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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
umm that is stupid like why
umm that is stupid like why would you even do that COME ON ! it doesnt matter you are still doing a drug and its bad for you! GET A LIFE ;)
same way
I just started smoking, im thirteen years old. When im high, i feel extrememly paranoid and my anxiety is at the highest level ever. ever since i got high my life is completely different, a different i hate. i feel high ALL the time i hate it. i feel the same way but you really should stop and start thinking about your education, thats just my opinion.
I can see the effects of
I can see the effects of marijauna just by how these people use grammer and spelling in their remarks to this page.
Marijuana alters the ability to stay focused to get a proper education.
Associating weed with spelling problems????
1- We are on the net it is totaly normal these days not tu use correct spelling.
2- People here aren't all from English countries (me)
3- Some people who don't smoke weed can makes alot of spelling errors.
Then your argument is INVALID!!!!!!!!!
U cant match weed and spelling errors lol
Mota
I would like to ask you if the short term memory effects only happen when you are under the influence of the drug, or afterwards perhaps are they permanent? Ive been smoking pot for 1 year now and now we are on 2010 but 2009 and marijuana changed my whole life I won't ever forget 2009 has been the best year.
It probably depends on the
It probably depends on the person, well im almost 17 and I'm a girl, and I only loose my memory for a little bit, but I get it back, and it only happens when im high(:
Weed
You guys make it sound as if marijuana is not so bad. Most of the time I feel stressed out in life because my parents have turned their financial situation into hell because of their own lack of knowledge about money. And the fact that they are old and lazy. I was tempted to start smoking pot once, but I wasn't sure should I do it.
One thing I always noticed though. A friend of mine that smoked poke was extremely smart. It wasn't like he was "hardworking smart", but he just had that "gifted smart". I know for a fact he never studied for one minute and when he took the AP Music Theory Exam with us, he passed with a 4, which is pretty high. I also notice that sometimes, pot in a sense can make people react slower. I guess that's due to the fact that they like the feeling of being high and always think about it more than anything else. I know that it's different for everyone.
Basically I don't know what risk weed could have on me. I don't wanna try it and end up super suicidal or strung out for the rest of my life on one hit. But I do find out that all the people that have ever done pot live a better quality mental life than I do, and I really need some form of escape. Most anti-weed people say "take control of your life and get on!", but see, I can't do that because I'm stuck with my parents. My dad is already thinking about taking disability and my mom works at night and she can't help him around the house. If I would have left home to go to college my dad would be worse off, because I have a teeny bit of medical skills and I can fix him up if he scrapes himself. He has a bum knee from a fall on the job and he has never been right since. Also his hearing is fading and all he does is say "what? What did you say. I get tired of shouting just so he can hear. If it wasn't for me being here my family would be worse off, but at the same time I hate being here because of them. They want me to do everything, like come push a glass on the table 2 inches closer so they can reach. It's the little stuff that ticks me off but I just bear it.
I used to love driving. I love driving a lot. I'm try to lose some weight so I can one day maybe do a bit of MotorSport. But guess what my car broke down and now I can't go to work, I can barely pay my cellphone and I have to get rides back and forth to the college.
Since I lost my only form of "release", I wonder should I wait until I get my car fixed, or smoke weed. I will try not to combine both, but I don't know what effect it will have on me.
But one thing for sure I know. Pot costs less than getting my car fixed for some odd 500+ dollars and gas if it does get fixed.
ok i say you sort your life
ok i say you sort your life out first, befor you forget about everything, weed will make you forget about everything and you will be to lazy to do the little things your parents want.
I see weed as luxurgy(cant spell) if you cant afford, the time or money, then dont do it
Im 15 i have been smoking for 2 years
weed dose fuck with your head so u better be ready for it
To all those who have a problem with Marijuana but smoke Tobacco
There's a fair number of people commenting here in a very negative way towards Marijuana, and I would say to any of those who smoke Tobacco who've said anything derogatory to the potheads here, you're a damned hypocrite! Tobacco kills more people than all illegal drugs combined, it addicts 70% of first time users, a higher percentage than even heroin! www.whyquit.com is where I got all my info from. I got off cigs thanks to that site!
A challenge to all who oppose the pros of marijuana
First of all, I'm actually really appalled by the negative responses on here bashing against those that made their own decisions to smoke the plant.
Of course, like anything, marijuana isn't for everyone. If you REALLY can't handle the basics in life and need drugs to cope it out, you need to take a step back and balance your priorities.
It doesn't go for all of us, though. Let's take a look at my shoes.
My family was never rich. We got bare-bone to survive and maybe a little extra. So because of this, when I graduated high school, I was awarded my first car. It was a junky car, but it worked. Slightly. I had just gotten a job at Best Buy, along with having a car to get there and back with. I was doing good starting out, getting ready for college and figuring out my enrollment options.
Few months go by. Guess what happens next? I'll sum it up right here: I got SHIT ON. COMPLETELY. BY LIFE.
I got laid off from my job, my car broke down, thus rendering me incapable of going to school. I had no money to get it fixed, nor was I eligible for financial aid, as my parents made just above the poverty line.
So I was screwed! Life turned sour- and I'll tell you this for sure: I wanted to off myself. I woke up every day miserable feeling like a bum, not being able to go anywhere. I felt like I was a burden on my parents not being able to help with the rent, while using up their money for utilities.
So I moved out into my best friend's house to start new, where I was introduced to marijuana.
MARIJUANA. Best stuff ever. I won't call it a drug because compared to the real drugs out there, it's weak BS. Let's call it a mind-altering substance. Yeah, that works!
I smoked this stuff all the time and guess what- it saved me from hitting that breaking point. Whenever I smoked, even if I knew I'd just come back to reality and have to deal with the world, I could still be happy for just that moment and be grateful for being alive and knowing that I have ALL MY LIFE to become successful, and that was enough to convince me not to leave this world.
My friends (and foes), the reason marijuana was even made illegal in the first place was because of fear of minorities rising in power. It was spread and manipulated as "the crazy drug" and the government made absolute sure that the country knew that it could rise the un-wanted black-man to power. GIVE ME A BREAK.
People need to start opening their eyes and observing how much of a problem it is having the most effective, useful, and efficient crop being banned. We're really destroying ourselves trying to grow alternatives.
I'm sure it'll be made legal soon. And while those of you who protest this may think otherwise, if it does happen and you're a drinker and happen to drink & drive one night swerving around while I just got high and decided to drive ten under while going to 7-11 and you fly into me and kill me, I'll just come back and haunt you saying "I told you so."
PS - Not all drug users are morons. As you can tell, I know my stuff with my vocabulary and grammar. Everybody is different. I know people that don't do drugs at all and they talk like an absolute retard. (STOP TRYING TO STEREOTYPE- YOU JUST KNOW YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF REASONS TO BE ANTI-WEED.)
my weed expirences
Well my weed expirences all started when a friend of mine convinced me to try marijuana for the first time. i never thought about smoking befor that day. but when he told me about how much fun he had when he smokes, and all the sudden i just lost interest in writing this story. hmmmm well i hope this helps u with whatever. sorry i couldnt write u one of my cool weed stories
P.S. weed isnt that bad of a drug in my opinion, nor is it a gateway drug. its just something i do occationally with my friends.i would probably do it more but my best friend got put on a contract so he is no longer able to smoke weed. wow now i feel like telling u guys one of my weed stories. oh well u will survive without.
P.S.S i can belive ur still reading this go get a hobby
im 13 years old and ive been
im 13 years old and ive been smoking weed scince i was 10 and my grades have gone up and im dont have short term memory lost.actually i think im remember to much. when i have problems weed solves them.because im more open i can get inside my own head and find out what wrong.and your wrong weed affect people in different ways.boys tell me cause im a girl i shouldnt smoke weed but like i always say. a blunt a day makes everything ok.
ganja
im so high right now. but i'm fully functional... see i can type all of this. remember where i went and what i read. i have total control over my constant smoking habits. and why wasnt i caLled for the experiments.
yep im so high, gotta go smoke so be back another time..
where we smoke all day in east orange, nj cant wait for the legalization
OK so i suffer from sever
OK so i suffer from sever A.D.D and i do have problem focusing and paying attention, even with perscription medications that Doctors have given me my attention span to everything does not change. But when i started smokeing marijuana most of the affect of A.D.D had gone away. I am now a college grad and making about 95,000 bucks a year as an automotive mechanic. There is not a day i do not go to work high and there was not a day i didnt go to school high because i could not focus. And understand that being a mechanic requires alot of memory, and i remember everything i learned in college 2 years ago even though i was under the influence so there does seem to be some falw in your pper because if short term memory loss is a side effect it sure wasnt for me.
What is good for one is NOT necessarily good for everyone!
I would like to start by saying that I've never smoked pot or have done any drugs other than prescribed medications and over the counter ones...
Second, I would like you all to understand that I am a Mother...and one that loves her daughter very much. She's 17 and has been smoking pot for several years and ever since her life has taken a down curve...she's a beautiful young woman and was very smart as a small child. She could walk and read and knew her colors and speak full sentences before the other children I knew and everyone marveled at her intelligence. She went through public school easily enough. As it turned out, she was of average intelligence and that is perfectly fine with me.
She decided that her method of dealing with stress's in her life was to smoke pot. It DID lead to other harder drugs which nearly destroyed us all...however, she overcame her addiction to cocaine and E on her own...She is a very tenacious girl and has deep stubborn streak...
Her father and I are very proud that she kicked the harder drugs but she is holding on to smoking pot as a life line. She defends it to the core...and as I read alot of the comments from those of you that are daily pot smokers, I hear her words in my ears...
As a rational and drug free person, I have the ability to recongnize that pot can be easily handled by some of you and it's no more debiliating to your lives than my enjoying the odd glass of wine...I drink socially and usually to help me relax, so I am not totally unaware of the pleasure that pot may bring to those that do it.
I also know that I don't need scientific evidence to know that pot is currenly taking over my daughters life and because of the preconcieved notions of the medical providers, my daughter is not going to get the kind of help she needs...
She will not quit smoking pot because we want her to. She relys on it to get through her days...Days that are not every fulfilling...she was kicked out of school due to poor attendance. At a different school she was politely asked not to attend the 1st semester of this year due to poor attendance...she doesn't enjoy activities anymore and is very difficult to talk to. She only responds when I am agreeing with her, she has an extreme superiority complex and only hangs out with her friends...her friends and pot are her life at this point in time...
She says she is determined to go back to school but doesn't know how it will happen. I've told her she needs to take more responsibility for herself and her future....she has bigs ideas of living a grandiose life, filled with nice things and a nice bank account but she has no idea, not even the slightist concept of how is it happen. I only want what is best for my daughter but everywhere I turn I am faced with obstactles...
I need to find a site that is more in touch with reality,,,and also maybe people that are in touch with reality...people that can understand that POT is NOT a good choice to be making...nor is excessive drinking, smoking or other drugs useage.
Yes it may have medicinal uses, but so does tylenol...but most of us only take it to get rid of pain..not to take us to another plane or world...
Life sucks most of the time and if some people want to use pot to transend to a mental high to deal with it then so be it...but all of those that smoke pot and defend it as nothing more then a way to chill need to understand that for some (my daughter) included can't smoke pot without side effects...POT can destroy lives...even the lives of those that don't smoke it...it breaks hearts of mothers and fathers...it tears apart families...it causes some teens to either run away from disagreeable parents or get kicked out of their homes...it does effect the body...everything effects the body...there is no ignoring that...and yes, it can cause paranoia...
And ironically enough...every pot smoking defender I have met or read about believe that they are of superior intelligence...I don't think this is a coincidence...
Of course I haven't met an avid pot smoker yet that can emotionally handle any negative talk about POT...and why not, lets face it, why would they want to have something that makes them feel good taken away from them?...They are addicted....MENTALLY ADDICTED...their minds crave the feelings brought on by POT and they are not willing let go of it...and my daughter is one of the biggest defenders of pot and would like to see it legalized...however, because she is so busy getting high, or thinking about getting high, or planning on how to get high she simply is too lazy to do anything to have it legalized...
I need help with my daughter, I want to know that she will be able to handle life and care for herself in a manner that makes her happy...but until her issue with pot is dealt with, the medical providers won't help her...so how do I get her to understand that she NEEDS TO STOP SMOKING POT? Especially when it doesn't effect her friends the negative way it effects her?...
Any intelligent advice would be appreciated!
good luck mrs trudy,read this please
smoking weed is not for everyone, the second it becomes destructive or hindering in any way, it needs to stop.i have an extreme problem with many comments on this website. kids saying they are 14 and smoking pot, complaining about how it is making them feel anxious and destroying their lives. grow up. you are much too young, your brain isnt ready. how are you supposed to make anything out of yourself in life if you arent even living it. live in the now, sober, confident, and in control. dont make a crutch for yourself that you will never be able to break. focus on school, and family. always know that everything will be alright, and just live to the fullest while you can. you dont need weed to do that. btw i am typing too fast to really care about grammar...anyway, i am a full time college student. i am at the top of my classes. i have a great job, family, and am taking care of my life. i want this to be understood. in the past, i have found that smoking has helped me open up my mind, and helped me to see into my fears, problems, trials and tribulations. i faced them, head on. it was only after i was able to basically map out my life in my head, that i was able to get on the right path. it is a sad fact that i needed help to do this, but im glad i got it. like i said, smoking is not for everyone. i still make mistakes, granted, and i still have problems now and then. i just want people to understand that you can see things in life clearly if you know how. high or not. the world is changing all around us. it always has been. life is short so enjoy it. dont fuck your life up. notice i didnt say "dont LET WEED fuck your life up." people who allow this to happen are weak minded. yea, WEAK MINDED. and if you were offended by my last statement guess what... your weak minded. learn to control yourself. sort your life out. your priorities should be 1: your future 2:family. thats it. all the other little pleasures like getting high or partying and friends and all the other bullshit that wont help you at all in the long run falls by the wayside. have sit down time. no tv, no radio, and think. open up your own mind. dont get herbs or drugs to do it for you. get inside your own head. learn to relax. think about your situations, and figure out the best outcome possible. work for that outcome, and keep going. always strive for the better things in life. excel in what you do. dont be greedy, but get what you need to be happy, and to make others happy. dont ever be selfish, but take care of yourself. always remember that circumstances improve if you let them. if you know the problem, solve it. now, after all that rambling... you say your daughter is smoking, and she wont quit. she defends it. she stands by it. she believes in it... i understand that, because i have been there. anything in life can be dangerous. anything in excess is dangerous, and from what you have told me, it sounds like your daughter is smoking in excess. take control of your child, before you lose her completely. i wish my parents would have cared more. never lose hope in her, because if you lose that you lose yourself. if she lives under your roof, you need to have rules. concrete rules that she can understand. put these rules in place because you love your daughter, to help her. she needs to kick the habit, and not go back to it. for her own good. i dont know how you are to explain this to her, but u must find a way. theres no time to be wasted here. understand, you are responsible for her. you birthed her, you nursed her. she is yours. your legacy, your everything. treat her with love and support, but only by ways that are in her best interest. she doesnt weed, she needs support. from what it seems her smoking spawns from a deep rooted problem. nobody becomes that wrapped up into something unless they are trying to escape from something else. she wants you to be there for her. she wants you to be the one to make her happy, not some herb. alll i can really think of to say is that your daughter is not a bad person. she just got caught up in some bad shit. do everything you can to help her, start by explaining to her how her smoking makes u feel. explain your feelings to her. dont disrespect, if you want it you have to to give it. let her know that you are here for her, and that you will always be. explain to her that you understand how many people can smoke and maintain their lives, but many cant. it is not always their fault. get her back in school, help her as best as you can to get a job. help her take control of HER life. she is strong to have kicked harder drugs. she can kick this too. be there, support, understand. thats all a parent can do. i hope my ramblings may have helped you even in the slightest. there are many programs and websites that can help you more. google it. never give up hope. never become apathetic. you seem like a wonderful caring mother. one that loves her daughter very much. i am confident that you and her father and her will find a way to all understand and support each other. i wish you all the best of luck.
you cant always control your current circumstances, but you can always control you.
I am a 36 year old mother of
I am a 36 year old mother of two young adults, my daughter is 17 and my son is 19. I started smoking pot when I was 11 years old...I have to admit that as a young person pot smoking was not beneficial to me at all!! I was a very gifted student before and after smoking i became very much less interested!! But there were MANY other factors involved, so who's to say it was the pot smoking alone...at about the age of 25 i quit smoking (and drinking) for about 5 years. Then by chance i took it up again and have been a daily user for the past 11 years...as an adult i am affected much differently.. i have completed a massage therapy certification program, taken a variety of interesting courses our the local community college, opened my own business, taught for a community college and am now pre-med!!! My son has also recently started smoking pot...at first he was completely anti, but now he is pro (obviously), he has commented on how much more interesting his college classes are and how he is able to focus better. Before he was ready to quit school, now he is eager to continue! What i'm trying to get at is that it sounds like your daughter has some underlying issues that need to be dealt with and if her therapist won't work with her until she "gets off pot" then you guys should find another therapist!! If you trust and keep the faith then her life may turn out just fine..none of had it all together at 17!
I agree.
I'm sorry that I can't give you any advice. But, I myself am a 17 year old girl, like your daughter. Although I do not smoke or do any other drugs, I understand what its like to be under pressure as a teenager. there have been times where things seemed totally hopeless and i was open to anything. I don't know if you're religious in any way or what your beliefs are... but your daughter has a deep void that needs to be filled and it can only happen through Jesus Christ. I'll be praying for you and your daughter. Stay strong. She loves you and she needs you. I'm sorry I can't be of more service. but I know that He saved my life and I believe he can do the same for her.
Your daughter is 17 years old
Your daughter is 17 years old and facing the same issues of most girls her age. I have an 18 year old daughter who is finally starting to come to terms with being an adult. I thought my smart loving daughter had gone forever the day she turned 17. Being 17 is a struggle for most girls. What was 17 like for you. Your daughter should be commended for giving up the hard drugs.
If smoking pot is helping her get through the day leave her be for now, just accept it. Let her know you would prefer her not to smoke and ask her to respect your wishes by not doing it where you may see her. It's better than the alternatives.
I have watched my daughter go through so much in the past 18 months and felt so glad I would never be 17 again. Being 17 in todays world is not the carefree place it was 25 years ago. Your daughter has got a problem with drugs, she has given up the most harmful ones, be proud of that. I do not believe that pot is going to ruin your daughters life. It sound like most of the problems she has had was when she was taking the other drugs. If she believes she can go back to school, encourage her to do it.
I am 40 and smoked pot for the first time a few months ago. I have spent my life totally anti drugs. I have done plenty of the legal variety over the years, alcohol and tabacco. For me my senses come alive, I have become more creative, I now appreciate the smaller things in life, the sounds of birds in the morning, the smell of flowers in the garden, all those things we are usually too busy to notice. I still function in the corporate world without any problems. Okay I'm an accasional smoker, maybe a couple of times a month. I like the feelings I get when I get high, it reminds me to slow down and enjoy the world. I am certainly not an expert on the subject and cannot see myself becoming a regular user.
If your daughter beleives she needs pot to get through the day you need to accept it as her choice. She will get through this time in her life and take more control of her future when she feels ready. The best thing you can do for a 17 year old is let them know you are there for them no matter how hard it gets. All we can do for your child by this age is guide them on their journey of life, telling them what to do is not the answer.
You should also know I recently found out a friend of mine had been smoking pot daily for 20 years. She told me 8 years into our friendship when she was giving up. I never knew. She is still the same person today as she was when she was smoking pot. To be perfectly honest and I never thought I would say this, I feel safer around stoners than I do around drunks.
Just for the record I have not smoked pot since the New Year. I am straight writing this.
hi i just turned 18 and iv
hi i just turned 18 and iv been smoking since i was 10..maybe not every day but close to everyday.iv been emancipated from my parents and now living with my grandparents.iv recently droped out of school and now im attending GED classes whitch are going very well.when i get my GED im going into a trade.i have had my share with drugs and every drug iv done has effected me in some sort of negative way exept weed.i agree with you that yes people can get addicted to the feeling it gives you but other than that i cannot think of any other negative thing about it.weed brings complete uforia to me and thats why i smoke and well it chills me out.when i had to quit a couple years ago i ended up having to go to counceling for my anger and depression and sapposed to be taking sertraline for my schizophrenia and anxiety.i dont like taking medicine so i started back smoking weed and it helps everything and i dont have to smoke everyday to controle it and no i am not high right now i didnt smoke today,wanted to but oh well i didnt.i dont think that i have a friend one that does not smoke pot and i belive that if they legelised it that it would bring us out of this resesion that we are in.cannibis can be used for a larg number of things and its a proven fact that marijuana is the number one cash crop.weed has done nothing but bring me closer to my family.im just trying to say that your daughter has choices and can do something with her life even if she cant go to school.
im not trying to tell you what to do or how to do it im only 18 but maybe try not being so anti-weed and that dont mean you have to smoke it basicly exept the fact that your daughter smokes.you cant look at the glass half empty you have to look at it half full.
P.S
im not trying to be hostil in any sort of way just trying to help
weed is not that serious. ppl smoke it everyday and its illegal.
I have not smoked a lot. Probably, like 8 times? It hasen't really affected me badly. But, I will say it changes your mood completely. If you shouldn't be smoking, don't do it until you're in the privacy of your own home, and not before work or school.(unless it works for you) It isn't for everybody. I like it because it helps me relax when I am stressed out. Sometimes I smoke it because of rebellion. Sometimes people smoke it because they're depressed. It all depends on the person. It never has made my grades increase, it just made me happy and feel energetic. It just feels good especially after a long day at school or work. Weed is not the cause of you falling out of a car. You got carried away.
sorry for my speeling im just 12 and i am learning english
I just want to say that every body reacts differently to it and also there is alot to take into considaration for example, the way the cannabis is grow and to what potency, the age of the person, gender, metal state,emothional state,status of living,topographical place they reside,time of day, time of season, family state, work status, I.Q, health, type and number of friends, period of time people in the 19th hundreds reacted different to it as opposed to people living now, reaction time, memory capacity,and so many more. i am a user of this plant.
sice i started using it my grades have increased dramaticly my sence of passion and thinking have evoleved beyond imagination, i have incressed in my responabilits and have been helping others i have curratly started to volunteer at my local libary and hospital, i am planing to go to college and study law, and also become an inversionist, before i began smoking i wanted to drop out of school and join a gang! but know that i smoke weed i have learned to think for my self and dont care of others nrgative opinons i am at a an age where many of my fellow studes want to be bad because thay canot think forthem selves and are influenced by the negative things around them, but i have surpased this and now i am an entrupunur i will continue to smoke weed and live a sucssefull live!!!
P.S every year many non-violent criminals areincarccareted for smoking weed, please help themget out by tryingto legalize caniabis, i woudent want to end my dreams because the police got me i want peace and i care for peoples well being.
ya buddy, i've been doping
ya buddy,
i've been doping for the past 7 1/2 years
i smoke upto 12-15 joints b4 i hav ma dinner.
after that i get higggghhhhhh and then REST IN BED....
i got no probs.i feel gr8r everyday and also energetic.
whats your comment
wtf
our debate team is doing a debate on legalizing marijuana and after reading all of your comments, you all need to maybe research the subject a little more, get a life and shut up. if you check the U.S. Department of Health, there are more people every year who die of aspirin than of marijuana. so yeah!
One thing is for sure - the
One thing is for sure - the grammar and syntax of most of the pot smokers on this forum is appalling.
who wnts to b typing like this w/o any punctuation and bad speling and run on sentences that make no sense?
I think there is an arrogance among teenagers and 20 somethings about their own intellectual capacities, and they will overcome that when they get into their 30's and realize that those years they spent stoned "all day every day" are now completely lost to them forever, without a single concrete memory to show for it.
I smoked pot throughout my 20's. Now, I wish I hadn't. It's not that I think it is "bad" - it is just not that great. People who argue that it "helps" them, or that it makes them "concentrate better" are just lazy drug addicts searching for a rationalization. It would be more honest to just say "I don't know how to cope with reality, and therefore, I get high every day."
ok,i do have to argue with
ok,i do have to argue with this one because i know people in their 30's 40's and even 50's that still smoke weed and they have children a wife has a good job and are very happy.they live a normal life if not better than normal.and im not saying that weed made them have a good life.weed is just a thing and they can quit anytime they want,they just choose not to.
ive smoked for about three
ive smoked for about three years. when im high i think of things that solve my problems ad realize sometimes what the problem is. also my grades have gone way up since i started smoking but i dont go to school high or do homework high. i take care of my work well so that after i can just chill and get high
Wisdom for Everyone
Hello to all who these words reach, I wished to join in and give a little data of my own. Everything I have to say is an opinion, it isn't to be judged or accepted, it simply is just an opinion. What should happen here is for you to decide what it is to you...
My name is Jonathan Hoffman I am 20 years old as I write this. I've smoked weed for close to 2 years now. I never found it appealing but I also have to add that in my entire life, I've never grown as much spiritually or mentally as in the last 2 years.
I choose experiences in my life, whether positive or negative I am always aware of the consequences I just SIMPLY DO choose to experience something. As should we all, however at some point most individuals on our planet decided that being told what to do is better than figuring it out for ourselves. We've successfully cheapened the experience of LIFE.
Marijuana brings that experience back to some, I consider those individuals the spiritual smokers.. people who feel connected to god or mother earth, or perhaps one another. They are choosing something that is RIGHT, but only for them.
There are many facets to this world, many "pictures" on the wall so to say. I consider myself the wall, connected to all the pictures so as to see a little or a lot of them all.
There is nothing in itself that is naturally right or wrong in this universe, and I am sorry to say that so many are lost in this world. Not forsaken or given up on but simply lost, be it the mother whose son smokes pot, or the girlfriend who deals with the angry boyfriend, or another kid in school just trying to figure out why everything is so fucked up.
Understand if you are able that smoking marijuana is just another of the facets, and one which can add something positive for some, but can take away from others. Like individuals, you should KEEP PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE AS LONG AS THEY ARE ADDING TO IT, it is when they start taking away that you should let them go. This is true to experiences.
From a perspective not formed in only one place all I can say is that everyone here is just trying to figure out... why they are here. If weed helps you, so be it. If it hurts your relationships and YOUR, I stress YOUR way of life, let it go you can always come back to it later.
I want to address each person individually but it is far easier to state something to address everyone equally.
---Do not let someone else decide what is right or wrong for YOU.
---Words are the worst form of communication, try using feeling if you can. Especially for those mothers out there, reach out with your heart and family will always prevail.
---This world is transitory, move through it do not settle upon the ground. however content you may be, LIFE is moving all around us, and it doesn't get to last forever. Don't race through it, but don't stall too long either. Decide your own pace, and then realize what you've done. :]
---Love. Love. LOVE!
There is so much I wish to say but it doesn't need to be said. If you want to hear more, just listen. I choose to experience this life with ALL it has to offer. The "good" and the "bad" but I know neither truly exists. Use your consideration and intelligence when moving through life. Use your spirit when experiencing it. Use your love when sharing it.
Oh and because it needs to be said.. TRY WITH EARNEST, to see each others pictures... nothing can give more insight and answers.
Hikma(wisdom)
Just wanted to support your opinion on how you approach life with wisdom. If we could only bottle the stuff I'd be willing to give away for free! Please feel free to connect with me if time permits.
well first of all.. i have
well first of all.. i have been smoking weed for about 2 1/2 years now.
i currently smoke everyday. and i love it. it makes me feel so good and great and fine.
i do see the effects of smoking on my short term memory, but it isn't that big of a deal to me.
and it also makes me feel real awful that over half of the people on here that say they smoke weed and think they are "smarter".. aren't.. because quite obviously they aren't smarter at all... there are SO many spelling and grammar mistakes. unless you were like that before you began smoking weed.. but anyways, i guess now i kinda know why some try to say that weed makes you dumber. haha
well sir it is quite easy to
well sir it is quite easy to not punctuate and spell correctly when you are on the computer typing everything out its just easier to write out the jiff of things and not bother with punctuation
and forgot to put that
and forgot to put that peranoia in my comment
weed
I just wanted to say that weed is a gift, and it can make you feel so many different ways.When I'm listening to music and I'm high,I feel so loose and calmed.I also think about a lot of things that go on in my life.I love to smoke weed by myself because it soothes me and I feel so relaxed,and just think like there's no problems and no worries,just reality.I dont think that I have short term memory,but sometimes I could forget some things once in a while,but the things that I do forget are not that important or a big of a deal.When I'm high it feels like I'm on marz and when I open my eyes,I see stars and a open blue,turqois lake and it's just so beautiful and amazing.Thank You!
ijv
ijv 9j3rcekker0vck4fr-vk40v50m0cxm0rcfjk04ckxw-slxwddxpclerf0vjt5gr9vje0dx,spox,cdepcmfrovcmfroc weed is god it should be legal theres nothing wrong with it and if u want to belived the lies about it to save the beer and tabacco buisness then u can go ur self it is good for u the only thing bad about it is smoking it but u will never get cancer of it u cant die from it u wont it is not a gateway drug
Do whats right
i read most of the stories on this page and as far as i can tell if you enjoy smoking and you can keep up grades or work or w/e then there isn't much of a problem. if it has negative affects on you or relationships then you probably shouldn't do it.
trying to make it better
I can't remember how much i have smoked in the past five months, it is definitely an amount that could be counted.. i just really can't recall though. What i have gathered from the article and from some of these responses and through my own experiences is that smoking effects EVERYONE differently. i must say over this past semester that an accumulation of school, work, family, and relationship related stress mixed with occasional smoking has caused me to become extremely paranoid. I have convinced myself that i am schizophrenic only to come to the hopeful understanding that i have a chemical imbalance going on or something... what i'm trying to say is that this shit is not for me, and i really need to find some balance... i hope i can.
smoke weed every day
ill let every one know this before i even get the the main topic of my post i smoke about a qp a week and i have no problem keeping my job or paying my bill all u people who say that weed makes u trip are stupid first of all if your tripping off weed its because it laced or dipped weed does not make you trip and to the kid that tried to jump out of the car your just stupid your scared of cars your problem don't bash weed...until u know what your real problem is weed has a lot of postive medical uses and very few down falls like i said before i smoke about a quater pound a week and i have no health problems and i keep my job rent and bills caught up and it will be a matter of time until it legal in the states and i say this im proud to be a stoner......high to the day i die......blaze it till da head nigga........
I have smoked for four years now
i have smoked weed for four years now everyday and i love it more each day i do it freqently and i still do well at school and at work. The olny time i regret it is when im burnt out but the i just drink a red bull and im fine.
potheads are MORONS
weed is bad. Plus, anytime you inhale smoke of anytype, im sure its not good for the lungs and general health. Oh and one note, all of my pothead friends never got better grades than me.. they usually showed up late or slept or showed up late and slept. So, to potheads, stop with your preconcieved notion that weed is some type of super intelligent drug when it is not.for example, my friend is a pothead, he delivers pizza for a living and lives with his mom
I am not a "pothead" in any
I am not a "pothead" in any way and have only smoked a handful of times, but I think it has been previously established in this forum that if marijuana has negative effects on your ability to go about daily life then it is probably not a good idea (for example your "pothead" friend who lives with his mom). Also stated was that if your ability to maintain balance in your life is not disrupted by use of the drug, then there are no real consequences other than temporary short term memory loss. I believe all of that was already stated. Abuse of the drug would be using marijuana to the point of interfering with daily life, which by most posts has not been recommended. By the sounds of it, your friend is abusing marijuana. I think your friend is just an idiot.
Learn the facts!
The term "overdose" (or OD) refers to the negative, sometimes fatal, effects of taking an uncommonly large amount of a particular drug or combination of drugs. Although commonly associated with illegal, recreational drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, it is equally true that many common and beneficial drugs (e.g., over-the-counter medicines and prescription medications) can be harmful when taken in sufficiently large quantities. For example, aspirin can be dangerous if taken in large enough doses because it is toxic to the liver. Even too much water can be unhealthy in certain circumstances!
Given this, it might be surprising to know that in all the many years people have been using marijuana, to the best of anyone's knowledge, no one has ever died from a pot overdose. In technical jargon, marijuana has no level of acute toxicity.
So, while marijuana poses certain hazards, such as the possibility of slamming your car into a lamppost while stoned or the cancer risk of chronic smoking, the possibility of dying from an overdose isn't one of them.
Marijuana users are EXTREMELY misconceived
I totally agree with this person, marijuana does nothing good for you. So many people have died and lost their job and failed school or dropped out, because they were too busy getting high. Pretty much the only people who think marijuana is harmless are the people who actually do it and don't want to admit that it is actually bad for them. They always have to have their own way and argue with people who think smoking marijuana is bad for you. The bottom line is, OVERDOSES OF MARIJUANA OR ANY DRUG IS FATAL!!! I'd hate to see myself going down a path like users. I've seen what it's like for people to use drugs many times a week. It's a horrible sight to see and I am ashamed to say that one of my family members is a user. QUIT DRUGS NOW AND YOU"LL LIVE TWENTY YEARS MORE!!!!! I hate people who are so stupid to realize what is the truth.
marijuana
you can not overdose on marijuana. marijuana is probably the most questionable, misunderstood and misconceived topic of today yet no one has ever died from this drug in its thousands of years of use by human kind. death rates due to other "dangerous" substances are in the hundreds of thousands of people per year. some of those substances are already in your home and over the counter and prescription pills are included too. not to mention the "war on drugs" is the most expensive "war" this country has funded only because in cities and areas of poverty gangs control the drug trade and when other gangs step in violence occurs which can harm civilians giving marijuana smokers a bad reputation. also all those gangs, drug lords and other distributers sell cocaine, heroin etc. marijuana is harmless and shouldnt be associated with dangerous substances. that makes people believe its a gate way drug when its not. for as many people that have smoked pot and gone on to be drug attics there many more people that only smoke pot. i dont even drink alcohol and never will simply because its dangerous, stupid, possibly addictive and harmfull to your body. marijuana is very benificial to a wide spectrum of people suffering from many mental and physical disorders and has been used for thousands of years as a pain reliever. consuming marijuana should be done in a responsible manner. peace & pot
Marijuana users are EXTREMELY misconceived??
Where did you get your information from...? Reefer Madness? Because it's 2010, now. I'd like to mention first that not all OD's are fatal. Most are, but not all. Second of all, no one can OD on weed, anyway. It isn't physically possible to consume the amounts required in a short enough span of time. I'm so offended, personally (as I know you mean it), that you think my life is such a horrible sight when you've never even met me. I'm healthy, I have a good relationship with my brother and mother, I have a great personal relationship with MY god and I have wonderful, loving, supporting friends. I double major at university, make good grades, have a lively social life. Is that a horrible sight? I'm happy. I'm happier than you'll probably ever be in your whole entire, pessimistic, hate-anyone-that-isn't-the-way-you-think-they-should-be life. Even if I would live 20 years longer if I quit smoking ganja (which I wouldn't, cause weed isn't unhealthy), I WOULDN'T quit. I'll die young and happier than you, rather than 20 years longer and bitter the whole way there. Go smoke a fat one and chill out.
Peace and love.
--SK
wtf
okay first off i must say that i am a stoner, and proud i got better grades than my friends did, and they have never touched pot, i didnt even pay attention, i didnt cheat, i just went got high before a test and i got 95-100% on all of my tests, and i can say that pot isnt for all ppl, the pot head that r "lazy" were already lazy in the begining so dont dis!!!!!!
*stoners live stoners die, F*** the world lets all get high*
Not all potheads are morons
Your are being pretty rude to say all potheads are morons. I smoke pot and i smarter than almost all of the students in my class. I got a 2030 on my SAT and you can use vaporizers to eliminate the smoke problems.
Yes They Are, But You Are Addicted
Yes They Are, But You Are Addicted
Although I do agree with the
Although I do agree with the bad effects of smooking long term in my opinion it has really helped my life I started in about grade 7 and I'm in grade ten now I now have goals in life and have just quit and before I used to just think as school as stupid and not try and get 60's but now I have an 80 average all academic classes and have a new found intrest in sceince because I used to always blaze the bong and just watch discovery planet. I now want to become a genetic engineer and also plan to start smoking when im like 40 and without it I would probably be in applied getting 60's and it has also made me want to help make a differnce in the world . Also it's not like I barely smoke weed I would smoke like 2g's a day
MED STUDENT
I'm not going to argue that marijuana is something most people should do because it is good for you. However, it is considered a schedule 1 drug in the US meaning it has no medical uses whatsoever. Ironic considering over 200 disorders/diseases show positive results with the use of marijuana. I am sick and tired of hearing about marijuana killing brain cells. Maybe in extended, extreme use, however a recent study has shown that cannabinoids (such as marijuana aka cannabis) promote hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic and antidepressant like effects. If you don't know, the hippocampus is the portion of the brain that converts your short term memory to your long term memory while you sleep. Also, neurogenesis or the creation of new neurons in the brain is extremely rare as you typically have nearly all of the neurons you will ever have at adolescence. So, this begs the question, why is marijuana getting a bad rap? Honestly think about it, if the government actually came out and told the truth about all of this now, what would they do about all the people they've been putting in jail for the last 70 years or so? Anyways, if you are against marijuana, seriously do some research and don't just believe everything you are told. The first thing to go in alzheimer's disease is the hippocampus and marijuana has shown to slow the effects of the degenerative disorder. Not only this but many other disorders such as multiple sclerosis show promising effects of the drug. Seriously, I'm a 20 year old med. student and i am far more educated about the plant than the vast majority of this country. I am not some stoner promoting recreation use, even though it is far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco and they are legal. Think about this and do some research, you will find that this plant is by far one of the most useful on the planet!
Feed back
As a med student educated about this drug, you must also validate the studies that show the potential negative effects of marijuana. Like most substances used to treat disease processes, there are potentially negative side effects that can have dire consequences for a patient. How about the studies that indicate habitual users have an increased risk for lung cancer because they hold the smoke in their lungs longer vs cigarette smokers who rapidly inhale and exhale? Is marijuana really safer than tobacco?It is also important to acknowledge the studies that prove that marijuana has an effect on neurotransmitters in the brain and habitual use can cause patients with anxiety disorders to experience increased anxiety vs the calming of their anxiety that they are seeking. I do agree that marijuana does have it's place as an effective treatment for some medical conditions. However, as a fellow medical professional, I think it is only fair to present information that discusses the pros and cons of it's use, other wise we are no better than the pharmaceutical companies that tend to promote the benefits of a medication and fail to adequately educate the consumer about serious potential side effects. Unfortunately, many physicians fail to provide this information to their patients as well. I think it is fair to say marijuana has proven to be beneficial in treating some medical conditions, but I disagree with you promoting it as one of the most useful plants on the planet. Good luck with your continued educational endevors. As a seasoned veteran, I would encourage you to focus on learning alternative treatments that deviate from the medical model of "drug therapy".