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HOW DOES MARIJUANA AFFECT THE BRAIN?

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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.

1)Online Dictionary

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

Comments

Sassy's picture

I have a question someone please ANSWER THIS ONE FOR ME

SO I WANNA KNOW IF ITS TRUE THAT A MAN CAN LAST LONGER IN BED IF HE SMOKES POT BUT HES NOT A POT HEAD....HE SMOKES ABOUT 2 TIMES A WEEK MAYBE 4 AT THE MOST SO IF HE SMOKES A FAT BLUNT AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT GOES AND HAS SEX WITH HIS GIRFRIEND IS THAT GOING TO MAKE HIM LAST LONGER? LIKE 30 MINS TO AN HOURER LONG THE USAUL?

I DONT SMOKE BUT IT DOESNT BOTHER ME TO BE AROUND IT AND I THINK FROM SOME OF THE THINGS ON HERE THAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HOW ITS SO BAD I DONT KNOW WHERE THEY GET THAT ON FROM AND I FELL LIKE THE ONLY REASON THEY DONT WANNA MAKE IT LEGAL IT BECAUSE THE HAVE NO WAY TO TAX IT...IT HELPS ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EYE PROUBLEMS CANCER ARTHRIS IN THE BONES AND ANXIOITY SO THERE GOOD OUT THERE...

Tab's picture

This was a good report, I

This was a good report, I have to say. There is one person, however, that I am definitely going to agree with, on a lot of things; Jen, the second person to post some feedback.

Marijuana affects people in so many different ways. Every single person is affected by it in a different way. No two people will sit there, and feel the same exact way. It's common knowledge. I'm fourteen, and I've been smoking pot since I was about twelve. Yes, a bit young. Parents know, and everything. Anyways. . .
I always hated school, who didn't, you know? Yes, there's the getting to see your friends and all that jazz, but the work 'n such, it's all such a drag. Though, I noticed my grades began to improve when I began smoking pot.
But there's a point: One person could smoke pot every day, and have poor memory, fail in school, sit around, get fat from eating all the times, due to the 'munchies.' But, that's ONE person. The next person could sit there, and complete their homework assignment for that night after a few hits from the bong, and get everything correct the next day. Like I said, that's ONE person.

I agree with a lot of scientific research on marijuana 'n the such. I do.
Sometimes, though, people do seem to take it a bit to far.
I respect the people who sit down, and just give you the history, the chemical knowledge they have about this wonderful drug. . .
There's always those people, though, that will preach you to death about how bad it is to smoke / use Marijuana. It's all bullshit.

Yes, I do disagree on a lot of what was said, then again, I agree on a lot of it.

Cheers mate! (:

46 and starting over's picture

Here is a TRUE story of ONE person from age "13 to 46 on pot"

First tried at age 13...have not tried ANY other drugs in all my life...continued on a rare basis for fun only for next couple years...off and on it throughout the remaining years of my life...but as the years have passed it has taken more weed each time to get any effects that were "desireable"...each time I would smoke after being off it for years I would find myself back to thinking of nothing else except when and where to get more of it...my usage of pot became daily at around age 35...it was available to me for free for the next year from my boyfriend...when we broke up and I moved out I found myself going back to this abusive ex-boyfriend just to get high again...this continued until I found a new boyfriend who also smoked daily and so it was once again available and free to me daily...I married this guy and he became HIGHLY abusive in every way, until I left him...(but would return to him and leave him again 3 more times over the next two years)the last time I left him was because he attempted to murder me and our unborn son...I have not gone back and it has been 5 years...HOWEVER, I stayed clean for 3 of those years and accomplished harder things than I even knew I could get through...I had the greatest success in my life so far in every way conceivable...then I found a new boyfriend...guess what!...he smokes regularly...at first I didn't know he smoked like for the first year..he didn't have to hide it cuz I never knew him before he smoked so nothing to compare his changes in behavior to...but now that we have smoked it together for the past 3 years I am back to using it daily...until very recently...I am finaly convinced by looking at the years gone by, that I am done with weed and now know for sure what it has done to me...............I have not even begun to share the things I have learned after looking back...that would take WAY too long to type...my boyfriend and I are engaged to marry and we have both made the decision to quit cold turkey RIGHT NOW!

Below is a partial list of the negative effects of marijuana, on me, as perceived by me, after doing an HONEST self search and being determined to use a "NO BULLSHIT! NO DENIAL!" appraoch:

MEMORY LOSS: deffinately short term and even recently have noticed loss in long term as well. The loss is much more intense while using. Too early to tell if this will correct itself with abstanance from weed.

APPETITE: lost completely and became anorexic and was hospitalized for it. Always in conection with regular usage of the drug. Appetite returns to normal each time I would quit pot for a year or two then back to loss when I would start back up again.

SLEEP HABITS: I only wanted 3 hrs a night when using but needed 2 days of solid sleeping to get back to normal sleeping habits after stopping usage for two or more days. While smoking pot I would be energized and could stay up all night if I wanted and usually did.(Peaople told me I reacted to pot the way they reacted to much stronger narcotics and various other drugs.)

Intelligence: fooled myself into thinking that I was smarter on weed because I was more focused. But my boyfriend and I both noticed that our thinking is distorted while high. We made poor decisions when high. I returned to college and was unable to concentrate because of past usage but the damage was eveident still. This was not a "use it or loose it" situation, because I work for the Vice president of a very large and successful company, and I write letters to our staff and clients daily, but I have lost my once perfect spelling ability. I now struggle to put anything into words. This use to just come natural and very easy to me. Now I work SO MUCH HARDER just to get one letter completed properly.

EMOTIONS: I only screamed at my kids when my high was wearing off or I was out and could not get any for more than a day. The longer I was without the more intence my inability to cope with little things in life. The more I screamed and the less patient I was able to be with anything or anyone.

SELF CARE: I used to get high so that I could get my work done and it worked at first, but now I just procastinate and get nothing done for days at a time and I would get depressed from not having my weed. I completely stopped my daily rutine of selfcare and became a pig. I would go for days without bathing or even brushing my teeth if out of weed. The vicious cycle would drive me to get more weed any way I could. After getting high once again I was able to take care of my home and myself again, thus fooling myself into beleiving that I was better off on pot than without it.

I need to go for now to get some things done. I actually get my bills paid ontime these days cuz I no longer "space them off" nor procastinate.

I have so much more I wish to share so that you readers and I can all becaome more aware of what happens with long time usage. Not that what it has done to me will be the exact same for you, but if you are totally honest with yourself, secretly you will find that you DO relate to many of these things I have included thus far.

Is there more? Have I noted other bad things associated with my usage?
YES! Way more! Probably more than you care to read, but I will continue to write these things for my own benefit in hopes it will also benefit someones else out there.

By the way...I lost my great paying job ($150k per yr) and now am on welfare and humiliated by it!

Those of you who wish to read more may do so by looking for the heading "13 to 46 on pot" you may decide to follow me on my journey to a clean life style. If not good luck to you, and if so then please share what you are learning about yourself as a non-user after using for years. I appreciate any encouragement to contine on the path I am trodding now.

Please note that I have judged no one save myself so comments on judging are not welcome. I only share my PERSONAL experienc with pot.

respectfully sharing thoughts,
46 and starting over

wendolyn's picture

i was gonna clean my room,

i was gonna clean my room, but then i got high...my family and friends agree that i need to stop smoking...i laugh and offer a bowl ;) i think it all depends on the individuals body reaction, his/her state of mind and/or emotions before and while being high. i can honestly say i love to smoke it makes me focus and see things in a different light, helps me deal with stress and my anxiety making me feel more aware of myself and in control. i can also say at times it has affected me in a negative way; making me uncomfortable, worsting my anxiety and impairing my concentrate. when i smoke sporadicly i have an appetite but when i begin to smoke excessively i lose all desire to eat and my sleep habit completely change i cant sleep. but thats just me it affects everyone differently. as long ur in control and are aware of how it affects you negatively and positively. learn how to control yourself, its like anything, know what you're taking in,how much of it,and if its for you. to each his own baby!!!lets smoke responsibly friends :) jesus smoked, he told me in my dreams :):):)

Unrealpotboy's picture

Random recursive thoughts mediated by weed...

WEED MAKES YOU MORE SELF-AWARE!!!

Motion is relative.
Motion is change.
So a change in my motion is only a relative.
Weed makes you more aware.
Who cares if its at the expense of your temporary perception of my slowing on your behalf. It’s your half. It is a definite gain in the perception of my perception of both our perceptions.

In fact, when I realized I was derealizing I realized that it was nothing more than the realization of that which I wasn't realizing… That’s 3 realizations for every 1 derealization. Therefore I did more realization than derealization and thus derealization must be real. Then I realized infinite space.

I very much realize the nature of the universe as defined by yin and yang but…
I don't mean to connote the mystical meaning of rather literal sayings of any thing for which there definitely exists a direct opposite finitely

The truth of weed tells me that there is no truth.
Hence a logical inconsistency.
Positive makes a negative which makes a positive.
I went back in time with music that Beethoven made to show him before he made it.
Hence logical “inconsistencies” are self defining and existing.
No god is needed.
Strings vibrate to produce negative space from the positive and back.
The truth is that there is no string theory.
String theory must be inconsistent.
Thus making it true.

I hallucinate pseudo-hallucinations.

I am now consciously aware of what I was not aware of a moment ago...
I am now.
The future must thus be derealized.
Which means I am perceiving what I cannot perceive yet.
Which explains why I am learning the answer to outsides from withins.
I am finally perceiving the true outside and within.

Geometry affects what you think when awake ~ lucid, cognation.
What you think when awake affects geometry ~ dream, sleep.
And when they are “inconsistent”, we have day-dreams and lucid dreams.

Recursive wording rehearses words that stem from cortex.. such as..
Slowing thoughts progress to view the thoughts that passed and thus become self aware (see url)..."The Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor Mediates Retrograde Signals for Depolarization-Induced Suppression of Inhibition in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells"
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/5/1690

...yeah I was bored and high. Let's just realize that what I just wrote is some sort of insightful poetry.

twan's picture

bob marley once said

when you smoke the herb it reveals you to yourself
-Bob Marley

Rukahs's picture

Starting to wonder

Ight here it is... Im 28 yrs old n there hasnt been a day in the past 10yrs I HAVENT been high... Im all about bud...in fact im high right now.. Ive heard it is all...n sum of u on both sides of the issue r fuckin retarded but neway back to what I was saying... sumtimes i feel like my mood swings r REALLY REALLY bad n 4 no good reason,..almost like a whole diffrent person..now im not bipolar or manic deppresive or atleast i wasnt.. weed isnt addictive but its dayum close..have ta wake n bake...have to smoke to sleep..im still smart as ever maybe even smarter...remember everything ... there are so many people claming this or that about shyt they dont fully understand. My point is this... fellow pot smokers take in mind weed is a drug n it contains chemicals n over prolonged use..cuz until they conduct a 10 yr study like me..we dont know what it WlLL do to ur brain..be careful n dont just dismiss science n pretend its harmless. BLAZE ON!!!

Anonymous's picture

did it twice...

i have smoked cannibas twice. not proud of it either
i was peir pressueed into taking by my so called freinds. i amnot gona judge any body who does it.
i did it within two months (april then in june)
will this do any serious or any damage to me ?
i have been tired for about three weeks after i did it and it was about a month.
is this a serious thing
Please replie

Anonymous's picture

no sweetie ull b fine gettin

no sweetie ull b fine gettin high twice in a cpl months wont do ANY damgage longterm OR short.

ummm.... i forgot.'s picture

i have an iq of

i have an iq of motherfucking 137. im a heavy user, and i make perfect grades in school. not to mention a 24 an my ACT test. so, fuck them.

SD's picture

I hate marijuana. I think it

I hate marijuana. I think it is affecting my relationship a lot. When I started dating with this man, I thought it was nice that he did not want to have sex like most men. Now I realize it was because of Marijuana. He does not come to bed when I am in bed for it is more important for him to drink and smoke pot. His focus is not to please his lady but smoking. In the morning all he wants is sleeping...that is why I have not moved in with him. I did try to break up with him but failed.....Wake up! I am talking about YOU!

Anonymous's picture

Lets be HONEST

Ive graduated from a very good University in Virginia. I am now the Chief Executive Officer for a small company. I am not a dumb individual. I've grown up around people who smoke my entire life. I don't do it very often but when I do do it, I pay individuals to tape me while Im speaking. WHILE high, I've come to the conclusion that the government bans weed because its a key to success. Everyone says how marijuana slows down the brain etc. Why the hell isn't that a good thing? The average human being has about 1,000 thoughts per second. When we slow our brains down, it brings out a creativity that the average human doesn't encounter. I'm a firm believer that every human being has at LEAST one million dollar idea lost in their mind. If you slow down the human brain, that thought is eventually going to become apparent. I thought of my business while high. Knowledge leads to success. Everyone has a knowledge that they haven't tapped into yet. I dont know the stats, but I know it is a known fact that human barely use ANY of their brain. Slowing down my brain is not such a bad thing. Im going to go on a limb and say the majority of CEO's in the world today aren't completely drug free. You think Bill Clinton was the only president that smokes weed? Let's be serious. If the government legalized marijuana, it would open the minds of a lot of individuals and our government will become obsolete.
Thats just my thoughts. Feel free to agree or disagree but my theory should at least be considered...While high.

Anonymous's picture

I smoked marijuana since I

I smoked marijuana since I was 12 and am now 20.I loved smoking!I would smoke to go to sleep, thats how bad i was on it.I smoked about 8 blunts a day/everyday.Smoked in a bong mix it with tobbaco.I latered on quit when I would get these crazy anxiety attacks,shortness of breath.Ever since I quit,nothings been the same.I now have headaches every single day,every single minute.sharp stabbing pain on my left side of brain.I am constantly worrying.I wished I never smoked marijuana now.

mendo student's picture

mendo life

i started smoking pot when i was about 17, I am 26 and just quit for the most part. I love pot, from the smell to the taste even the look of it, But the last few years i have smoked more then you could ever imagine(usally over a half once a day). I live in mendocino califorina where a joint is just as common between friends as a handshake. I had access to as much as i wanted free of charge.( and i'm talking about good shit like O.G kush, Sour diesal, purp, Buba kush and the list goes on) I am a medical paitent under Prop. 215 and it has helped me deal with alot of shit in my life. It helps me with old injuries,sleep,depression,it calmed my anger prob. and help me get through my parents divorce. I do have to say though, I started to abuse it and it has fucked my memory. I have stopped smoking it hoping my memory will start working again so I can get through college with acceptible grades and land a good job. Pot is need in this fucked up world we live in now days and can open alot of eyes, but if abused it does fuck your memory, for how long I'm not sure. hopefully not forever.

Anonymous's picture

Argument 4,654,345,345.05555

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RE:
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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Maybe they can not remember short term when medicated, because they see the greater underlying reason than basic visual colors. (7% words, 38% tone, 55% body language) Do you see color anywhere between the parenthesizes??? We communicate through body language, which is of more importance, maybe what a person is wearing is not as merely important as what is really going on. Would you rather have me identify the color of a deranged axe murders shirt approaching rapidly, Or would you rather have me flee from harm..??

We are on this earth to better improve ourselves through self contentment, peace & advancement against time

so quit wasting time

LEGALIZE IT!!!!!!!

Mental Health professional's picture

News

You all sound so sweet, a lot like me before I began helping people with mental illness. In the past few years our profession has been seeing a very different face of marijuana and its effect on the pot smoker. We are witnessing a rise in profound mental illnesses due to the use of marijuana. What makes this unusual, is that these unfortunate people did not have a history of mental illness prior to somking pot. In fact some of them quit after only a few years and turned up sick years later. Prior to 1990, this was rarely seen. Its different now. Do your research, don't believe what I tell you or what the media tells you. Find out what the clinical researchers in Europe and America are reporting. Pot can make you crazy for life. No kidding. Check out 100's of recent articles online in the mental health field.

Cat's picture

I am on of those who had an

I am on of those who had an underlying problem with depression made worse by marijuana use. When I finally quit, I still had some problems, but was not nearly as depressed and near psychosis as I was before. I was under the delusion that I was worse without it. I finally quit because I had run out of options for AD's and am bipolar. Now I don't have to keep cycling through meds and found out the thing I was on worked better than I thought it did.

Anonymous's picture

long time user

Now age 52, been smoking every day since 16 years old...
I've been promoted from every employment position I've ever held.
I've own my $250,000 home on 4 country acres , put 3 kids through college.
I knock down over 6 figures a year & get bonus's annually..
I received my companies "Award of Achievment" in 2000...
Sounds like a pretty normal successful business carrer to me..

I take my responsibilities very seriously, that's how I provide for my family..
I have 600 employees, hands down I will take potheads over boozers...sorry boozer's you can't regroup and be 100% come starting time...
The potheads don't seem to have this same issue..

MY biggest unknown concern for all of us daily users...MY LUNGS..
This part scares the heck out of me as I get older. I don't want a oygen tank like the cigareete smokers...
Every knows what a beating your lungs take, especially w/ the skunk bud..ouch!

Now they want drug testing - no problem (me) the pothead beat them at their own game twice already (yeah, I'm still smarter than them stoned, than they are straight.)

God blessed me w/ a high IQ, if I want to use part of it to "party" and can still run circles around the "Straight employees" at work. "what's the problem?

AMERICA: everyone needs to be judged on their performance in regards to the job they were hired to do. NOT what you did last weekend sitting on you deck.

We must unite and eliminate the negative press pushed onto us...

As far as my college boys 1 always got "A's", 1 always got b-c's and 1 always got c&d's...THESE ARE THE SAME GRADES THEY GOT THRU THEIR ENTIRE EDUCATION
LONG BEFORE SMOKIN' POT & AFTER..

Take trip to Switzerland...it will open your eyes to how bad the government has botched the entire drug issue here in the USA.
Want to do drugs? government supplies them - go hurt yourself
grandma doesn't get beat up for her purse
No gangs - because no money can be made from drug sales
no crime - safely walk thru Zurich at 2 in the morning...
try that in Detroit of Chicago....

Boozer's drive up on sidewalks killing kids waiting on school bus...
Potheads, this would not be the norm unless other drugs involved..

I don't know if it's a side effect but I have a low tolerance for ignorance!
:)

jordan's picture

weed can make you or break you

Weed can make you or break you, iv smoked for years so i know what im talking about. Weed doesnt affect people in different ways, it merely brings out who they are and how and what they truly think and do around other people depending on place, time of day, and whos around them (parents or friends).
The bottom line is, only smoke weed if you cantrol it and see it as a recreational purpose, not something you must do to survive.

Anonymous's picture

HELL YEAH I SMOKE POT!!

HELL YEAH! I smoke this shit (10 mins ago)...It really turned my life around for the better...I used to be the type of girl that didn't do anything that would hinder my health....but then my whole world got turned upside down everything was going completely wrong and ppl that i loved dearly were dying and leaving me...so i wanted to die and tried to make it happen i soon after went on a no food strike and i was belmic and i threw up all my food and most the time i didnt eat.....in jr high i hated weed..then all that crap happened and in hs mary jane was my new best friend and best of all i was hungry for once so yay pot may have saved my life...so once again...hell yeah i somke this shit.. but i'm hungry so see ya!

Anonymous's picture

HELL YEAH I SMOKE

HELL YEAH I SMOKE POT!!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 05/31/2008 - 3:34pm.

HELL YEAH! I smoke this shit (10 mins ago)...It really turned my life around for the better...I used to be the type of girl that didn't do anything that would hinder my health....but then my whole world got turned upside down everything was going completely wrong and ppl that i loved dearly were dying and leaving me...so i wanted to die and tried to make it happen i soon after went on a no food strike and i was belmic and i threw up all my food and most the time i didnt eat.....in jr high i hated weed..then all that crap happened and in hs mary jane was my new best friend and best of all i was hungry for once so yay pot may have saved my life...so once again...hell yeah i somke this shit.. but i'm hungry so see ya!
»

What are you like twelve, Pot is for GROWNUPS. pure and simple, people die all the time, and you yourself are going to die,Stop making excuses and work on your life, Mary Jane is a substance that is Used for Many things, but not because people were leaving you.

Anonymous's picture

hi?

i just whant to find out how long marijuana chemicals take to clear out of a person body system!so if you can help me out i will be most greatful.

Markus's picture

WEED

I have been through a similar thing... its not that the effects when your high are bad (their ausome, I think ALOT clearer, and faster when I'm high), I find it's just the after effects. I know it takes about a whole month for THC to completely detabolize from your body, and I do believe that. I could smoke one joint, and I wont be myself for a whole month (and not in a good way). It just really affects my memory for quite a while afterwords. Thats why I don't do it anymore... I dont think 4 hours of heaven is worth a month of shit.

Anonymous's picture

you guys are fooling

you guys are fooling yourselves. do you remember who YOU were before you smoked weed?

blue*starz's picture

it isn't easy

haveing friends thats smokes can be a little to hang around with my parents alway tell me dont do none of that if someday the day comes that some one offers you, always say no even if they start talking stuff and calling you names it doesnt matter even if it hurts you in side to say no to a friend you have known for a long time.

so its not easy

Anonymous's picture

your short term memory is

your short term memory is impaired because you think about more things at once when youre high and the brain can only hold 7 pieces of information for a short term. thats why. its not because some weird effect. i think you should think about what you write before you post it online. you know there are mothers out here that read this and might get some sort of misleading thoughts on the subject

Anonymous's picture

Comments made prior to 2007

Ref 3rd paragraph in this section. The structure of the comments made in this section is clear evedence of the mental impairment marajuana has on the human brain. I teach 16 to 19 year olds and the performance rate of users is a clear indication that marijuana affects ability and motivation to complete tasks.
Furthermore the users do firmly believe that they are ahead of the game, when the opposite is true. If you think of a simple mental task is like a monkey swinging through the trees in a deliberate direction until it reaches it's destination. Marijuna populates the trees with hundreds of monkeys with no order or direction and swinging in random patterns. you could call this 'random triggering' This is why repeated use causes confusion and eventually Psychosis.

A misguided definition of what is recreational.

Anonymous's picture

its a great thing to do

i think that weed is a veryy thing. there are just as many posotives as there are negatives. weed has always helped me feel better and help with problems. many people that say its a bad thing to do havent tried it before. i dont see hwo somone can say its bad when they wont try it. finallyy all i have to say is that i get high and im proud of it and will continue doing so

Mark Jane's picture

Here's My Story

Alright, i just spent the last 30 minutes or so reading this entire page of personal stories and what not. Here's mine. Im 18 years old, in high school, and I have been smoking for about 10 months now. At the very beginning, it was amazing. It was so fun to smoke and i loved the effects it had on me. I would get such a huge rush of euphoria. It was heaven. AS the months rolled by, my usage became more frequent and i needed ALOT more to get me high. I smoked about 4 bowls a day, which is nothing compared to some other people. At my peak, i was smoking AT LEAST 3 joints and 7 bowls a day. THis pattern seemed to work for me for a while, but it started to take its toll on me. Like mentioned above, i would go into a room, not high, and COMLPETELY forget why i was there in the first place. I became a little depressed and started to make my problems so much worse than they really were. I became dependent on it to go to bed and this really scared me. AS i found out, it just takes some will power to overcome this obstacle. Right now, im trying to cut down, but it's so hard to do so. It's not that it's addicting or anything, it's just because the conditions right now for me are making it really difficult to quit. My summer vacation is coming up and i know i am going to want to toke it up EVERYDAY. Not to sound conceited, but i am a smart kid. I am going to college to become an oral surgeon...yea it sounds nerdy but Im gonna be filthy stinking rich in the future. ANyways... I am proud to smoke the herb and am not ashamed at all to let the world know. I really do love mary jane. As said many times earlier, it is different for every person. I would love to keep smoking, but i know that in the long run, it will effect me greatly in a negative way. THere's my story. If anyone can relate to me, i would love to hear your story. Peace.

Anonymous's picture

yeah bro i copletely agree

yeah bro i copletely agree wid u...im typin this and im stoned this very moment......fuck those who say its bad for u.........i love mary jane..........always will

Markus's picture

I have been through a

I have been through a similar thing... its not that the effects when your high are bad (their ausome, I think ALOT clearer, and faster when I'm high), I find it's just the after effects. I know it takes about a whole month for THC to completely detabolize from your body, and I do believe that. I could smoke one joint, and I wont be myself for a whole month (and not in a good way). It just really affects my memory for quite a while afterwords. Thats why I don't do it anymore... I dont think 4 hours of heaven is worth a month of shit.

Amber's picture

Im proud to be a stoner!

i have read all these comments and i agree w/ some but heres my opion weed is the greatest thing that has happend to this world i bet if everybody somked weed we would have world peace. I have been somkin for 3 years i went to rehab for 8 months i just got 2 months ago and i have been smokin ever since so i know how i act high and sober and to honest i am a much better person stoned i have a very long list of charges i got caught and i wasent high or drunk i was completly sober for all of them i have never been in high the only reason i was in rehab was b/c my mom thought i smoked to much weed but in realtyi was doin better when i was gettin high i dont regret smokin in any way i used to get severe migrainsbut since i have been smokin i get very little headaches. i am going to rap this up but one last thing IM PROUD TO BE A STONER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous's picture

My dear Gentle - Men and

My dear Gentle - Men and Women
Ganja is a great herb and every one should experience it atleast once. It alters your reality somewhat in high doses so if you are using a high dose, best to stay at home and experience hallucinations in a peaceful quite room.

Benefits:
-Past memory comes back easily and if you go into really deep trips (which sadly hasish is more suitable for), it obliterates your egoness and you see yourself as a different person (sorta like you see the other dude on the street). You can "analyse" your life until now without any emotions or whatever.

-Helps in relaxation of course
-Makes you lazy but then f**** alcohol makes you lazy as well so why be hypocrite

- Smoked through waterpipe or by using a vapouriser, it will NOT give you any cancer

-Helps in meditation and other creative activites
-Helps analyse your thoughts. You thoughts become like a movie

And besides whats wrong with altering your reality and "going away" from this life for few hours. Sure your problems don't go away, you life IS a major problem first and last which will only go away when you die so enjoy your time, take psychedcis, in moderation, but never take hard drugs like heroin or cocaine etc.

Simple rule = if its natural = its usually good to go
=if its processed= usually not good to go

Hope that helps

Charlie Chaplin

Anonymous's picture

I've been using for awhile

I've been using for awhile now, only on the weekends. I, like many others, have seen the good and the bad. It's amazing at times and can put you in a totally different state of mind and give you a great outlook on life. Then there were times I was totally paranoid and felt like I had no control over myself or the situation. Bottom line, marijuana is not for everyone. I know people who use everyday and get straight A's in school and say it helped them find out who they really are. I know others who are extremely lazy and have pretty much fucked over their lives. It's all about what's best for you, and being smart enough to know when it's too much.

Adam's picture

Marijuana affects your view

Marijuana affects your view of the world around you. IT AFFECTS THE LENS, (like glasses) THROUGH WHICH, YOU SEE YOUR LIFE. I don't believe it has any permanent long term affects. Because the health risks for lung cancer do not go up... They did a study involving 2,000 people with lung cancer, and 1,000 people who do not have lung cancer.. And the rate of marijuana usage was the same in both groups.. You'd think.. If marijuana was so horrible for your health and aided in giving people cancer, that it would be much more popular amongst people with lung cancer, since it would cause people without lung cancer (who use it) to develop lung cancer in the first place!!! the end concept... MARIJUANA DOES NOT AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LUNG CANCER. Now.. we've discredited it's main health issue.. what's left.. The effects on your psyche or outlook on life.. Some people are born with a predisposition to be sensitive to the effects of marijuana.. Making it hard for them to tolerate it and use regularly without much affect on their life.. does this mean that it is dangerous? Well.. there are people who are predisposed to be allergic to grass.. making it difficult for them to go out in nature.. especially in the spring.. My dad happens to have this.. SHOULD WE OUTLAW TREES SO MY DAD CAN TAKE WALKS???? YOU PEOPLE ARE INSANE! You can't apply a specific and particularly DIRE case of something to an entire SUBJECT! "THAT MOVIE OFFENDED MY CHILD'S EYES! WE SHALL BAN MOVIES!!" Or.. if you'd like a more realistic and applicable instance.. "ALCOHOL MAKES MEN BEHAVE BADLY TOWARD THEIR WIVES! LETS BAN ALCOHOL!!" That's prohibition in a nutshell.. And that's the same shit we have going on now.. OH! Marijuana has exaggerated health and social risks that only truly apply to a small minority of people.. So... Lets apply them to the entire society and use television and tainted education to sway everyone in one direction... SHEEP! TRY IT! You owe it to your life.. to simply try it.. one time.. It grows out of the ground! PRETEND YOUR AN INDIAN.. And you just walked across a strange thing and you want to test it out and see how it fits into your frame of existence...

MaxTheITpro's picture

Moderation is the key

Like everything in life, moderation is the key. I'll also admit that people who have PERSONAL problems should NOT be using it (or any other herbs/drugs) to ESCAPE from REALITY. That's where the "slippery slide" of life begins.
Unfortunately, the mASS media is all too consumed at highlighting the dependency of weak-minded individuals to certain herbs/drugs. Yet they forget that sugar, processed foods, and other crap like Coca Cola should be run out of business due to the medical ailments each inflicts on society.

So where's the logic? Well...there ain't any when it comes to cannibis/hemp. And it's certainly been tossed out the window regarding other dire health crises such as obesity, cigarettes, and most "pharmaceutical" drugs.

Sometimes I wonder if mankind has gone MAD!

Anonymous's picture

POT: My Experiences:

Well, I have used pot for seven months now. I have mixed thoughts on it. I have seen the bad and good effects of it on myself and my companions (Users and non-users). I am a pretty smart kid, I get A's and B's in school with the occasional C here and there, and I always have before and after I started using the drug.
I have noticed over these past seven months that me and my friends have changed in different ways. For one, we have all become a little lazier than before use, but I think that is already a well known side effect. Some have become more edgy, or easily set off by things more than before our use of it. Not set off when on the drug, because while the effects of marijuana are present, everybody is having a good time. But while off the drug, in a situation of acquiring it or selling it, or a in the position of getting ready to use it, they get skittish.
I recently was in a situatuon where these friends of mine were present, and I was sober, and I could not believe what I was aeeing. It was used by the Native-Americans as a way of spreading peace, and the well known fact that it is a peaceful drug. It all didn't make sense to me. Then I realized, people get so used to it (not addicted because you can not get physically addicted to it, only mentally, which can be overcome with strong will power) and so bent on having it because it is a fun time, that they do not pay attention to their normal tendencies and inhibitions.
But that is only some of my friends, which brings me to the fact explained above, it affects everybody differently. I have some friends who are completley peaceful and friendly before and after use of it. Everybody has different reactions to marijuana.
I will end with my idea on marijuana. My father is fifty one years old, and has used the afformentioned drug for at least 35 years. He is not one of those people who "abuses" the drug. He lights up about twice a month, give or take. He is an LPN in a mental health institute in town, and makes a decent income. His friends are alike in his story. If you have control over it, you control your life and not let the herb take it over, have the knowledge of when to use, then you are fine in my book. Like said above, anything in moderation is alright, but you can not look at it like it has no side effects what so ever, because that is plain ignorance. As a user myself, not too long but enough to know, it is not a completely bad habit. The occasional use is a great time and gives you time to heal the dendrites in your brain. Then only your lungs are fucked!

Anonymous's picture

How long does it take for

How long does it take for weed to get out of your system if you only smoke it once?

Anonymous's picture

it should take about 3-7

it should take about 3-7 days for one use. Drink lots of water and cranberry juice.

Christineee. :)'s picture

one month, i'm still waiting

one month, i'm still waiting for the end of august, then i can go to the doctor. :)

PS. going to the doctor has NOTHING to do with the smoking of the weed.

Anonymous's picture

SHAME

/comment "I don't care what the doctors or anyone says" /comment

u know its shame that the majority of people replaying here is just like you (i mean in the sentence you say),
anyway i've been a weed user for sometime and i left it 5 years ago, the thing is i wanna know if its affect brain/IQ or make the connections faster or not in the brain, i dont know why all the people who smokes or oversmokers actually getting too defensive with this post.

/wave

Anonymous's picture

I used to believe all that hippie mantra

I used to believe all that hippie mantra about pot being natural, unaddictive, and completley un-harmful. The fact is that every drug has its potential benefits and potential harms. Everybody's body and brain reacts differently as well. This drug and my addiction to it has recently brought me to my knees, and the potential harms are very real I can assure you. Of course this is only my experience with it and don't want to portray this drug any less or more harmful than any others including alcohol.
I can truly atest to the effects on the brain. As most users I began using in high school, usually just on the weekends. I experimented with a few different drugs but pot was the one for me. Back then it just seemed like a lot of fun. Around the age of 25 a lot of my friends started living life in the fast lane & went on to harder drugs. I thought it was a smart move on my behalf in distancing myself from them and found myself a new circle of friends who didn't use drugs of any kind, pot included. I quit for a few years. I went on & off the drug for a few years after that until for the last 4 years I became a daily user. I was addicted. I quit 3 weeks ago & joined an NA group for support. I had the night sweats of withdrawl for the first 2 weeks. I knew I had a problem the last few years; I was using everyday damnit. I needed it to sleep. But what I didn't realize fully was how bad the problem had gotten. So in a way I was in denial. What finally made me realize the extent of my addiction & how negatively it had affected me?
I've always led a very active lifestyle. Those activities were becoming harder and harder for me to do. I had developed the inability to relate to other people & make new friends. I realized I had started to become very anti social and isolated. Going to the gym, to work, even to the grocery store had become a daunting task. People gave that look. Like ,What up. Or What a weirdo. I had become totally edged out even when straight.
I'm still having great difficulties in these areas, but realize that my addiction to this drug & it's affects on my brain didn't happen over night. From the research I've done ( this sight included) also realize that it's probably going to take many months for my body and brain to repair itself. Those neurons and pathways have to be cleared of the thc (which we all know is fat soluable) which will take time. I am determined to stay clean and once again live a full and productive life.
Again this is just my experience with the drug. I fully accept that for some it's purely recreational & don't use everyday. Just as there are social drinkers that never become alcoholics.
Just don't fool yourself. Marijuana CAN be just as harmful as any other drug. Don't believe the hippie mantra.

Nikki's picture

Smoking weed

I don't care what the doctors or anyone says. Weed definitely affects the brain in a terrible way. Everything is funny as long as your high. But believe me, after 20 years of using the stuff, I can feel a difference in my ability to remember things. I was hospitilized twice after abusing weed for several days.
Once I stop smoking, it was then that my brain had a hard time returning to its normal functioning. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but once my drug test came back positive for marijuana, the doctors realized my problem. I don't take medication for mental illness. I'm sure that both times (I was hospitalized)
the weed played a part. I believe that a well-balanced diet helps protect the brain. But for me personally, during that time I was a heavy marijuana user, I wasn't taking care of myself. I had a very poor diet.

Eric's picture

Of course it's not you, it's

Of course it's not you, it's the drug.

It's practically impossible to be hospitalized as a result of too much weed. There's a point at which you simply fall asleep. Pass out. Harmlessly. That's the plain and simple fact of the matter.

Now if you're smoking until you pass out, then smoking as much as possible immediately upon waking up (for an extended amount of time - ie several days) I don't doubt it's possible to require hospitalization. Why? Because anything in EXTREME moderation is going to have that effect. If I wanted to join your logic I would eat a container of yogurt every 5 minutes for 6 days, then go on the internet and state my "well educated" opinion about how I don't care what stupid doctors say, yogurt makes you throw up.

I don't entirely disagree with you though, I'm just in the middle ground. Is it true that MJ has only positive, healthy effects? Obviously not. Is it true it destroys your body and brain and wrecks your life? Obviously not.

It's really not that hard to figure out.

Anonymous's picture

weed

i have read your comments on the post about marijana and would just like to say i completley agree and have experienced the same as you've mentioned.

Anonymous's picture

Most people with

Most people with Schizophenia are prone to smoking marijuana. It is not good for schizophenics to smoke weed because it tends to bring on hallicinations. The weed didn't make you stop taking care of yourself it's the illness that you have. Just a thought.

Anonymous's picture

What were you smoking??

Whatever you were smoking wasn't weed my dude. Sounds like somebody dusted your shit. Weed would not, I repeat, NOT cause you to go schizo. Sorry I believe your story to be bullshit and you should be ashamed for blaming that on bud. I smoke weed and I've been spending the past half hour or so reading through everyone's praises and gripes about it and I can't read anymore. My opinion may be biased but I am going to defend both sides. First of all, I am 24 and have been smoking weed on the regular since I was 11. I have an IQ of 143 and I have a 3.9 GPA in college. I kept these grades up while smoking weed. When I do not smoke for a day or two, I do feel more refreshed and motivated than if I was smoking durig those days. However, I do not start getting headaches that weren't there before I started smoking. A friend of mine and I wanted to see how much we could get accomplished in 30 days of being marijuana free. Neither of us had a problem stopping and its the third week. We have gotten a lot acomplished but it isn't much more than what we were doing while smoking. There is no withdrawal involved. Are you sure you know what weed is? Because I've smoked every kind of bud possible and with a wide variety of people from young to old and I've never heard anything as ridiculous as that in my life. You need a new connect or better friends that aren'tgonna let you smoke PCP without telling you. Either that or your story is bullshit. But then again marijuana does affect everyone differently and then it just sucks that you aren't able to enjoy one of the best things on God's good GREEN earth.

Anonymous's picture

Well-It also made me out of

Well-It also made me out of touch with reality in a negative way. Different people have different bodies and brains. And things affect men and women differently. You are probably correct about the pcp thing, and I think that happened to me. But not everyone may have your rock star access to weed - and some of us dumb girls may end up permanently fucked up because of it, so don't invalidate someone else's experience! Thats not cool! All I know is that I was a daily pot user for years...and now I can never remember where my car is park. Now maybe thats because of the alcohol - or other drugs. But something I put in my body or experienced in the last ten years has weakened my memory in a disturbing way.

anonymous's picture

man, I 100% agree with that,

man, I 100% agree with that, I would write absolutely the same thing, just allow me the next facts and comments az an addon ;)

me shortly - Msc degree in informatics, i get like about 10 times the average salary here (EU), married happy and all :) when i smoke, it just opens my brain totally. Ideas, jokes, problemsolving - whatever. During worktime - I never get high, except 1 time. I want to tell you about it ;)
Imagine hard 16 hours nonstop IT work on fixing a complex informatics system brakedown. Well at 4a.m. i.e. 16th _consecutive_ workhour (yah happens once every 1-2 years) i decided to take a break because I was dead-tired of brainstorming while we still couldnt find a solution to the _whole_ problem. Yah imagine a very very complex and _extremely_ expensive-to-be-not-working problem. So, THEN i said i'll have a 2 hours break before we continue and i rolled a good one. Smoked. Well believe me, 10 minutes, and awesome ideas started crawling in my brain, and in 2 hours _everything_ was solved. And 1-2 days after i looked at the ideas used there by me while stoned - yeah I was amazed for SURE maybe more than the others :) that's the effect on me, yah and the laughing and jokes ;)

i almost forgot, it is absolutely no problem for me to stop smoking for weeks or months. to the never-smokers - its just something like lets say not going out to a bar every time you want like you're used to :) yeah maybe you get addicted to that one too if you do it every single evening, I was for 2-3 months :) didn't smoke then by the way.

end of opinion ;)

tonia's picture

I had the opportunity to

I had the opportunity to read your report on the damage of weed. First, let me say, I believe for the most part that anything can be okay in "MODERATION!". However long-term abuse of ANY chemical substance is damaging and addictive. I was a heavy pot smoker from 19-24. I indulged in 3-4 marijuana blunts per day. It was quite fun the first few months, giving me laughter and spunk. However after a year of constant abuse it made me depressed, left me feeling mopey, stiff and as mentioned by someone above "BURNT OUT"! Over the course of my addiction, certain things began happening, for example, I would be in one room and need something from another room, get there and forget what I needed. That to me, became a sure sign, I was damaging my brains ability to store and process information, along with the fact, that it didn't make me feel happy, it made me feel like "SHIT". Weed abuse made my neck and shoulders sore, I over anaylzed my problems, I made mountains out of mole hills. So the point I am trying to make is that weed does not make you happy it does not do all the things mentioned above in the replys. Weed, simply put is a downer. I will close my Commment with a defense for weed user,I can see how WEED for somone who has Attention Hyper Active Disorder would work because they are too HYPER.

So my opinion is not byiss, because I have been there, done that.