DieHardBrownsFan Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALTH Casual marijuana use linked with brain abnormalities, study finds By Loren Grush Published April 15, 2014FoxNews.com Facebook381 Twitter347 Gplus0 REUTERS/MICHAEL KOOREN Casual marijuana use may come with some not-so-casual side effects. For the first time ever, researchers at Northwestern University have analyzed the relationship between casual use of marijuana and brain changes – and found that young adults who used cannabis just once or twice a week showed significant abnormalities in two important brain structures. ADVERTISEMENT The study’s findings, to be published Wednesday in the Journal of Neuroscience, are similar to those of past research linking chronic, long-term marijuana use with mental illness and changes in brain development. Dr. Hans Breiter, co-senior study author, said he was inspired to look at the effects of casual marijuana use after previous work in his lab found that heavy cannabis use caused similar brain abnormalities to those seen in patients with schizophrenia. "The interaction of marijuana with brain development could be a significant problem."- Dr. Hans Breiter, co-senior study author “There were abnormalities in their working memory, which is fundamental to everything you do,” Breiter, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told FoxNews.com. “When you make judgments or decisions, plan things, do mathematics – anything you do always involves working memory. It’s one of the core fundamental aspects of our brains that we use every day. So given those findings, we decided we need to look at casual, recreational use.” For their most recent study, Breiter and his team analyzed a very small sample of patients between the ages of 18 and 25: 20 marijuana users and 20 well-matched control subjects. The marijuana users had a wide range of usage routines, with some using the drug just once or twice a week and others using it every single day. Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers analyzed the participants’ brains, focusing on the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and the amygdala – two key brain regions responsible for processing emotions, making decisions and motivation. They looked at these brain structures in three different ways, measuring their density, volume and shape. According to Breiter, all three were abnormal in the casual marijuana users. “For the NAC, all three measures were abnormal, and they were abnormal in a dose-dependent way, meaning the changes were greater with the amount of marijuana used,” Breiter said. “The amygdala had abnormalities for shape and density, and only volume correlated with use. But if you looked at all three types of measures, it showed the relationships between them were quite abnormal in the marijuana users, compared to the normal controls.” Because these brain regions are central for motivation, the findings from Northwestern help support the well-known theory that marijuana use leads to a condition called amotivation. Also called amotivational syndrome, this psychological condition causes people to become less oriented towards their goals and purposes in life, as well as seem less focused in general. Given these eye-opening results, Breiter said that more research is needed to look into marijuana’s effects on the brain – even in those who use the drug only once or twice a month. “We need to see what happens longitudinally,” Breiter said. “What happens as you follow people over time? What happens if they stop using – do these bad effects continue? What happens if you can intervene early?...My worry is we haven’t studied this compound and here we are looking to change legislation on it.” Although Breiter’s team members did not examine the patients’ cognitive symptoms, they do believe that the brain abnormalities seen in their study could lead to substantial effects on brain development and behavior, especially given the young ages of the participants. Breiter also acknowledged the problems of analyzing a very small study sample – but said that their findings should still serve as a wake-up call to others. “This study is just a beginning pilot study, but at the same time, the results that came out are the same as a canary in a coal mine,” Breiter said. “...The interaction of marijuana with brain development could be a significant problem.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 well most marijuana users I know or a little bit, well, slow if you know what I mean. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHardBrownsFan Posted April 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Legalize It Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 I also made the mistake of reading through some comments... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicIsForSquares Posted April 15, 2014 Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 I don't think they are any more Retarded than your average drunk. They both annoy the fuck out of me but I don't think either should be illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I don't think they are any more Retarded than your average drunk. They both annoy the fuck out of me but I don't think either should be illegal.it's just that it seems to me that weed smokers smoke more often than beer drinkers drink. I'm sure that varies in many cases, just seems to me its motors are more obsessed with it.WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cysko Kid Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 There is a subculture of lazy shiftless layabouts that are high on weed all day. I know a number of people however that are respectable that smoke weed casually. Casually doesn't mean you're decked out in tie dye at the phish show high all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cysko Kid Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Drunks are more lowdown dirty gutter red nosed kill a family driving down the wrong side of the highway crapping their pants sad than lazy ass potheads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browns149 Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Weed smokers are much better to deal with the drunks. Weed smokers say screw it while drunks say I'll fight you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 it's just that it seems to me that weed smokers smoke more often than beer drinkers drink. I'm sure that varies in many cases, just seems to me its motors are more obsessed with it. WSS I think we as a society are just so used to alcohol, beer especially, from ads everywhere, TV shows, etc, that we just don't notice it as much. It doesn't register as much. Either way, if alcohol is going to be legal, I see no reason to not legalize weed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canton Mike Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 it's just that it seems to me that weed smokers smoke more often than beer drinkers drink. I'm sure that varies in many cases, just seems to me its motors are more obsessed with it. WSS Steve, I'm not sure it's "smoke more than drink". See my comments below. I argued this in Vietnam. I hadn't then, & STILL have NEVER, used marijuana or any other illegal drug. A friend in 'Nam told me his smoking pot was no different than my drinking beer. My answer was,and remains, that pot is smoked, EVERY time, to get high whereas I can (and usually DO) drink a beer simply as a beverage. I also maintain that EITHER pot or beer, imbibed to the point of abuse, will have lasting, negative effects. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blowe Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Steve, I'm not sure it's "smoke more than drink". See my comments below. I argued this in Vietnam. I hadn't then, & STILL have NEVER, used marijuana or any other illegal drug. A friend in 'Nam told me his smoking pot was no different than my drinking beer. My answer was,and remains, that pot is smoked, EVERY time, to get high whereas I can (and usually DO) drink a beer simply as a beverage. I also maintain that EITHER pot or beer, imbibed to the point of abuse, will have lasting, negative effects. Mike Hey mike, but you can also cook thc into food and eat pot as well. What do you say to that argument? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canton Mike Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Hey mike, but you can also cook thc into food and eat pot as well. What do you say to that argument? WHAT argument? What was discussed is "smoking" pot & lasting effects which I believe exist. I don't think rationalizing usage was a purpose of this thread. As far as cooking, I use beer in certain chili, shredded beef, & BBQ recipes (as a marinade). The alcohol is cooked OUT. The beer serves as a tenderizing & flavoring agent. I neither have experience/knowledge of cooking/eating thc/pot nor do I intend to do so. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Steve, I'm not sure it's "smoke more than drink". See my comments below. I argued this in Vietnam. I hadn't then, & STILL have NEVER, used marijuana or any other illegal drug. A friend in 'Nam told me his smoking pot was no different than my drinking beer. My answer was,and remains, that pot is smoked, EVERY time, to get high whereas I can (and usually DO) drink a beer simply as a beverage. I also maintain that EITHER pot or beer, imbibed to the point of abuse, will have lasting, negative effects. Mike I think a lot of the pot smokers I know aren't looking to get high, they're just looking to relax and maybe take the edge off a day - which sounds very similar to the reason I might grab a pint after work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I'm only speaking from my personal experiences. Seems to me the pot smokers are on a quest. It's almost a way of life for them rather than a casual occasional buzz. I don't know many drinkers, of course I know some and I'm sure they exist, that sneak out to the car every so often for a couple of swigs from the Johnnie Walker bottle. Pot smokers seem to do that more often, that is taking hits as the day goes along. And as I've said before especially annoying when the band is rehearsing because a little pot does a lot of damage to the memory especially the s*** we are there to learn. I don't know if woody would consider getting a big buzz on well he's studying for one of his harder exams. Probably not. I don't suppose you would get s*** hammered drunk either. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 One difference is that pot has been shown to relieve pain for terminally ill patients. So I'm in favor of legalized pot for medical use. As for this study, like the author said the sample size is too small, but the fact that their was correlation between amount of use and amygala volume is compelling enough that I'd love too see someone do a study with larger sample size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieHardBrownsFan Posted April 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I think a lot of the pot smokers I know aren't looking to get high, they're just looking to relax and maybe take the edge off a day - which sounds very similar to the reason I might grab a pint after work. Pot smokers smoke to get high. I confess to smoking pot in my younger days, and yes, we all did it to get high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cysko Kid Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I'm only speaking from my personal experiences. Seems to me the pot smokers are on a quest. It's almost a way of life for them rather than a casual occasional buzz. I don't know many drinkers, of course I know some and I'm sure they exist, that sneak out to the car every so often for a couple of swigs from the Johnnie Walker bottle. Pot smokers seem to do that more often, that is taking hits as the day goes along. And as I've said before especially annoying when the band is rehearsing because a little pot does a lot of dama ge to the memory especially the s*** we are there to learn. I don't know if woody would consider getting a big buzz on well he's studying for one of his harder exams. Probably not. I don't suppose you would get s*** hammered drunk either. WSS What a fuckin buzzkill. I wonder if the Beatles got pissy if George fired up in the studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cysko Kid Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Pot smokers smoke to get high. I confess to smoking pot in my younger days, and yes, we all did it to get high. You should smoke now. Maybe you'll start seeing shades of grey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westside Steve Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 What a fuckin buzzkill. I wonder if the Beatles got pissy if George fired up in the studio. Hey they were probably tripping anyway. WSS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I dont smoke and I don't really drink. I can't imagine getting high while studying for a big exam would help at all though haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cysko Kid Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 I dont smoke and I don't really drink. I can't imagine getting high while studying for a big exam would help at all though hahaIt would if you were getting high on adderall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 It would if you were getting high on adderall Or whatever that drug was in Limitless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLD Woody Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 The people I know that have used Adderall to study are from high school and weren't the best students to begin with. If some student ends up at an ivy league school and its super stressful and they can't handle it, maybe they turn to adderrall get by? Idk. Studying sucks but I've never felt remotely the need for something like that. I'm sure it is different in engineering though, as opposed to a degree where it is more memorization Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calfoxwc Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 They say that the ingredient in "medical" marijuana can be extracted and put into pills. That way, you don't have lung diseases to deal with. wouldn't that be the better way to go, medically? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicIsForSquares Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 They say that the ingredient in "medical" marijuana can be extracted and put into pills. That way, you don't have lung diseases to deal with. wouldn't that be the better way to go, medically? Even regular pot can be put into baked goods. I don't dig pot (I just fell asleep the two times I tried it) but if I were to decide all of a sudden I wanted to have another go at it I would take an edible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osiris Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 They say that the ingredient in "medical" marijuana can be extracted and put into pills. That way, you don't have lung diseases to deal with. wouldn't that be the better way to go, medically? Of that is indeed the case, sure it's worth a shot. One thing I learned in my neuro studies was that the mode and rate of delivery is important in the efficacy of a drug. So putting it in a pill may or may not work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 Of that is indeed the case, sure it's worth a shot. One thing I learned in my neuro studies was that the mode and rate of delivery is important in the efficacy of a drug. So putting it in a pill may or may not work. Indeed - I'm sure the delivery can be selected intelligently for the desired effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy Fan Posted April 16, 2014 Report Share Posted April 16, 2014 They say that the ingredient in "medical" marijuana can be extracted and put into pills. That way, you don't have lung diseases to deal with. wouldn't that be the better way to go, medically? Not if you're a chemo patient that can't keep any food or pills down. Or have lost your appetite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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