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Author Topic:   Does Casual Weed Use Harm The Brain? New Study Says Yes!
Randall
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posted April 16, 2014 10:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
(Reuters) - Young, casual marijuana smokers experience potentially harmful changes to their brains, with the drug altering regions of the mind related to motivation and emotion, researchers found.

The study to be published on Wednesday in the Journal of Neuroscience differs from many other pot-related research projects that are focused on chronic, heavy users of cannabis.

The collaborative effort between Northwestern University's medical school, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School showed a direct correlation between the number of times users smoked and abnormalities in the brain.

"What we're seeing is changes in people who are 18 to 25 in core brain regions that you never, ever want to fool around with," said co-senior study author Dr. Hans Beiter, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University.

In particular, the study identified changes to the nucleus accumbens and the nucleus amygdala, regions of the brain that are key to regulating emotion and motivation, in marijuana users who smoke between one and seven joints a week.
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An employee weighs portions of retail marijuana to be packaged and sold at 3D Cannabis Center in Den …

The researchers found changes to the volume, shape and density of those brain regions. But more studies are needed to determine how those changes may have long-term consequences and whether they can be fixed with abstinence, Beiter said.

"Our hypothesis from this early work is that these changes may be an early sign of what later becomes amotivation, where people aren't focused on their goals," he said.

The study, which was funded in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, comes as access to pot is expanding following 2012 votes in Washington state and Colorado to legalize its recreational use. The drug remains illegal under federal law.

Medical pot is allowed in 20 U.S. states.

Pot legalization advocates make the argument that marijuana is safer than alcohol a central part of their campaigns.

Other research has found drinking alcohol alters the brain, Beiter said. But while researchers do not know exactly how the mental rewiring seen in pot users affects their lives, the study shows it physically changes the brain in ways that differ from drinking, he said.

This latest study fits with other research showing marijuana use has significant effects on young people because their brains are still developing, and Beiter said he has become convinced that marijuana should only be used by people under 30 if they need it to manage pain from a terminal illness.
http://news.yahoo.com/casual-pot-causes-brain-abnormalities-young-study-020709104--finance.html

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 10:53 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting studies coming out on this, Randall!

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Sibyl
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posted April 16, 2014 10:54 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sibyl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Never tried it. Never will Good thread.

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PixieJane
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posted April 16, 2014 11:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieJane     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Has anyone done studies on the immediate and long term effects of say Ritalin on developing brains?

They hadn't when they started pushing these pills on all too many kids and I don't see how that's legal. I guess the companies that make the pills must pay a lot of money to politicians.

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 11:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think if you are going to take a substance for an issue, whatever that issue may be, anxiety, focusing etc, it should be God made. Pot is God made. Ritalin is man made.

Of course, no one should get hooked on anything, ideally, but I would trust nature more than man, myself.

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Sibyl
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posted April 16, 2014 11:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sibyl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ami Anne:
I think if you are going to take a substance for an issue, whatever that issue may be, anxiety, focusing etc, it should be God made. Pot is God made. Ritalin is man made.

Of course, no one should get hooked on anything, ideally, but I would trust nature more than man, myself.


That doesn't make sense at all. Ritalin is made of natural matter too. Weed is not God-made it is an unnatural use of a natural plant. If you do believe that God created this earth then that doesn't mean that he created the plant for that purpose.

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I'm so cappy
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posted April 16, 2014 11:29 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for I'm so cappy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ami, are you trying to say you'd be ok with marijuana being legal in all the states?

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7thGuardian
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posted April 16, 2014 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 7thGuardian     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
On the 7'th day God made marijuana - and while testing his creation, he decided that it's time for chlling.

Love is green! Peaceeee yoo!

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Kerosene
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posted April 16, 2014 08:22 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah I don't care.

Studies I MEAN POLITICS say everything is bad for you..
Did you having having your lap top on your lap is destroying your reproductive system.

I bet Ami smokes some dank **** ..
I know so many Gemini stoners it helps all the tension.

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Catalina
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posted April 16, 2014 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Catalina     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I wonder if it's generational? Many of the most motivated, successful people of the last several generations were pot smokers. Fluoridated water is said to have these kinds of effects, too. I always wonder, too, what kind of controls does a study like this use?

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 08:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by I'm so cappy:
Ami, are you trying to say you'd be ok with marijuana being legal in all the states?



Yes, I think it should be legal. I don't think anyone should go to prison for pot.Many, many medical drugs are soooo much worse.

I don't smoke pot, for anyone's interest. I try not to get addicted to substances but I think it is very hypocritical for the plethora of medical drugs to be legal when this natural substance is not.

I do not think pot is innocuous because if one gets addicted to this or anything, it is a problem but I don't think pot should be illegal, either.

That is my opinion.

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 08:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kerosene:
Yeah I don't care.

Studies I MEAN POLITICS say everything is bad for you..
Did you having having your lap top on your lap is destroying your reproductive system.

I bet Ami smokes some dank **** ..
I know so many Gemini stoners it helps all the tension.


I would tell you if I did smoke. I don't because I know I could easily become addicted to anything.

I have Neptune in the 1st with trines to the Sun and Merc.

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Jo B
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posted April 16, 2014 09:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jo B     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I smoke it VERY occasionally in moderation, I drink occasionally in moderation. Both are fun... in moderation.

Every day I breathe in carcinogenic fumes from cars/buses in the city - no-one has banned that. I'm sure a little pot won't tip me over the edge.

Pot has clear medicinal benefits and I believe it should be universally legalised with an age limit (of say 21) on being able to purchase it. Then people have the choice. Not everyone likes it anyway.

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 09:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't like to feel out of control. It freaks me out. After a C section, they gave me one dose of morphine.

I felt really weird like my legs were really long and other strange kinds of things like I was in a fun house mirror.

I told them that I only wanted Tylenol 3 after that.

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PlutoSurvivor
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posted April 16, 2014 09:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PlutoSurvivor     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The brain is not fully developed until age 28, the physiology of it, that is. (This corresponds to the Saturn cycle, too) Anything you do that kills your brain cells before then does permanent damage. I tell young folks if they want to make weed a habit then wait until after your brain is fully grown. It doesn't take scientific evidence to be able to tell how anything in excess is damaging. Any natural substance when misused or used in excess is damaging.

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PlutoSurvivor
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posted April 16, 2014 09:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PlutoSurvivor     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There have been some humerous remarks in this thread. Great conversation. I was just talking to a friend this weekend who met up with someone from the past. This person now lives in Colorado and grows weed for a living. It's just not one natural plant species from nature that he grows. He does harvest from heirloom species, but he also develops new varieties and crossbreeds many, developing strains where each one tops the next. Some have unusual names based on their appearance. There's no soil, just mulch. As soon as the bankers get involved in this business it's likely the same thing will happen to cannabis as happened to tobacco. Look out.

Anyway I'm having fun learning new things about this new "industry" through 2nd hand information, but I was invited to go visit "the farm" in the future, so that would bring me first hand knowledge.

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PlutoSurvivor
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posted April 16, 2014 09:46 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PlutoSurvivor     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ami Anne:
I don't like to feel out of control. It freaks me out. After a C section, they gave me one dose of morphine.

Hee hee. My first was C sect and second was VBAC. I was wondering why they had to put a limit on that morphine pump. I kept pushing that button and nothing came out. [chuckling]

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Ami Anne
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posted April 16, 2014 10:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
LOL PS

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I'm so cappy
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posted April 17, 2014 07:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for I'm so cappy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ami Anne:

Yes, I think it should be legal. I don't think anyone should go to prison for pot.Many, many medical drugs are soooo much worse.

I don't smoke pot, for anyone's interest. I try not to get addicted to substances but I think it is very hypocritical for the plethora of medical drugs to be legal when this natural substance is not.

I do not think pot is innocuous because if one gets addicted to this or anything, it is a problem but I don't think pot should be illegal, either.

That is my opinion.



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YoursTrulyAlways
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posted April 17, 2014 08:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for YoursTrulyAlways     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Catalina:
I wonder if it's generational? Many of the most motivated, successful people of the last several generations were pot smokers. Fluoridated water is said to have these kinds of effects, too. I always wonder, too, what kind of controls does a study like this use?


Hell no! No narcotics, no cigarettes and almost no alcohol here (I do have a glass of wine once in a while).

It's more a function of political philosophy. You won't find weed in Bible thumping land.

Further evidence that I really ought not to frequent this forum.

This banker would napalm the tobacco crop, and would do the same to the weed farms, along with the distribution channels.

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Ami Anne
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posted April 17, 2014 08:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Cappy

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PixieJane
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posted April 17, 2014 08:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PixieJane     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Devil wants you to smoke HIS weed, but even he has to admit Johnny's is better...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4iCaDCX3jY

But, what if? What if GOD smoked cannabis?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PybtBKSAtLM

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Sibyl
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posted April 17, 2014 08:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Sibyl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
This banker would napalm the tobacco crop, and would do the same to the weed farms, along with the distribution channels.

YES! I'm with you all the way! If it was up to me I would further penalize cigarettes and tax both alcohol and sugar to a greater extent to make it less attractive. What a great way for the state to make money. Then perhaps they could also subsidize healthy things like gyms.

I do not understand people who mess with their minds and bodies. It's nothing short of stupidity.

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I'm so cappy
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posted April 17, 2014 08:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for I'm so cappy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Ami Anne:
Cappy


I couldn't help myself You surprised me positively.

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Ami Anne
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posted April 17, 2014 08:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ami Anne     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Cappy
JUST when someone puts me in a box, I jump out and they will be shocked, for the better or worse

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