Perigrina Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 An article at http://mic.com/articles/87743/harvard-scientists-studied-the-brains-of-pot-smokers-and-the-results-don-t-look-good starts: The news: Every day, the push toward national legalization of marijuana seems more and more inevitable. As more and more politicians and noted individuals come out in favor of legalizing or at least decriminalizing different amounts of pot, the mainstream acceptance of the recreational use of the drug seems like a bygone conclusion. But before we can talk about legalization, have we fully understood the health effects of marijuana? According to a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from Harvard and Northwestern studied the brains of 18- to 25-year-olds, half of whom smoked pot recreationally and half of whom didn't. What they found was rather shocking: Even those who only smoked few times a week had significant brain abnormalities in the areas that control emotion and motivation. "There is this general perspective out there that using marijuana recreationally is not a problem — that it is a safe drug," said Anne Blood, a co-author of the study. "We are seeing that this is not the case." The science: Similar studies have found a correlation between heavy pot use and brain abnormalities, but this is the first study that has found the same link with recreational users. The 20 people in the "marijuana group" of the study smoked four times a week on average; seven only smoked once a week. Those in the control group did not smoke at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Ive seen this article before. The main thing is that they dont rule out the possibility of a reverse correlation. They are saying that by looking at the brains of smokers vs non shows that there is a difference in brain abnormalities. Its possible that these brain abnormalities were already there which make a person more likely to smoke pot, not the other way around. Its also nice to note that a bias is easily seen when people cling to one article. There is enormous amounts of data showing benefits to marijuana. And the age old alcohol vs cannabis debate is always fun. :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 In this study, scientists used high-resolution MRI to scan the brains of 20 marijuana users and 20 non-users, between the ages of 18-25. The scans were used to collect data on gray matter density, brain volume and morphology. They matched the participants on age, sex, race and years of education. The marijuana users reported that they used the drug at least once a week, but were not dependent. The non-users had never used it more than 5 times in their lifetime. They also corrected for things like alcohol consumption as the users reported that they drank more alcohol than the non-users. The researchers found that the marijuana users, compared with the non-users, had structural abnormalities in gray matter density, volume and shape of two areas of the brain; the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. These regions have been implicated in reward and aversion and therefore likely play a role in addiction. They are also involved in the euphoria associated with the rewarding effects of drugs. The researchers also found that some of the abnormalities were exposure dependent. Finally, the researchers also suggested that cannabis use may be associated with a disruption of neural organization in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala, but this is speculation. These data therefore suggest that recreational marijuana use in young adults may lead to alterations in the core reward structures. It's important to remember, however, that correlation does not imply causation- the study can infer an association but not a definitive cause. The number of participants was also small and the study did not investigate whether cannabis use affected cognition as well as brain morphology. Therefore although this particular study is important, it also lays the foundations for further in-depth research into this interesting area. Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/study-finds-recreational-cannabis-use-associated-abnormalities-brain#4equqJUdt8Qzff1d.99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) Also, here is a good article that includes study links that discusses the uses of marijuana. http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/medical-marijuana-what%E2%80%99s-it-good Edited June 20, 2014 by CrossCuT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfink Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Well, there is a third possibility, which is that the brain differences being seen are assumed to be detrimental abnormalities. I don't think we understand enough about how the human brain works to assume that any differences are necessarily adverse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) Thats also true. I just think people need to look at these things with an open mind. We cant be stuck in this Reefer Madness mindset. If you try to study these things with a bias we wont be able to learn very much because any shred of data pointing in your direction will cause you to up and run at 5000 mph. Edited June 20, 2014 by CrossCuT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Thought is very dangerous, so if marijuana really is more dangerous than thought we are in for a very rough time. People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Thought is very dangerous, so if marijuana really is more dangerous than thought we are in for a very rough time. People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Say again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Say again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Ive seen this article before. The main thing is that they dont rule out the possibility of a reverse correlation. They are saying that by looking at the brains of smokers vs non shows that there is a difference in brain abnormalities. Its possible that these brain abnormalities were already there which make a person more likely to smoke pot, not the other way around. Its also nice to note that a bias is easily seen when people cling to one article. There is enormous amounts of data showing benefits to marijuana. And the age old alcohol vs cannabis debate is always fun. :evil: I am surprised that you have seen so many people clinging to this one article. The study was only published in the Journal of Neuroscience this week. http://www.sfn.org/Press-Room/News-Release-Archives/2014/Brain-Changes-Are-Associated-with-Casual-Marijuana-Use-in-Young-Adults I think it is foolish to change laws based on the assumption that marijuana is harmless when there is no scientific consensus on this hypothesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bus Station Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Say again? Wow! Finally, some words for me to live by. Thanks Nihil ... I knew you'd come through for me, somehow ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) I am surprised that you have seen so many people clinging to this one article. The study was only published in the Journal of Neuroscience this week. http://www.sfn.org/Press-Room/News-Release-Archives/2014/Brain-Changes-Are-Associated-with-Casual-Marijuana-Use-in-Young-Adults I think it is foolish to change laws based on the assumption that marijuana is harmless when there is no scientific consensus on this hypothesis. I saw the article a while ago, dunno why. Dont really care. Marijuana has not been proven to be harmful either vs Alcohol that has been the cause of tons of deaths and violence yet people never mention it. People are obsessed with marijuana based on an old misconception that its bad for you which has completely colored how it is perceived in society. I would suggest you go do some personal research into the matter on a scientific search engine like PubMed and read more articles on marijuana instead of making a decision based on this one alone. And like I said, this article still has no substantial conclusion; its merely making some observations that have no proof in any correlation to marijuana use. Edited June 20, 2014 by CrossCuT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perigrina Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Thats also true. I just think people need to look at these things with an open mind. We cant be stuck in this Reefer Madness mindset. If you try to study these things with a bias we wont be able to learn very much because any shred of data pointing in your direction will cause you to up and run at 5000 mph. You seem to think that only people who approve of pot use have an open mind. You do realize that this is a bias, don't you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Wow! Finally, some words for me to live by. Thanks Nihil ... I knew you'd come through for me, somehow ... I have stipulated in my Will that that quote - and nothing more - is to be used as my obituary and inscribed on my gravestone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrossCuT Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 You seem to think that only people who approve of pot use have an open mind. You do realize that this is a bias, don't you? Did I say that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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