAKE YOU THINK HARDER ON THINGS BUT THE HARD PART IS REMEBERING WHAT YOU WAS THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU WAS HIGH LOL IF YOU CAN DO THAT THEN YOU WAS MENT FOR THE DRUG.. JUST DONT USE IT AS A GETAWAY DRUG.. USE IT AS A THINKING DRUG BUT AT THE SAMETIME KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING TO YOUR BODY.
Marijuana
I would like to comment to all the "smokers" out there who think that pot doesnt affect them. I will tell you a short story. I grew up in the late 70's where pot was a staple of life. The only way to listen to good music was to be high, the only way to tolerate my mom was to be high. Going to school high was the norm, as was smoking on the street with cops just up the block. The side affects for me were negligible. I am a college graduate and successful. I quit smoking when I became pregnant and realized that life is different when I didnt smoke. Now, my husband on the other hand has been smoking since he was 13 and has continued to this day. Never finished college but he is successful at work but family life is somewhat strained. He's kind of like the osterich. He smokes pot and thinks his worries will go away and really doesnt face them head on. His memory has gotten continuously worse also. Hey guess what, everytime we are getting ready to go somewhere, he disappears and finds a place to smoke a joint to get him thru the day. Those special times are times we are waiting in the car for Dad to come out, waiting for dinner for dad to come out, waiting to open Christmas presents because Dad has to smoke his joint before facing anything. It has become all consuming at least from this side of the fence. Im not saying not to smoke, all I am saying is dont let it interfere in the important things that life has to offer. Sometimes its good to feel the pain so we can mature and learn and grow as fathers,mothers, friends.
Signed;
An affected wife and mom!
I have been smoking pot for
I have been smoking pot for 6 months now everyday. I used to be anti-pot.. until I did some research and found out for myself what it actually did for me...so far, it has benefited me more than any other drugs I dabbled with...the great thing about it is its natural and has no side effects which comes with alchohal, illicit street drugs etc. And although it can be habit forming, I use it sparringly to make sure that when I do smoke pot, I am doing something enlightning, such as reading, watching a good movie, contemplate, sort out some issues, meditate, painting, writing or when I am stressed out and need to relax. I do however, find that when I talk to people, my words are jargoned and I cant formulate the right vocabulary or view point while induced... but other than that, when I am sober, life goes on, I am fine, happy and feel less aggravated, irritated, depressed, anxious and symptoms of my ADD is decrease... the loss of short term memory does occur... however, if one was to stimulate the mind enough and learn how to focus and divert attention on the subject at hand rather than allow the mind to wander off in lala land, the mind could very well expand if properly controlled and using techniques to build the brain function.
I also feel that when i am high on pot, I am more spiritual and tend to expand my consciousness which then helps to balance the right and left brain.. not only that, allow me to explore the inner space of my spiritual realm. makes me to question, who i am, what am I here for, what are my goals, and what can I do to achieve inner peace? while high, i question these things most people would not question while on any other drugs.... so i think it has benefitted me spiritually as well as mentally
as far as lung cancer.... i want to look into vapourizor as I heard it removes a big percentage of tar and toxic chemicals ....
Interesting
I'm 31 years old. I've been smoking since I was 17. I smoke pretty much every day and am high even as I type this very sentence. Do I have memory problems? Occasionally, but who wants to remember everything anyway? Do I know that it's not healthy to inhale the smoke of any burning substance, regardless of what positive or enjoyable effects it may produce? Of course I do. So why for the past 14 years have I smoked virtually every single day? Because I love weed, plain and simple. Sure, I've quit a time or two. I quit once for a year. But I love weed. So I smoke. I love the smell, the taste, and the high of high quality bud. My life wasn't any better without it, and it isn't really any better with it. It's something I enjoy. BUT, if I can't get any for a week or two, that's ok. I don't get upset. I don't whine like a bitch. I don't suck d!cks in an alley like a crackhead fiending for rock to get some weed. I just wait until next week, or the next time one of my friends rolls a fatty. So, coming from a true smoker to all you people who think it's somehow healthy to smoke weed, WAKE UP! It's not. But if you're like me, you're going to smoke when you want to smoke anyway. And that's ok. One can say what they please, but alcohol is far worse for the individual as well as society as a whole than marijuana. It's in the statistics, you go dig them up. A wise man once said, "Why the fuck it's illegal, I don't know. Aspirin is perfectly legal but if you take thirteen of them motherfuckers it's gone be yo last headache!"
Good article - thanks for
Good article - thanks for the knowledge! As for all you stoners gung-ho for smoking weed, quit bashing the article. Majority of you have claimed in doing so not only are you 'intelligent' and free from bad side effects, but also that your grades in college have improved significantly. News flash genius's - more than 75% (of this is a estimated percentage) of you spelled things incorrectly, had typos incessantly throughout your little rants along with disgusting grammar, and couldn't write sentences that flow correctly. Apparently, weed does affect your brain. If you enjoy getting high, well - good for you! On the contrary, if you enjoy getting high and then want to come up with fabricated theories and statistics about how weed is so healthy, well, just realize you're not fooling anyone. Do everyone a favor and when you get high, don't try to prove points or make an argument.
WOW! I really really hope
WOW! I really really hope some of you start to get it! And for every person who said "don't knock it 'til you try it", all I have to say is "been there, done that"! I suspect that some of you will get that it really doesn't matter if you are smart or dumb or successful or lazy or whatever... what matters is that by living life on marijuana's terms you are not living life on your own terms. Since it does feel good to be high,I would suggest that most users know it affects brain function on some level...otherwise what would be the point? So, knowing this, isn't it funny how we defend this drug like it is our best friend or our lover?
Environmentally speaking, marijuana crops ravage the environments they are grown in due to the fertilizers, etc that are used to ensure their potency... This is not a harmless drug that it just so fun for us...
All I have to say is that I hope for all of you stoners that someday you will get it and start living life for yourself instead of this plant, until then- enjoy your high! Ignorance truly is bliss!
I haven't smoked in 6 years
I haven't smoked in 6 years because I joined the military, but I used to every single day. Weed effects everyone differntly. For me, the main benefit was it increasing my thought process and breaking it down. Second, time was slowed for me, I could prevent myself from falling because I saw it happening in slow motion, the exact opposite of alcohol where one second you're up, next second you're halfway fallen, 3rd second you're on the ground. But, to keep this short, everyone has different opinions, you can try it once or twice to try to get the smokers point of view, but that might not be enough. The fact is, you probably won't ever get it, and that's life. Some people lie Obama some like McCain, some people like hard stiff beds, some like it soft.
Hi, I'm a high school
Hi, I'm a high school student and I have a few questions for anyone who smokes weed and does actually get like a 3.5 or higher GPA.
1) Can you go a day, a week or longer without smoking it and still maintain your grades and everything?
2) I think one of the main reasons why it's illegal is because not a lot of people, especially if they live in the city, have access to it unless someone brings it in. I can tell that people really benefit from the stuff so people might kill to get it. So where do you get it from?
3) Finally, when did you start? How were you before hand? And would you advise someone who was stressed or didn't have the best grades to smoke it?
BTW, I have been shuffling between 1st and second honors and i am involved in programs outside of school, including community service.
Ok. when i read this
Ok. when i read this information im wondering what kinda of pot you used? did u lace it with anything? was it grown in anything? Or did you give the person the weed to smoke stem and seeds and all? did u clean it? Where is the test papers showing that you did this? In order for me to agree with anything that you have said id like to see the test. steps, process, info, everything.
Bad experience
I'm trying to make sense of wat happened to me when I was stoned.. Felt like everthing I was doing was scripted and played out, I was way over thinking everything in a really paranoid way it was like I was going insane... Was just wondering if there is anything I should be worried about??? Any helpful info would be great
WAS YOUR HEART BEATING REAL
WAS YOUR HEART BEATING REAL FAST OMG THAT IS THE WORST LOL
OMG . that always happens to
OMG . that always happens to me .
Your heart beat very fast
Your heart beat very fast when you take puffs of the Marijuanan
weed is the right stuff to
weed is the right stuff to be smoking it is good for your body an it gives you better lungs
Mary Jane
Anyone who says weed has no effects on the brain and memory loss is in great denial from marijuana. I smoked for ten years and every time I got high my memory was altered severely. So you users that keep wanting to defend marijuana, maybe it's time to get your self analyzed and quit being so blind and ignorant.
No laughing matter
Alot of people smoke pot to escape from reality of the real world. Smoke it for over twenty years daily and then tell me it's not addictive. I know people who smoke all the time and if you ever get to have a one on one conversation with them they will tell you how hard it is to get off it and because of this they don't...and I'm not talking about casual smokers or those who have done it for a few years , I'm talking all day all night and for decades. I know I was one of them. Don't kid yourself.. marijuana is addictive and in the long run it will fuck you up in more ways than one.
im in high school and im a
im in high school and im a chronic user and i find that it helps me in school. Ive smoked weed since grade 5 and now im in grade 10.in science my mark went from a 35% to a 79% in 2 weeks ....so from me weed is AWSOME
Weed Indeed
Marijuana is good. Beware my friend for it is also...evil
all haters are just
all haters are just ignorant. smoke a joint lay back and let the good times roll.
Marijuana on the brain
Evendentally you have not been around alot of people that smoke. If I were to put a list in front of you, and gave you 2 minutes to look at them, then tested them on you, how many would you get right? More than likely the last set. Those are the ones that the brain is going to remember the most. It is not just the pot smokers. The problem with this is that you used two people. That is not enough to do a case study. I can watch a show and could not tell you what they were wearing. I am paying closer attention to the story line that their clothes. Not many people could answer that. I do not even smoke, and think that this paper is what is not helping with the enevitable. More people die from the use of alcohol and cigarettes. I have never heard of anyone dying from an overdose of marijuana. I know people that do their job alot better, school work and concentrate better when they are high. You are generalizing. I have been around it for the past 41 years and what you saying in this paper, I have never witnessed. The only time that this paper is slightly correct, from experience, is if you smoke a high quanity. Most that I know, use it to relax or concentrate.
Are you too stoned to realize???
Ive been with a hard-core stoner for 7 years. He has done more lethal drugs, such as coke, acid and stuff like that( he is 40 years old, no light weight). As have I. I haven't smoked up in 7 years. My hubby has tried to quit but goes through such bad withdrawals. You can't say that it isn't addictive cos it is. VERY ADDICTIVE. The mood swings are so tremendous, chills, aches and pains, cold sweats. He quit Dec 2008 and was back to smoking less then 2 months later. He is trying to quit again, and lets just say it has been hell in our house. It does make your reflexes slower, and tends to cause more accidents then driving sober. Have you ever realized why you feel so different when stoned???..its just like alcohol, impairing your judgement, by poisoning your body...duh meat heads. In Ontario Canada, a cops can take you in for a blood test to check for drugs, and if they are found in your system, you will get handed the same punishment as with impaired by alcohol. Quit being burn outs, no matter what...your only making excuses for yourself. And yeah it does cause memory damage...I see it first hand..answering the same question 4 times in an hour is proof..
well do ma have affects on
well do ma have affects on your memory im not a smoker or pot head but im curious
pot
hey my name is darkgoddess and i have been smoking since i was 9 and im 19 i cant go one day with out smoking it and my boyfriend is 26 and he can go 5 days with out it and i dont see how the fuch he can do it.
weed is good for you and you
weed is good for you and you should smoke it every chance you get
It's Just Wrong
I personally don't think weed should be judged in any way. You have to act as if were a human being. If you, an anti-marijuana person, were being told that you were no good by someone who didn't even know you, you would be pretty pissed and probably think, "Hey man, I don't know you, and you don't know me, so why don't you shut the hell up and start running your mouth once you've met me." Right?
Right. So I think it's wrong for people to say "Oh, you are just some hippy who can't even focus on reality." and stuff like that. If you haven't smoked pot before, then just keep quiet until you have, because I guarantee that you will enjoy it.
Weed was perfectly legal until the early 1930's all because of some paranoid old hag who thought immigrants were going to kill him.
What if God smokes weed
Who says God didn't smoked weed himself he created it and sounds like a pretty chill guy to me it could take allot of grass to keep that chill
Okay, So first off, I've
Okay,
So first off, I've read through the first two pages of responses, along with the work itself. I believe it is obvious that every person varies on an intellectual sprectrum, basing my evidence on the fact that many of the bloggers and the author NEED to work on their grammar. Secondly, I am an avid marijuana user and believe that the drug has actually enchanced my psychological capabilities. I think all of the time and realize actualities consistently (e.g. ever notice how governments act very similarly to mafias with taxes and rights...). Marijuana produces different effects on everybody for the reason that we are all individuals. It doesn't make you dumber, just allows others to appropriately percieve you for who you are; meaning if your naturally dumb or uneducated, I believe it is clearly evident through your actions while under the influence. Anyways, dont judge or publish false evidence because it does nothing but influence societies. And monsters are created from societies...
???
I have a boyfriend of 19 years old hes about to be 20 on july and hes been smoking weed since 12 years old and just now he realice that he forgets things and he smiles like a retarted person and when hes talking about something and he doesnt remember what he was saying or hes going to get something and when he goes and get it hes like why did i came here for dummmmmm he work,but am surprice hes able to work cuz he has a really bad brain but i dont know if smoking weed hase to do with his ACTITUDE he has a realy bad actitude and when he dont smoke hes allways mad every little noice gets him mad what do you gays think what can anybody tell me if weed hase to do with his actitude?
wow i can't begin to start i
wow i can't begin to start i just read like half of these replies and i would like to say i have smoked weed for 2 years about that and my dad has just found my bowl..... lol yea and he told me to quit now scene being on weed my average has gone from a 75 80 to a high honor student with a 92 first quarter 93 second and 94 third ....this year going towards the fourth i wonder will i be right there still or what..... please comment i'm 16 and im typing right now and this has spell check right on it lol to the people talking about spelling
Amazing.
High Honor student with that grammar? Your teachers must be idiots. Either that or the pot has altered your reality concerning the nature of your grades.
weed
Listen i just started smoking this past year and i'm really tired of people judging me and others who do/have done it. i believe you should try it atleast once... i mean its a free country if you dont like it than dont do it but if someone does it and there responsible and get there shit done then there shouldent be any Problems because im a Sophmore in college and the semester i smoked i actually did better than in any other semesteri rased it from a 3.6 to a 3.9 GPA so please all of you people who think they earned the right to judge please stop because smoking weed doesn't make me or anyone else a bad person. ?Thanks, Mike
Neutral
I have been smoking on and off over 3 years, and have recently been smoking at least 3 times weekly. I haven't noticed any changes, neither for better or for worse. In the end, I think that the side effects are largely influenced by a person's expectations. If you think your grades will go down because you toke, then they will. I havent had a change in my grades, my test scores are above average, and I got a 1700 SAT, which is not bad. Personally, I like smoking. It gives me some time to think before I go to bed, lets me relax and reflect on life. If you toke, have fun. If you don't, have fun. Either way, life is great.
weed
any1 who protests against weed has probably never done it before
Pot
ive never done weed but i really want to
Pot
I don't have a lot of money but I'm not going to rob a bank. I don't think you should try it. It is a waste of money perhaps could be spent on something more interesting, but we all make our own choices I hope you chose to say no to drugs.
so do it
so do it
Start Living
Sure, maybe marijuana isn't as harmful as other drugs or no one or few people are know to have killed anyone when high on marijuana. However, marijuana nests itself in users lives, just as any other drug does. It may not be physically addictive like other drugs, but it is psychologically addictive, which is exactly like a habit one can't break, but worse. If you do smoke marijuana or if you were to smoke marijuana, you're putting your life in the hands of a controlling drug. Now, I'm not necessarily saying that you could die from marijuana, but rather you aren't living. Sure you're alive, but you're just wasting your time, getting high instead of going out in the world and doing something productive.
I know some people who smoke marijuana. One of them is schizophrenic and thinks her neighbor is going to kill her, so she moved several places - even though she couldn't afford it - and dragged her husband around with her, who also smokes marijuana. Their lives are no where near worth bragging about, for they live away from the rest of society with their not-so-lovly house and dogs, smoking pot to pass the time.
So those of you who do smoke marijuana, ask yourselves this: Do I really want to continue smoking and spend my time getting high, or would I rather like to make my life productive, maybe see the world, and get out of that secluded little room where I smoke and hide my joint?
P.S. THC, the active chemical in marijuana, can stay in the body for up to 3 weeks.
Marijuana is strange. It
Marijuana is strange. It makes everything unreal. I still can't put my finger on it. It's not quite as simple as JUST zapping short-term memory. There are a lot of things that occur that can be really confusing and strange--psychedellic. When I'm high my body and my mind turn into a living playground. I can literally walk around while listening to music, and feel as though I am experiencing the music in a profound way. Similarly, if I read or write while blazed, I'll experience it more vividly. Associative memory is STRONGLY enhanced when you're high. I can get the nuttiest--or the most profound--idea for a story or a poem when I'm high all because of looking at a tree.
When done in moderation, marijuana is FINE. Indeed, probably even RECOMMENDED. It provides a different mode of perception, and I would argue even of consciousness. It profoundly alters your state of mind. And it's not wrong to want to go to a different place once in a while.
Those who write that all marijuana does is make you stupid because of the memory-loss don't know it has some positive effects as well.
yes it does take it from
yes it does take it from me.try smoking 3 grams a day and dont tell me its not going to effect you.you guys only smoke .2 under probably jus a bowl a day and you people dont have any effects.but yes it does effect.
....:)
i totally agree what the doctor has to say about the effect that marijuana has on the mind and emotions.your pot head minds are jus so closed up with marijuana use that you will never see what is going on with your brain and emotions.i was once a very articulate memory sensory person until i introduce myself to marijuana.what you people dont understand is that when you become oprone to marijuana use u actually shut off your emotions and memory way to become a person.i cannot really concentrate on stuff that i do know it takes up to five seconds to relaize what is actually going on when before it was an automatic thing.the reason why you have such an argument to it is because of you small amount of marijuan use..for example witht he first bulletin starting with ''i smoked pot straight now since i was 13 years old im 25 now i smokeit everyday literally trough a bong.''he say i smoked pot straight now since''really way to concentrate...it has effected me alot and now sick of it.theirs times when dont know what iam saying...you havent gotten to the point where you brain hurts for constantly then shut the fuck up....marijuana is a powerful drug and the effects are tremendous when in taking much inside the brains nurologigial europia sensormy meormory thing a migie.before this argument would be so articulate where you would say this guy never smoked weed what a faggot..iam done now cause dont know what iam thinking bye dont smoke weed really effects your brains.dnt belive try smoking 5 grams a day for 8 years...
Effects of M.J.
I have a Grandson who has begun smoking m.j. for about three or four months and he is failing 10th grade. All he wants to do is be with his friends and skip school. You tell me what has happened after smoking m.j. Very concerned.
your grandson
first of all pot is NOT the reason your grandson is not attending school. its likely its the kids he is hanging around and or lazyness. im positive that he would want to go to school if he wasnt bugged about his habbits...he is rebelling...i did the exact same thing...i didnt do it cuz i was high... i did it cuz i knew it would piss of my parents...one thing parents need to understand is teenagers ARE going to rebel...it is easier to work with them instead of against them... my mom allways had a rule..."if your going to smoke pot your going to do it in the safty of my house" it has been scientifically proven that when you smoke pot you are able to absorbe more information and keep that information stored for longer peirods. pot does not make people stupid it does not make people do things or see things.the worst thing pot does is give you the munchies..im positive that there are worse things he could be doing. if all he is doing is smoking pot...then his parents and you are pretty damn lucky...the best thing for you and his parents to do is research the pros and cons.. and disscuss what you have learned with him. but if you are going to bug him about smoking pot, you need to be bugging him about everything else that "alters your state of mind" smoking, drinking coffee, drinking, medication,pop, etc....there is so many other things you should be worrying about... like getting him to go to class,giving him things to occupie his time(sports,groups) kids with to much time on there hands are the ones that get into the most trouble....just ease up on him about the whole pot thing...its not a gateway drug btw...make sure he knows the effect of pot...and other drugs(chemicals)
a typical school year for
a typical school year for the 10th grade is about 8-9 months, so he is obviously not failing because of marijuana for the fact that you stated he has been actively using the substance for about 3-4 months. If you are concerned about him, speak to his parents. Most parents would act upon the realization that their child abuses a substance harshly, so first off... DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT if you don't like it. Attempt to be emotionally compelling. Place yourself into his shoes and mindset and see where that takes you in regards to your approach. Its not the marijuana that changes the person, its the person himself. Be a good and responsible parent and seek help, don't let it slide as unpunishable... though I'd suggest testing your grandchild for ADD if he sucks at school...
about the first 3 sentances of the article
ok. so this person really dooesnt seem to know a whe lot about the plant itself, so why would you listen to what they have to say? i mean, how many people smoke the leaves of a marijuana plant? only if youre hard up for the stuff. the part that is usually smoke is the bud. (where the seeds are)
PROWEED
sometimes i think the drug companies are making up bad stuff against marijuana... its a big threat to drug companies though.
DISAGREE
London, Apr 19 : Researchers at the Harvard Cancer Center in Boston, Massachusetts, US have revealed that the active compound in marijuana, tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), may slow the growth of lung tumours, and reduce the spread of the cancer in mice.
The preliminary study found that human lung cancer tumours grew less in mice, which were given temperate doses of the mix.
The researchers expect that drugs made from the compound can be a possible cure for the disease.
Lead researcher, Ramesh Ganju, said that that THC restrains cancer growth by stopping the development of blood vessels within the cancer.
“Previous tests on human lung cancer cells in a dish suggested that THC blocked the signalling of a substance known as epidermal growth factor (EGF). Under normal circumstances, EGF may promote blood vessel development,” New Scientist quoted Ganju, as saying.
Previous studies have also found that THC can contract brain tumours. Yet, experts warn people against smoking marijuana.
“I wouldn’t advise that. It could make the cancer grow faster,” said Ganju, noting that THC might trigger breast cancer.
He added that that ” lot of work needs to be done” before scientists fully understand how THC acts on tumours.
Some studies have found no connection between cannabis use and cancer, and some have concluded that that cannabis smoking is ‘more harmful’ than tobacco because the smoke is taken in deeply into the lungs.
Response to ALL
I thinks it's funny that people say that weed does this, but doesn't do that, or it has side effects while others say there are none. Everyone has their own experiences, just because you have a good or bad experience doesn't mean everyone else will experience the same thing as you. Everyone has their own opinions. Nobody is right or wrong. For one person, maybe weed contributes to memory loss and maybe it doesn't. Maybe weed makes sex better, maybe not. I respect everyone's decision, whether they choose to smoke or not, because like I said before, everyone is different, but just because you don't smoke weed, that doesn't make you a better person than someone who does smoke.
im not for drugs...at all
heyy
i am a young girl who has a dad who is addicted to drugs..
all i have to say is it toatally ruins your life..
and in a way it has ruined mine and effected it alot soooo..
what im trying to say is ..
the world we live in today does not need "drugs" to add on to our problems,
i mean maybe wayy back then god put it on earth not expecting us
to grow this much so quickly.. but the world we are in now .. its just stupid to do it is also agaisnt the law and obviously unhealthy...so why do it?
my dad regrets IT ALL !
and when people say mary jane isnt addicting...........
marajuana ISNT PHYICALLY ADDICTING ITS MENTALLY ADDICTING SO WHEN YOU HEAR “IT IS NOT ADDICTING,GO HEAD TRY IT … ´they are wrong !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im just trying to help !
thanks
-Reighan
In that sense are you saying
In that sense are you saying that we don't need medicine at all. You haven't really defined what you consider to be "drugs". Are you saying that a person with a headache shouldn't take aspirin because they might become addicted? Or are you saying that the world of modern medicine is part of the "world's problems"?
I'm not saying that your dad's drug problem isn't a big deal, I'm sure it is and I'm sure that it's affected you in a big way. Perhaps, though, you should not shut out the concept of other ideas. Marijuana affects people in different ways and is not for everyone. But that's not to say that marijuana doesn't have its benefits. In fact its used to treat many conditions such as glaucoma, MS, and even lung cancer; and is also beneficial in treating behavioural disorders such as ADD and anorexia.
What I think you should do is take your father as an example, like your doing, but at the same time do some research on marijuana and if you decide to try it, do so in moderation and then form an opinion on it. And at the same time think about things like alcohol and cigarettes. Why are these things legal, they have even more detrimental effects than marijuana. In fact, there are no conclusive studies to prove that marijuana actually has any negative effects on the mind, or any other part of the body...just take some time to think is all I'm asking. You can have any opinion you want after that...
weed??????????
i dont really think weed is like a bad drug but it kinda does effect your body. but all i gota say is i havn't done anything stupid or none that shit from smoking. but for some people that smoke and cant handle their high are stupid they need to learn to control it. well drinking is more worse because when your drunk you do all kinds of stupid shit and act like a dumb ass..