Marijuana May Shrink Parts of the Brain

[BridgeTheGap]

MONDAY, June 2 (HealthDay News) -- People who use marijuana for a long time can develop abnormalities in their brains, Australian researchers report.

Although growing literature suggests that long-term marijuana use is associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, many people believe it is relatively harmless and should be legalized, the researchers noted.

"However, this study shows long-term, heavy cannabis use causes significant brain injury, memory loss, difficulties learning new information, and psychotic symptoms, such as delusions of persecution , delusions of mind-reading, and bizarre social behaviors in even non-vulnerable users," said lead researcher Murat Yucel, from the ORYGEN Research Centre and the Neuropsychiatry Centre at the University of Melbourne.

This new evidence plays an important role in further understanding the effects of marijuana and its impact on brain functioning, Yucel said. "The study is the first to show that long-term cannabis use can adversely affect all users, not just those in the high-risk categories such as the young, or those susceptible to mental illness, as previously thought," he said.

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100204691>=31036

[grytpype]

1. Five joints a day, every day for 20 years!

I don't know where they found test subjects who smoked that much.

[frylock]

13. mental hospital

[midnight]

2. This is interesting in the wake of so many uses for the good.

I remember, not to long ago, that mothers and their parenting style were the link for children with Autism. Also Mothers were responsible if their son was gay. These growing research opinions are sometimes not substantiated.

[notadmblnd]

3. This is bullshit

and that's coming from a 49 yr old user that has smoked since she was 15, held a job for 28 years, is currently a student with a 3.48 GPA, and have no medical problems mental or physical, what so ever.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

8. Of course the "49 yo student" thing gives you pause but

Only kidding. My wifes still in school and she is in her mid 30's. Sounds like you are doing well.

David

[notadmblnd]

10. I went back to college after my IT job went over seas and my husband died

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

11. Sorry for your loss.

I figured it was a life change situation that's why I said I was only kidding. Didn't mean to make light of your situation though, I apologize and again am sorry for your loss.

David

[notadmblnd]

14. I knew you were kidding, but I thought I should explain.

BTW thanks for your condolences.

[mainegreen]

4. Oh fer christ sakes, what the hell DOESN'T cause damage over a lifetime???!

Even OXYGEN is bad for you in the long run. Living in cities is certainly bad for your health, and you don't see people running around crying out that we should ban cities. Hell, to much SOY is bad for you.

A) Anything and everything is bad for you in enough quantity
B) Over the long haul you WILL degrade.
C) People have the right to choose their own vices. Everyone on Earth has vices, so don't be a hoighty toity snotface about how other peoples vices are bad.

Why are these lunatics so obsesses with one plant?

[Celebration]

5. exactly

Like, uh, alcohol is great for the brain? And it is legal? Why not compare alcoholics with marijuaniholics? Or, better yet, prescription drugs like ritalin (used at high doses over a long period of time, of course).

[nebenaube]

6. Sleep deprivation

as well as alcohol use already been shown to shrink the brain... Bogus bullshit research!

[sam sarrha]

7. i did research for Shell Research Development Corporation.. anything can be proven. to infer all

cannabis use produces the same effects is typical of Faso-Corporatism supporting the paper, Cotton, pharmaceutical industry.. and big oil. there is a definate attempt to frame all thc use as destructive

if used as tea for chronic pain..arthritus etc. it is the best pain killer..
before aspirin, THC WAS PRESCRIBED IN MASSIVE DOSES FOR EVERYTHING. it was the most prescribed drug in the united states if not the entire world.. till campaign contributions from DOW made it illegal, so they could corner the paper market and make acid based paper out of trees CLEAR CUT for free off public lands..


http://www.onlinepot.org/grow/jack13.htm I COULDN'T GET INTO JACK'S SITE, SCROLL DOWN TO THE CHAPTERS LIST

[Warpy]

9. Long term, heavy use of ANYTHING is damaging, folks

Grass is the closest thing we're ever going to see to a medically benign psychoactive drug.

[varkam]

15. No doubt. eom

[semillama]

12. If you substitute "GD: P" for "Cannabis" in the following quote

it still makes perfect sense. Just sayin'. :evilgrin:

""However, this study shows long-term, heavy cannabis use causes significant brain injury, memory loss, difficulties learning new information, and psychotic symptoms, such as delusions of persecution , delusions of mind-reading, and bizarre social behaviors in even non-vulnerable users," said lead researcher Murat Yucel, from the ORYGEN Research Centre and the Neuropsychiatry Centre at the University of Melbourne."