HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN?

It is a scientific fact that smoke robs the brain of oxygen and reduces your level of comprehension by 25%. Smokers are 25% less smart than they think they are. No matter what the grade point average you would still be smarter if you weren't smoking. If the brain is robbed of oxygen so are the other major organs. The good thing about MJ is that if you are laughing and enjoying life, you create endorphins that help improve and boost the immune system. Thus the reason some people feel better. Young people should not smoke or drink. You're not wise enough to make an intelligent decision about it. You don't have enough facts. If you're getting information from someone who smokes that's already a bad source. Smoking depletes your cells of oxygen. Smoking MJ with paper is inhaling whatever the paper is processed in and the glue. Once again, smoking is not a natural process. For the over fifty who have smoked since they were young, you age by 10 to 15 years. Your skin is dehydrated. Teeth yellow, hair clothes furniture and car smell like a funky sock and you think no one can tell. Your eyes are dilated and glossy. You have a tendancy to be more irritable and unreasonable about the simplist things. My African American friends that smoked since teenagers also drink a lot and look really old. You also get grey at a younger age because smoking depletes the body of nutrients. Even though black don't crack, African Americans who smoke have darker circles round the eyes whites of eyes yellow (most people some exceptions), lips turn dark or grey. (Is it worth it?)Every day you look in the mirror you look at the choices you made for a perfectly healthy body to be forced to deteriorate long before it's time.

There are many people of all walks of life working in many differnt capacities, driving cars and operating machinery for years, like a functional alcholic, and some who can't function at all under the influence. As an adult you have free will to do as you chose. Children need guidance. You have plenty of time to grow old. Wisdom comes with experience. Enjoy life. Learn to laugh with out a stimulant. That's when you are truly happy and healty!!!!

I was searchng for more information on MJ because it has become legal to smoke it in Michigan if you are certified by your doctor with a chronic disease.

My problem with it is how the government was willing to make smoking MJ legal even for medicinal reasons, like chronic pain, cancer and HIV. Funny thing is, you can eliminate pain and manage those illnesses with your mind if the government would support and endorse medical hypnosis. It's your ability to use your God given natural ability to rid yourself of mental, phyiscal, emotional and spiritual pain. You Can heal yourself. IT COST A LOT LESS THAN A BAG OF WEED to learn how to use you mind to accomplish anything your heart desires and create happiness in your life. After all, the only reason why you feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed or lack of confidence or self esteem is based on what you believe about your self. Are your parents positive or negative? Which one are you?
Love, Peace and Blessings

The one thing that I can't stand is the people who have NEVER even seen a pot plant, let alone smoked it, have the audacity to express their anti-pot opinions about what it actually does to you and have an even bigger audacity to put it down. If you have never used pot, then you have no idea what it does to you, therefore you don't deserve to have an opinion. Just because you have witnessed your friend(s)doing it or read about it, does not make you an expert on it. Pot does not affect people in the same way. I am 24 yrs old and I have been smoking pot since I was 15 and I enjoy doing it as well. I am now best friends with a girl that I absolutly hated in high school, because we both found out that we smoke pot. Some people would say that is sad, but I see it as a good thing. Life is to short to hate someone just because your teenage mind is full of drama. It has been drilled into the public's mind that pot is bad, but if you actually think for yourself like your supposed to, you would think differently about it. Have you ever heard of anyone causing a car accident or any kind of accident for that matter, because they were smoking pot? Just pot, NOTHING else mixed with it!! I have never heard anything like that. And I do not think that pot is a gateway drug, if it was, then why do I ONLY smoke pot and do NO other drugs????!!!?? Another thing, I do not think pot is addictive, I stopped smoking it for two years; TWO YEARS, if I was addicted to it, do you think I would have been able to steer clear from it for two years???!?!?!?! No, I didn't think so! I started up again, because when I smoke, it takes all my worries away, even if it is only for a short period of time. I would rather have that short period of time of nothing but relaxation than always worrying about something all the time. I have no scientific info to give anyone here, but I did enjoy reading other peoples opinions. One more thing, don't ever let anyone tell you that you are a bad person just because you smoke pot, because 9x out of 10, those people have smoked it themselves once or twice in their lifetime.

First let me start out by qualifying why I know what I know. I am 34. I smoked weed in excess from the age of 16 to 30. I smoked every type of weed from the stress to the kind buds for 14 years day in and day out. I have eaten it and smoked it. I have rolled joints with over a half ounce of weed in one single joint. I have created gravity bongs out of 10 gallon jugs. I have smoked from bongs longer than I was tall. I had to stand on tall objects to be able to smoke from them.

I am not telling you all this to brag. Just to let you know that I have been there and done that. I am not just some person that is going to comment without background on the subject.

My purpose today is to help one person see that there is a better way of living. Many of you that are still smoking either cannot see the difference between sober and non sober living. That is because either you are in denial or just don't have a good point of reference to see the difference between the two because you are still smoking. Let me just say if you have smoked in the last year, you are still smoking. It takes a long time to see what it feels like and what you are really like once you get off of weed.

When I was growing up I was diagnosed with ADD, what is now termed ADHD. My mind raced and wondered. It was hard for me to sit in one spot and do any one thing. No one ever looked at my home life and saw that I grew up with a father that would get violent and smoked weed everyday to excess to help him cope with the pain of the Vietnam War.

I started smoking with my brother and friends at the age of 16. My brother was just as addicted as I was. He was calmer and could sit in one spot for lengths of time than I could growing up. He was a reader. He was in better shape despite a birth defect called spina bifida. His spina bifida was minor and was not sever like in most kids with the defect. His spine was still inside his body, it just had a defect in it that caused him to avoid sports and rough housing with the other kids.

I continued to work various jobs and struggle to maintain them. Weed was the most important thing in my life. It was even more important than food, sex or entertainment. I would get angry when I couldn't get weed. Either my connection would be out or I couldn't afford it.

When I was 30 years old my brother had a psychotic episode. He had been smoking since he was 16 like me. He was 35 when he had his meltdown. He turned into a bipolar with schizophrenic tendencies. Now I am not saying that this is the sole effect of the weed but I feel it had a big role in the occurrence of this terrible disease. I got mad and withdrew from my family.

I was so mad at the way my family was handling his meltdown that I ran from the situation, figuratively and literally. I didn't want to face this horrible reality that our family was faced with so I didn't talk to anyone. The day I found out I ran for about 5 miles. I didn’t just jog or run, I sprinted full out. I was so mad my adrenaline coursed through my veins. I wanted to kill someone. I have never felt like this before.

At the end of my 5 mile run I remember thinking to myself. I thought how the hell did I just run 5 miles nonstop. I used to get out of breath going from the refrigerator to the game room upstairs. I was 220 lbs. and 5 foot 7 inches tall. But I also remember feeling like I had taken over my own life. Not the one where I was still a child living at home. I no longer felt like the child that was helpless to what happened there with the beatings and the exposure to marijuana. I was my own man now.

All this being said I was still very much addicted to weed. I needed it and wanted it. One day I thought about what if I had a child. Would I be able to stop? That same day I say a special on T.V. about childhood birth defects and it all hit me at once. I cried like a baby. The show showed how drug use can really affect babies developing even before they were conceived. Defects like emotional and physical disorders. One of the kids in the story had been born blind and with a spinal defect. I could not stop crying because of the thought that I may have ruined my chance to have a normal child someday. One that would not have any knowledge of my past and would give e an opportunity to give another human being a fighting chance to have a normal childhood free of the burden of a dysfunctional father addicted to drugs.

I vowed to get off drugs at that moment. Now I know many of you have said I can quit at anytime. I said the same thing. It is easier said than done. I would stop but the feelings of anger and addiction to weed kept me in the game. Once I would get the drug I felt guilty, rot with remorse that I had failed to quit once again. Finally one day it all clicked. I had been running and made a goal to run a mile but couldn't quite make it without stopping for breath. I said to myself I would be much healthier and could run further if I would have quit smoking. So I did just that. I quit smoking.

It took me 4 months to finally quit. I went into withdrawal emotionally and physically. The physical side effects last but a short time (1 week or so), but my attitude and outlook on life was growing increasingly bleak. I was negative and emotionally cold to my wife. She had stuck with me for the last 14 years through my ups and downs and never gave up on me. Now she had her wish of having me free of the drug and I was an ass. At least on the weed I was funny and goofy. Now I was just a prick with a bad attitude. This lasted along with strong urges to start smoking again for years to come.

Here I am today free and clear. Do I ever think of smoking it again? Yeah of course I do. But I have more reason not to now. Number one I feel like I have gone this long without it. I am truly better at work. I am one year away from getting a B.S. degree in the field of my dreams. I am still crazy as I was on weed. I have quickness to my humor that sets me apart from anyone I work with. I am so sharp at my craft that I am told how good I am at what do by my peers and the public daily. I am able to talk to and deal with my emotions much better with a clear head. Especially now that I can deal with myself openly and honestly. I feel no shame for who I am. I only regret I had found myself sooner. How much more could I have gotten done? How many more people could I have made laugh? How many more things in life would I have noticed? Would colors be as bright as they are now? Would smells be as fragrant? Would I have put things before my addiction like having a child, like finding my career sooner? Would I saved my money one useful, tangible things that I would still have instead of saying that I probably spent $100,000 over the course of 14 years and have absolutely nothing to show for it except knowing I fucked up. These are the types of things you see after the storm. While you’re in it you see the clouds. In this case the clouds of smoke. When you look back they were really the clouds of fog, fogging up your emotions and perceptions. They were the clouds that accompany rain. The kind that brings sorrow and regret.

Please read this and know that there is a better life than the one you’re living. Each one of your lives will be different when you stop smoking. Most of which will be better I promise you. Some of yours may turn out bad but you need to remember one thing. At least you made your life you own, the one that you choose to lead. Not that you choose to let a drug lead for you. Be your own man or women. Do great things. Hell, do normal things, you won't regret it.

Good luck to all of you. I hope you use my message and remember it when you quit one day. Things will be ok.

I have grown up in a marijuana smoking environment and i was taught growing up(i did not smoke then) that weed is not supposed to be used to enhance yourself, it is not like alcohol where an introverted person gets drunk they can change into a more outgoing person. Weed runs parallel to you. You supposed to smoke it, to enjoy it. You don't smoke it to be cool, or because u want to impress your friends. Not all people can smoke it because they do not realise how you are supposed to smoke it.
It is for relaxation and must be regarded as a special occasion, as it helps you to respond in a more rational way to the environment. What you smoke also plays a huge difference as some ppl have mentioned before. Sometimes it can be laced with harder drugs or it was grown in the wrong manner. For al the people that mentioned they get really paranoid>> i feel very sorry for you, as you cannot be comfortable in your own skin, if there is nothing to worry about then why force yourself to believe some irrational bull that your mind has made up and you blame weed for your own dissillusional mind. Clear your head, as you are clearly not well, then you can enjoy the pleasures of marijuana. As i have witnessed my whole childhood the benfits and consequences of smoking pot, i have nothing bad to say. As long as you are smoking to enjoy it and are doing it responsibly, then weed can only enhance your lifestyle.I wish there were less single minded people out there that believe their own beliefs and try and blame their own lack of openess on a plant, which has many good properties.
For everyone that smokes, i hope you have taken note of what i have said and can agree on this matter, and keep smoking responsibly.
For everyone that doesnt smoke and has some sort of hatred to the plant....
Get a life.

May peace be your journey and love your desination

Wow it's really nice to see so many different opinions here, i smoke weed like almost every day after work. It helps me relax. Helps me with schoolwork too. I do agree with some thing with this article like the word test part and same with the short term memory effect sort of. The short term memory loss only really lasts when your really high but other than that, it goes away as someone mentioned earlier i do believe. People with any addictive personalities should stay away from it of course lol. Also please mention if you take into consideration of the fertilizers used to grow the maryjane that your subjects are smoking, and also if the test subjects are frequent pot smokers or not. Huge deal with that as well with your tests.

Good article though.

May I just say that I used to smoked 2 ounces of weed a week and now i smoke about a half ounce and it has anything but done me the world of good, I'm more confident for one, I can write programs in fluent C and craft raw ethernet packets, ALL THANKS TO WEED BABY how else do you sit at a computer for 12 hours a day.

I love weed it is amazing. It cures a cold. Kills a hangover and makes dealing with articles like this that much easier.

As how many people DIE FROM ALCAHOL, DIE FROM TOBACCO and only a hand full of people have been badly effected by weed but how many get beaten up by drunks or hit by a drunk driver I mean when I drive 10 mph feels very fast lol

The the plant itself is A GIFT FROM GOD as you can get oil, wood, fibre superior to cotton and of course smokable oragnic weed, no added chemicles, AS tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 different chemicals. At least 43 are known carcinogens (cause cancer in humans)."http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-chemicals-in-cigarettes.html" so I'm happy with 600, you forgot to mention that little fact hay.

You can pick and choose any facts to make something sound bad so LEAVE WEED ALONE ..... 1010011010 || 29A or for a none weed smoker 666 PEACE

i am 14 i smoke alot of weed and i have add and ever since i have been going to school high my grades have been going up

P.S i dont smoke weed to escape life ..i do it to enhace life

I have smoked weed sence i was like 12 and Im 18 now.
I never had good grades and it made me lazy.
but without it life sucks, I mean it makes food,movies and sex better.
So i choose to smoke.

Im 19 and smoked marijuana since i was 10, and i never had all that stupid shit you guys/people are talking about. You need to have control of marijuana, dont let it control you..

if you want to fuck your life up through away your dreams and ambitons smoke pot.

Viewers, who are read this post, please take into consideration to read my comment. The whole reason someone would even read this article is because their probably worried about marijuana's negative effects. Well I can tell you from personal experience with this very substance, that cannabis horribly affected my life. Now I know many people would disagree with statements made by me and the author of this post, but the truth of the matter is marijuana affects different people, different ways. This difference can be split into three different categories, people with positive effects, people with neutral effects and people with negative effects. All I'm trying to say is anyone even being concerned about marijuana risks shouldn't even be using it! You either love it greatly with all your might or absolutely hate yourself for trying it. If you are one of the worried type, that thinks his or hers career, loved ones, state of mind, or overall enjoyment of life is in jeopardy, you should stop using marijuana completely. If you are one that loves to get stoned, that thinks he or she can handle their career, loved ones, state of mind, or overall enjoyment of life then you should smoke that sh** every dam day! Marijuana isn't for everyone, and sometimes your actions can cost you more than you think. I support both sides, legalize or not, you have the choice and decision to use Marijuana. It’s just a matter of time that will tell you if you really lived your life like you wanted it to be. Your overall outcome of life success will be vividly shown over the years to come. Peace & Love.... Remember LIFE RULE'S!

I am 16 years old.
I have been smoking since I was 12 years old.
I started with my old bestfriend Kassie and her mom.
It was amazing, it was like I was like in anohter world. I was having the time of my life and then when I got inside I just slammed on like 45 hotwings. ((:
I was trippen out, I got on Myspace and told everyone. It was something that I would never forget. HONESTLY.
A few days later my mom came to my school to get me because I had a Doctor's appointment, so I thought. As we got into the car she started crying and I asked her "what's wrong?" and she said "Lindsey what happen at Kassie's party?"
And all hell broke lose I told her everything that happend and her and my father were very mad, sad and the worst, dissapointed. It was one the worst/craziest times of my life.
Well Im going to be a Jr now and weed has been a HUGE part of my life. These days its anywhere and everywhere. And so many people can get it, easily. But its a matter of how you think honestly weed is addicting but you have that choice to say yes or no. So be yourself and dont follow your heart and not your friends like I do.
---Onelove(:
Lind$ey.