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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
Ruined life
It's difficult to know whether any single thing has ruined your life. You ruined it because of a number of factors, surely. Even without dope you you would have found somehing else to ruin it with. On the other han, it may not really be ruined! It's just a path you had to go down. At the end of the day you've learned lessons. When will society stop blaming drugs and start blaming people for what goes wrong.
Cannabis is Brilliant
Firstly, i smoke cannabis daily and have done for about a year, and by reading alot of the comments i have to agree with most of the things that have been said, i believe that Cannabis can only lead to higher drugs if you are a weak minded person and are easily influenced, if you know that YOU personally can handle weed, you could smoke it for a long time and not be tempted by any really dangerous drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Meth and other medically PROVEN dangerous drugs. Personally i love smoking weed, and i have to say it gradually became a regular thing, much like an addiction, BUT at the moment as i write this comment i have not smoked any pot for around 2 weeks, and i do not feel the need at all to smoke weed. My personal conclusion is that the experiences and so-called bad side effects of cannabis varies among WHO smokes it, no one can take 1 opinion and make it a fact, it is a mysterious plant and i hope that one day it will become LEGAL.
What weed does to ME.
Simple.. while stone weed makes my reflexes quicker my memory allot better (my ADD more controlable in ways that suprise me, the shit i can do when i put my mind to it and focus on that task at hand which i have problems doing normaly is insane) rhythm great makes music sex and whatever u find pleasurable even more pleasurable i play basketball vid games a hell of allot better
ive smoked for 6 years heavily imo.
throughout skool grades were straight As no problems only the fact that i was a trouble maker. and shit hasnt changed im 21 now and my memory is still great. i taught myself the ABCs backwords in 3 min and wont ever forget also recited the Fiddlers green after only a couple min 7-10. so i kno memory isnt a problem. My health is great cardio is awesome i wish i could say that for my tobacco smoking friends which i hate deep inside. y the fuk would u smoke on a cancer stick??? RE REs!!
Weed doesnt make me depressed doesnt make me wanna harm myself or others (in fact it would proly make me less likely to) i dont use it to get away from shit its just the fact that i like to do it the feeling is great and something i need to use it to focus and get shit done. sometimes tho its the opposite. but its all straight cuz we do need to relax in life shit isnt so serious, ohh yeah sometimes i feel like im in a cartoon. and i can see myself in 3rd person sometimes when my mind allows it. sometimes it makes me paranoid and i hate it. Bad trips suk yes i kno just have someone to keep u laughing shits so funny when your blown idk y.
well thats perty much all i have to say about that.
i dont realy support smoking cuz i kno ppl have their bad experiances and it isnt for everyone but i like to do it :D
Bad exp for me. i once got my gurl stone with me cuz she was wanting to try it. and well lets just say she was like a crazy person that i had to watch and it was fukn freaky!! LOL i still remember her look like she was just blank creeeepy. she tells me she was just fuking with me but idk.
Don't be a tool
Dear Lord, if you're trying to make a point about how great marijuana is and brag about how you made straight As throughout school, at least have the decency to spell the words correctly and use correct grammar. You're just making yourself sound like a fucking tool.
like!
haha what a legend
I smoked about every day
I smoked about every day since I was 13. One day I decided to use it only about one to three times a month. I notice that I do not have an uncontrollable urge to smoke unlike my girlfriend who "needs" it constantly. She is naturally a tense and extremely spontaneous person whom I believe suffers from bi polar disorder, whereas I just like to smoke for relaxation and a different perspective on things. When she smokes she becomes more pleasant to talk with and has a better ability to think clearly where with me personally I notice a slower thinking pattern but more precise in my decisions. We are both fairly intelligent people and I have not seen where marijuana has truly effected us in a negative way except for lack of motivation and slowed thought process. Sometimes it makes me groggy or tired but nowhere near the effects of alcohol. I drank three days ago and I still feel slightly light headed. A dear friend of mine smokes on occasion and while he is "high" he never does anything stupid that he would not do sober. I use him as an example because he was on prescription drugs (I don't know what names) a while back and we decided to make him throw them out because they made him into a complete zombie. They sucked the creative passion out of his art and made him suicidal. I think marijuana can replace many dangerous prescription drugs and its use should be immediately implemented into many mental health programs. It's beneficial uses severely outweigh the side affects of these once presumed safe and effective drugs that are given out like candy to people who suffer from many mental disorders. We do not use marijuana to escape our problems here, they are used for the ability to approach our problems with a more focused mindset. I have seen people who do try to use it as an escape and I pity them because they are not using the proper drug for that purpose. True it does have the temporary effect of nulling emotional agony but that is usually quickly dismissed by what I personally like to call the "oh crap" effect of the drug. When smoking marijuana it tends to make you look at things through another persons eyes for a second and you think "Oh crap, so thats what it really looks like!" Maybe it's just us but I've known many people who agree with what I'm saying. I believe this is why many smoker's moral guidelines increase. They see a situation for its true negativity and feel that they must change it. The old cliche is somewhat true about pot makes peace. The only deciding factor is if you are willing to take action in order improve your situation.
I just want to say that I
I just want to say that I have no problems with anyone smoking weed, but that it is ruining my relationship with my boyfriend. Everytime he hangs out with those friends then i feel sick and anxious even though he does it very rarely. I think that if you're single then do it as much as you like, but if you are in a reltionship then don't unless your partner does or is not bothered by it because otherwise they will walk away from you.
Also I would like to say that I've had a fucking tough life, but I don't turn to weed, or drink or anything. So to all drug users or drinkers who do it when they are stressed or can't cope - then I wanna say, for fucks sake, man up and deal with it. Giving in to drink and drugs is the weak cowards way out. Get a grip and deal with life instead of wasting it on fake highs and numbness. The problem is still gonna be there - just think of a way to get rid of it or deal with it in normal way.
Stop being such pussys - the fact that you are on weed or anything shows only these things:
1) either you are too self-concious or incapable of having fun without it
2) you are weak and a coward
or
3) you're an easily influenced idiot
because anyone sure in themselves wouldn't feel the need to do it god you people are quite pathetic - this is one of the many things I'm trying to get through to my boyfriend. People pity you.
hi
hi dear although m smoking weed from past many years n m28 yr old now but tat doesnt meant ''its good''
m vry impressed wit ur thoughts over thiz issue n i will defintly quite it.i promise honey thnx by the way
takecare
I love your post!!! I totally
I love your post!!! I totally agree!!! My husband quit smoking pot for me and he has been happier, smarter, and remembers a lot more!!! I love him more now!! Our marriage is great!!
agreed-man up and deal with
agreed-man up and deal with it.
Wow, that's one hell of a chip you're carrying
Congratulations on making decisions that you are personally satisfied with. It's really weird that you feel a need to be so aggressive in defending those decisions.
Frankly, I think that your presumption that everyone carries your baggage and frames the decision to use drugs or not in terms of social acceptance or coping with adversity is dumb as heck. You come off as deeply insecure.
Between people who chose to indulge in marijuana and you, who apparently cannot help but feel "sick and anxious" because of the decisions of a few people your boyfriend hangs out with, I think it's easy to see who's "pathetic", "weak", or "cowardly." I don't know you, but I'd imagine your life would be a lot better if you worried about your own self a little more than the habits of acquaintances.
PS: Don't say you "don't have a problem" with drug use if you clearly do! It's okay to have an opinion, just be forthright about it.
In NZ it is the norm in all classes of society
I live in New Zealand where there is a strong pot-smoking culture through all classes of society.
I know doctors, psychologists, teachers, psychiatric nurse's, drug and alcohol counselors, church officials, even ex-members of parliament who all are long time potheads (about 10 to 40+ years, at least 5 times a week).
I belive that marijuana does do damage if you are susceptible to psychiatric disorders and especially anxiety, if you continue to take it, without adequate breaks of 3-4 weeks between sessions.
I have seen how marijuana can put people back into bad places if it is continued to be taken for too long; Although, i have also seen how it can have no bad effects on other people.
I also know it can make young people lazy, un motivated and depressed.
If you have tried it and you liked it, go for it. If you did and you didn't, maybe don't try it again for a while.
And if you are young, just wait until you finish puberty :P
"I also know it can make young people lazy..."
I would say, from my experience, that marijuana can allow people to accept a situation that they might not tolerate otherwise. If it has such an effect, it is subtle, and may be as related to the psychological comfort of getting stoned as it is to any direct effect of the drug on the brain.
Being lazy and unmotivated and being a young person go hand in hand, particularly in the suburbs, where I grew up. It's difficult to seperate the seeking out of drugs because one is in a state of anomie from whatever motiviational effects the drugs may have. My impression is that marijuana rarely has a dramatic effect on one's life, but can be a refuge and a delay in addressing the things that really need to be changed. Generally, if you are in a good place in life, and choose to smoke marijuana, you are unlikely to enter some vicious cycle of jazz music and loose women.
Please Read
Hi, I'm a 18 year old man and I am suffering from moderate deprression and my question is does marijuana help or hinder the deprression? Because I know when I experience the effects of marijuana it makes me feel better happier and appreciated but its only during the high that, that accurs. but afterwards my deprresion progresses so I'm not sure if its the maryj thats causing it to worsen or if its my low levels of serotonin.
YES IT WILL HELP UR
YES IT WILL HELP UR DEPRESSION SO MUCH DUDE U DONT EVEN KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DO IT
AND HAPPY SMOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i find that playing video
i find that playing video games helps, aslong as you're not a noob because if you're a noob you might become more depresed.
Marijuana
This is another one of the "brainwashing" websites. Im a future science teacher and blv me I've made a lot of researches. Pot is illegal 'cause it can't be taxed. 3 Researches in London have been conducted where 6 people 3 out of them have never smoked weed before 3 of them were chronic smokers (20 years and up) and there was no significant changes detected in their brains. So I suggest you do some REAL SCIENTIFIC research, and not listen to all that brain washing that teachers and cops put you through. It has been proven that school grades go down, there has been alot of experiments conducted on that as well, students who smoke weed and fail school.....school failure usually comes first. Trust me I'm on point on this subject
Marijuana's effects on the human.
Simply put it is an individuals personal choice to smoke marijuana or not to smoke marijuana. I personally believe that you are able to conduct yourself the same manner being high as you are able to conduct yourself being sober. It is classified as a "downer" type of drug... however, it is a naturally grown plant, just like poison ivy, poison oak and so forth. If anybody wants to argue their belief that marijuana is addicting and harmful, then do a paper on how fast food makes people obese and out of shape instead of trying to prove that it is because the human is too lazy and undisciplined to go outside and go for a long walk. Or for that matter go jogging in order to get the blood flowing in order for the blood cells to be able to carry food particles to the muscles and joints in order to keep the body strong and healthy. Marijuana is not the reason people become lazy and develop the "munchies." It is the choice of the individual. Like I said before, I personally believe that a person is able to conduct themselves in the same manner being high that they are able to conduct themselves when they are sober. So, how about thinking of it in this way.... Do the research study of how people act when they are sober first, and then see if the same result is not shown after they become inebriated. It has been said that a persons true colors come out when they are inebriated, because that is when a person is most likely not to even care about expressing the same emotions they would normally keep to themselves when they are sober. It should not be a study on the brain that should be done. It should be a study on the human overall.
Been tokin everyday for
Been tokin everyday for around 30 years now and you sir are full of the proverbial BS.
Good resource to know the
Good resource to know the effects of what you do in your life. Better than that are the comments of the readers, some of them are so funny and are based on nothing. I personally smoke weed every night. I would say that weed, like any other drugs which drive you out of your normal life, is not a good thing for the human body. It has its own advantages and disadvantages. Researches have shown that smoking Marijuana could be harmful to at least some groups of people. What if I belong to those groups?
Being high is really pleasurable and enjoyable!!! Those who smoke can guarantee that, but do what you should do not what you could do!!! After three years of smoking Pot, I would frankly say that I see more disadvantages than advantages. Finally, for those who believe that Marijuana is not addicted, you better think twice!!!
I strongly say that my brain and body don't function as same as three years ago!!! but GOD you gave me a damn good thing.
Anything is addicting
You can get addicted to anything.So why worry about this harmless plant that helps some people. Their is nothing wrong with it. Ive done it and i find it very relaxing and it is something i dont see as killing me. I see it as a releve from my stress. When i do it i feel good and i think i should not worry about other peoples thoughts about it because i am happy and in the end im not here to make anybody feel good but myself
an idea
im 13 and idk why but i got this idea from reading one of the comments: why dont we just make a leagal age limit just like with alcohol and smoking you know? ive never smoked but i was bored and looked up marijuana so thats why im on here. but yeah i think the leagal age should be mabye 18 cuz your an adult and stuff. so there thats like the best idea ive had in a long time so tell me if you tihnk its a good idea or not
smoke tree
Okay so I've somked weed for 5years every day 1/8 plus. I decided to stop to find a job, and because I was getting bored with it! With-in the month my mind has never been more clear. I was losing my short term memory, and was becomming skinny and depressed because of the weed smoking. I have stopped for over a month now, and have never been more happier! I like the ganj but its nice to take a break. While high I love watching the discover channel (shark week, how the earth was made etc.) My friends and I go on "adventures" we smoke and hike mountains all day! its a blast! I love reading on it. I get so invloved in stories, and everything is more intense and seems to come alive, I understand deep meanings of books right away. its awesome!!! I have noticed I become less motivated when smoking for long periods of time. It also puts me to sleep nicely! It has its ups and downs. people can decided whether or not its for them.
Smoking Weed non stop!!
K, for those who want it straight read!!
I have been smoking weed for about 7 months now ever sence ive started its been everyday all day before school during school after school before i go to sleep ect ect i relate everything better if i was high...
I am addicted to weed and anyone who says its not addicting is bullshitting you.... YOU will get addicted to the feeling of being high and want to always be high cause it will feel normal after a certain amount of time.....
How has weed effected me? I am super lazy some days, i forget alot of things ussualy small things like a test in school or somthing i have a small case of short term memory loss and longterm.....I have gotten smarter and dumber in different aspect of life from smoking....
WEED will LEAD to other DRUGS because weed is a booster pretty much....Anyone that has done any other drug or drank alchohol and smoked will say they felt higher or better when smoking and doing another drug than not smoking
(example)
I have done ecstasy before it is the most amazing feeling in your life and what lead me to it was Weed. Weed made me want to experience with other kind of highs and ecstasy was a perfect choice. i have done it only a few times but it is for sure one of the most addicting funnest drugs out there. It is boosted from smoking cigarettes or weed. Weed will make the come down you feel from ecstasy feel amazing....When you smoke after Using ecstasy the feelings of ecstasy still are in your body and you will most likly grind your teeth for a day or two after using ecstasy cause its still in your body.....
I pay attnetion to smaller things./..
weed has also made me hundreds of friends everyone smokes now days and you meet alot of more people if you do.
if your strong enough weed will not be addicting but...most people arent and it is extremly hard to stop after continous constant use of any drug....
Put it this way
Don't smoke if you dont think you can handle it...dont smoke if you question doing it...But remmeber this Weed will be legalized one day and that day is the day you smoke and that will be the day!!!
I love weed and its became a habit i dont even think when i hit a peice,bong,gas mask,joint,blunt,gravity bong,bubbler, its all become so natutral to me and it will for anyone else who smokes like me
Later niggas 4/20 soon woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mary-Jane
this guy knows exactly what he is talking about. but there is absolutely no physical addiction to marijuana, it is all in your head. no withdrawals at all or anything like a "hard-core" drug. if you choose to smoke weed.....
then that is the best decision you will ever make. :)
Well, it looks like it's a few years old
...but what an embarrassingly bad paper. It makes little distinction between acute and chronic effects with no discussion of usage (e.g. in joint-years or other standardized measure,) while drawing exceedingly tenuous connections between discrete findings (coordinated activity in a given brain region) and this grim picture of the marijuana user as an emotionally impaired, poly-drug abusing airhead.
It's bad science and the vast majority of people who have smoked will find that it does not reflect their experience in the least. Any reasonable analysis of marijuana research shows that the health liability for most users is vanishingly low. There are plenty of reasons why one might be inclined not to use marijuana or to limit their use - the D.A.R.E. boogeyman act is childish and alienating to the people it seeks to reach. Teenagers are not stupid, and once they recognize how dishonest official sources of drug information are, they are more likely to use drugs and less likely to do so safely.
WHY NOT
GOD GAVE US EVERY SEED BAREING HERB SO WHY NOT ACCEPT WHAT HE INTENED FOR HIS CHILDREN
everyone believes in
everyone believes in something but remember lies are everywhere and believing in the real truth really struggles to those who dont understand lol. openminded.search this and link this!i am only here to help those that need it.you can believe if you really want to! keep the music alive you cannabis users :D
god put this plant on are
god put this plant on are planet so we can smoke it and with using your mind you can actually become more intelligent and aware of life! people with a open mind will understand what im saying.Trance is the answer people.smoke a joint and listen to this if you are high and openminded.Trance it's not only a music. It's also a lifestyle. New, sensual look at the world. It's a love to deep sound which arouses an enormous excitement. You can jump or cry while listening to it. You can feel a flush of energy or emotion and wave of memories. Trance is like an ocean of feelings If you dive in it once, you will drown, You will become dependent on it and... It won't let you get away for the rest of your life.
Estiva - strawberry fields (original mix)
Estiva-Fading Freedom (Original Mix)
now they say your mind takes you wherever .well memories thoughts and happyness takes you there.you can make that drug take you anywhere you want people.just no how to control it youself not by what the books say.your mind only can control .if you are having depression mentalness from cannabis then try listening to this underground genre of music that not many people no or understand.if you understand this then now you will enjoy life and be much happier trust me its been with you people your hole life.you's just dont understand yet.just because you dont understand it doesnt mean you can hate it! remember! peace out to planet earth!save the world before we have no more plants left!always think positive! <3
now get high and enjoy :D x
it really depends on the
it really depends on the person to clarify if weed is a drug or not. Some people are affected so bad by weed they can't handle it. Or Other people need it to focus.For those who never tried marijunana keep your comments to your selves and dont talk your shit cause itz one of the best feelings of your life!!!!!!!!!!!Personally I smoke mostly when im stressed and angry .It makes me fell lots happer when im mad and down.I smoke a bowl, chill with my friends and laugh my ass off . Nothing wrong with that!!!! Legalize it!!!!
Marijuana and coordinated movement
Your declaration that THC affects the brain's cannabinoid receptors can be validated in two words, Michael Phelps.
well I for one agree with afew people on here lol
I smoke weed a few times a month and that's the only kind of drug I do and ever plan on doing. I'm 15 and I have to say,if you've never smoked weed,then I'm probably not gonna listen to you because how exactly would you personally know? reading everyone's comments and stuff,really just makes it depend on your point of view. Some people like the affect of when they smoke weed,and just because someone smokes the herb doesn't mean they're stupid. There are many intelligent,successful,and amazing people who smoke/smoked it.
In my opinion,weed has it's pros and cons. There's a lot of songs,technology,ect. that have been created by someone who would be put into the stereotypical group of "Stoners/Potheads". Some people also smoke it,because they don't care what most of society would think of them. If it makes them happy,then that's all that matters in a life this short. It's their lifestyle,and in a world where whenever you flip on the news,there's some case of someone going missing or kidnapped and ending up brutally killed,yeah some people might wanna take a break from all of that,and weed may be one of their only necessity's away from the world. It's ridiculous how society thinks it's right to point their fingers at people who smoke weed and try to tell them "You're wrong! You shouldn't do that" when something I was taught,even by my parents who are totally against smoking weed,is that you shouldn't tell people how to live their lives.
Just saying ;) life's too short to go on,not doing something just because society thinks it's wrong or even when it has life long cons to it. It's true that too much of anything is bad for you,that counts for weed and everything else too,and i dunno how exactly to conclude this. I hope I made my point though.
only stupid people do stupid
only stupid people do stupid things. Dont blame a plant that has been smoked for many many years ! I smoke off and on, but really enjoy drinking more. Its logical to most people i would assume that drinking is worse though! and that is the most accepted "drug" in the world. most accepted since biblical times i add ! Half the posts i have read sound like a bunch of kids, stoners, just defying there parents. Some actually seem sensical. as long as people use in moderation, get from safe people, dont drive around or use tools/equip that could injure them. i dont see a problem. BUT ! ! ! ! ! i do understand why it is not legal, testing a slow/swervy driver for pot use isn't really that easy, not like alcohol. and i dont care how tolerant to Marijuana you are i know that your driving is worse off then if you haden't smoked, ( yes i know tired drivers are worse than drunk/stoned) but thats not a controllable thing being our society and life depends on WORKING ! so if we couldn't drive tired we would be screwed. everyone should just stop yelling and calling people stupid. smoke if you want, or dont.
READ IMPPORTANT LIFE CHANGING
since i have begun smoking i have sat in a seat and thought of at least 50 AMAZING ideas that could most likely change humanity as we know it. the only problem is i don`t know how to get the word out because i don`t want people knowing i`m a pothead. i want to put two avarege people in a room to sit and talk maybe listen to the radio while smoking a blunt, and put them under a brain scanning (MRI). i think that we could discover how the back of the brain is used and also how weed really effects the brain. maybe in the long run leggalize marijuana.
I've been smoking pot since I
I've been smoking pot since I was 13 and I'm 22 now. I use it to calm me down and also as an anti-depressant. I own my own Personal training business and am going to school to be naturopathic doctor. If you understand even the basics of simples sciences such as chemistry, biology, and the like then you are one of the non-sheep here who can verify that this article is pure mis-information.
GOD IS LOVE, LOVE GOD
Marijuana, is it bad for you?
I liked what this article said, it really put into detail what THC does to your brain. Now with that said, I am fully aware that yes it does drain your short term memory, and yes mayb it affects the nervous system, BUT check it out people, ive been smoking for a LONG Time. I have a bachelors degree in computer science, I served 2 1/2 years in the Navy. To this day, I still smoke (even at work sometimes) and it doesnt affect me. I mean it makes me feel good, but I dont feel any dumber than I did 5 years ago. I take I.Q. tests frequently (For fun) and my iq score is still the same as its always been (give or take a few points of course). So unless theres really any hard evidence of this "DRUG" (I quote drug, because not everyone see's it as a drug) hurting your brain, I would recommend everyone tries it. Society is set up in a way, where the average person is stressing A LOT everyday. Even our perception of time seems to put an entire race of humans under constant stress. Think about it, if we didnt monitor time like we do now, lived in natural time, how would we change? How would we change on a concious level of awareness if everyone in the world for 1 Day, ONE FUCKING DAY wouldnt have Anger, stress, fear, or any other negative emotion? I think its possible, not even with the help of weed, but weed can't hurt? As far as iam concerned, the only real "Side effects" of Marijuana are
1:Hungry
2:Happy
3:Sleepy
Long, but if you really want to help me... READ
Ok so I've tried smoking weed maybe 4 or 5 times. There are a lot of things that i would love to know about it that has been avoided in every article i've read. I've done alot of research on it myself because I want to know exactly what it does to your brain. So Im just going to start talking about it and whoever can answer these things for me, feel free to answer.
For one it is very obvious that weed impairs your short term memory while smoking. That had to be the first thing i noticed about it when i started. Also after I smoked I had a hard time remembering everything that I did while smoking. But what i need to know is, are the affects permanent? When you smoke weed does it slowly damage your hippocampus and cause your short term memory to gradually be lost over time, or are the affects only while you are being exposed to THC. Another thing is, i've read so much about what THC and cannabinoids do to you. I feel like there is no way to actually know the facts unless you do the research on the plant yourself. in some articles i've seen that THC heals lung cancer and pretty much any disfunction that is caused by mutating cells. I read that the oil from the plant is the medicine that heals countless illnesses including cancer which is a huge deal. On the contrary, i've read that THC actually can be the cause of cancer for different reasons. Both of what i read seemed to have come from pretty reliable sources. what is the truth? Also the ability to become addicted to it. Apparently it is not possible to become physically addicted, rather mentally. I thought that was called a habit. in which case, isnt anything that you do and enjoy possibly mentally addictive?
I do not have the best of memory myself and i never have. I read in some places that while on the drug, it impairs your short term memory, in others it says that after their high wears off, they have affects like improved grades, being more relaxed, being able to focus more and etc. Honestly if cannabis can help my memory i would LOVE to continue to smoke it. But if it is something that can affect my memory in the long run, i can not continue to do so because my memory is bad enough as it is. But i cant find the truth on it. I cant find weather it will help or hurt it in the long run. So someone please either tell me the truth about the plant, or give me reliable sources.
Bogus claims
(With all respect to the 30 minutes researching and writing the following article.) I Have had sleep disorders that triggered depression and anxiety my whole life. I was schooled at a young age to believe marijuana was used by low class criminals and had no medicinal benefits. I was prescribed numerous medications, one to counter act the other and so on and so on. I became aware on my own that modern psy drugs are relatively a new science with no real long term studies, and anyone who knows science understands that 30-40 years of research isnt much, especially on the most dynamic organ in the human body. I gave up after almost 10 years of being switched on and off these drugs, nothing really seemed to help. I saw my local marijuana doctor and he issued me a card, best decision of my life. Everything in my life turned around, from relationships to job performance, and i even was able to finish school, something that i have never been able to do before in my life. I think marijuana effects everyone differently, no two people have the same body chemistry, therefore how can a real unbiased study be possible, or even creditable? Marijuana changed my life for the better, ill take a natural means of treatment which has evolved thousands of years on this planet with our ancestors than some synthetic chemical compounds pumped out of a factory that are engineered to make a quick buck for the drug companys. I will trust mother nature over john doe capitalist anytime.
You're Not Old Enough to Fully Understand
You all say your use of Marijuana does not effect you. My husband has smoked for 45 years. He's 63 now. Marijuana has taken away a lot from his life. He didn't see it for a long time but is now experiencing the long term effects on his body and his brain.
We believe that he was ADHD as a child but back then he was considered a brat who couldn't sit still. Now, his ADHD is worse. So, if marijuana helps ADHD he should have been cured years ago.
When THC is in his system, he has no remorse, compassion or emotional cognition of what's going on around him. Also, because of the effects on his short-term memory, he has to make several trips from the house to the car in order to go anywhere because he forgets what he needs to take and then he remembers, and then he forgets, etc.
The biggest thing marijuana has robbed from him is his motivation to accomplish anything. He just doesn't care. In the 20+ years I've known him he has been a job hopper, most of the time getting fired for something he didn't do, forgot to do, or because of his smoking, would come in late or back from lunch late or just not caring about what he was doing.
Marijuana is psychologically addictive. If you don't believe me, decide that you won't smoke for a month. Because if it's as harmless or as beneficial as you believe, then there should be no withdrawal symptoms or side effects. If your asthma and ADHD are "cured" then not smoking should not cause a relapse.
Although the article was slightly slanted and in desperate need of spell-check, it was not inaccurate. The author, obviously a young person, needed to study people who smoke habitually over the long term.
My husband is well educated and brilliant when he's not high. That's the only reason I'm still with him - the sober man I'm married to is an exceptional person. The stoner man who shows up when he's high is an asshole.
...and if your husband was an
...and if your husband was an alcoholic for that many years he would be either completely unintelligible or dead, so which drug is worse? and as someone pointed out this article is riddled with biased and misinterpreted data and sources that my old high school teachers wouldn't even accept
I'm sorry that you've married an addict and hope things improve
Blaming callous, reckless behavior on "the drug, the terrible terrible drug" and insisting that the behavior is separable from the person your husband is when sober is classic enabling behavior. Your husband isn't "made" to do these things by marijuana, any more than one is "made" to commit domestic violence by alcohol.
Marijuana is indeed psychologically addictive, much like sex and chocolate. I hope that you are able to get help for your husband.
From another reply:
" The withdrawal occurred a few days after not smoking, and lasted for a month. I was constantly throwing up, because of anxiety, barely sleeping, having awful panic attacks and was horribly depressed."
You are aware that these are all common side-effects of ADD medication, right? I won't presume to know your precise medical situation, but the difficulties you describe are common to people starting on a wrong dose or reacting badly to a stimulant medication, not "withdrawal" from marijuana.
Regardless, I am glad that you are happy with your decision to quit smoking. You should take comfort in knowing that marijuana use does not "destroy brain cells" and any deficit you feel you have experienced from smoking too frequently is not permanent.
Hi, I'm sorry to read your
Hi,
I'm sorry to read your situation with your husband, especially the fact that it has gone on for so long. I do understand that you believe it to be the drug that is causing all his (and your problems) but I'm curious as to what he has done to seek help?
I use to use marijuana daily, until I felt it impeded on my life. Then I stopped for many years. I can now use it on occasion without the negative affects daily use of it would have on me. After losing a baby, I got my medical marijuana license for depression. It was a blessing to have it as an option to my anxiety, the ease of emotional pain and depression. I have family members who use prescription medicine, and the problems they experience with finding the right drug to help their psychological issues are often much worse. I do not want to go down that path, and hope to be able to use marijuana if need to in the future.
I wish you the best, and hope your husband finds the real source of his addiction. Because it sounds like he has an addictive personality, and if he stops smoking but doesn't cure this, he will most likely become addicted to something else. Many people with addictions seek enabling partners, not a person who condones it with words, but become passive to their partner out of fear of alienating them. May God give you the strength you need.
AGREED!
I'm in total agreement with the post written on 03/28/2010.
I casually smoked throughout high school and barely made my way out. I then went to my community college and did extremely well, when I graduated from my two year diploma program, I got a great girlfriend and spent an incredible summer together. We would smoke, but only 3 times throughout the entire summer. However, in the fall she went back to her university, and I was left to my own devices. I went to visit her for a few days about a month after she left. We had an amazing time together. When I returned home I was really depressed and started smoking almost daily. When I returned to visit her before the Christmas break, I had brought alot of weed with me, and when I got there smoked the entire time, she did with me once. She then broke up with me between Christmas and new years.
The last time I have smoked was new years eve. I decided that night to stop smoking. I began going to the gym constantly, and started taking a prescribed ADD medication. The withdrawal occurred a few days after not smoking, and lasted for a month. I was constantly throwing up, because of anxiety, barely sleeping, having awful panic attacks and was horribly depressed. I then went to the doctor and told her my story, she prescribed me with a anti depressant. I am slowly feeling better, every day my overall brain function is returning. I have been told by my doctor that since I quit young, my brain will have a better chance to regenerate the damaged cells. My personality will return as my brain develops the ability to produce the proper chemicals naturally.
Smoking weed has robbed me of my passion, motivation, self esteem and worth, my personality, my girlfriend, the respect others had for me and my future.
Every day gets easier, but I doubt my mind will ever recover to its full potential.
I'm high constantly. The vast
I'm high constantly. The vast majority of stupid things I do and mistakes I make are usually ones I make because I have just always had a characteristic lack of understanding of certain things, caused by a childhood where I never was really pushed to do anything I didn't 'feel' like doing.
I'm totally aware that a bunch of processes are being flipped around in my brain, but I say, if I can make it work both ways, why not?
I smoked since I was 13 and
I smoked since I was 13 and now I am 25. I have bad and good things to say about marijuana. And I am not going to lie. I would have to agree it does affect short-term memory. It most likely has to do with our transmitters not properly communicating when a person is high, so the information is not properly stored.
After I smoke I notice I attend to forget where I place things and in some circumstances my attention span isn't very good and I drift off in thought.. I have even noticed when I am stoned I can even forget how to spell certain words.
It depends on the high or amount though. It can be a good relaxing buzz or it can be a scary high.
I have had nights where I smoked massive amounts and I became either paranoid, scared, or sad. it can play with ur emotions and make you think. But then there is sometimes i just get tired and not want to do anything (AT ALL) just sleep and not want to move. No ambition for anything in life. It just (DROWNS U OUT)
I look back and I think about how much time I have lost and wasted on weed. I don't want to be that drowned out loser sitting on the couch with no ambition for life. I WANT TO LIVE...
question?
Hey, does anyone know for sure if smoking weed once every couple of months when your in the right mind set (happy) has any negative effects mentally and physically at the time or in the future. If so what are the effects and are they that damaging mentally or physically. Also can smoking it every couple of months when you are happy lead to depression? thanks
my answer
I would say that smoking every couple of months wouldn't really do you any harm. the time in betweeen each use would probably be enough to clear it out of your system. Marijuana usually stays in your body for a couple months without any kind of detox. So, if you're only doing it every couple months, i don't really think it would be enough to have any noticeable side effects. of course putting any kind of smoke into your lungs is bad, but your body regenerates all its cells every 7 years or so, so if your use of marijuana is limited then you should have given your body enough time to recover from any damages. emotionally, i think it depends on your mood going into the high. if you are happy when you smoke, and smoke so infrequently, i don't think it will lead to depression. now i'm no expert, but based off of my personal experiences and habits and basic logic, i would say you're a-okay to smoke every once in a while.
Cannabinoid metabolites have nothing to do with "side effects"
They might get you fired, but do not have any known effect on the brain or body despite decades of research into the question.
For those who do not agree
I agree with your article and I am happy I found it. I am studying to be an accountant and I have been smoking pot for over 4 years now. I recall that in my first and 2nd year of college i used to smoke up before i started studying and it worked well for me i got good grades As and Bs. so now i an in my third year and i am noticing some changes to my brain, especially in my short term memory. I study exactly the same but for some reason i can not retain 100% the information i studied. I really think weed fucked me up.... oh and for those who say it has no effect on them, maybe it doesn't now, but it will later. and for the guy that says he has been smoking since 13 and now 25, I am pretty sure it already fucked you up, why dont you try going back to school and reading big text books and see how your memory reacts to it.... i wonder whats your profession????.....
but anyways to summarize, you may think it is not affecting your brain, just cuz your to high to realize it, or because you have been smoking it for so long that you think its a normal state of mind but in reality its not... try quieting for 6 months and see how that goes....
i agree with the accountant guy
hahaha was just studying for a corporate taxation exam, took a break and thought about this subject, googled "memory fucked weed" and this came up
hey man, same here, accounting student. I can tell, if u have got a lot of memorization to do in your life/job. just stay away from regular consumption of cannabis. make it truly once in a while.
certain professions just can't use weed in any regular way, simply due to the nature of the profession, there is lots of memory involved in accounting or law. now, I can tell u I can calculate and comprehend just as normal when high, but i can def tell u memory is wiped when high and struggles a tiny bit when not high which usually recovers after a month or so of sobriety
I've been smoking since i was 19, now 25, senior accounting student. Now, I can tell my memory has been affected, but not by much, in a permanent manner. if i have been smoking recently and more than just a toke, i will forget certain terms or rules that i just learned. but if i'm sober and have been for a few days, i'm perfectly okay and have made the dean's list this very same way a number of times now.
its funny i made shitty grades for simple general courses at first with heavy smoking. then smoking continued but i got suspended from school for a semester and then it was A after A till now! only a few Bs. 12-15 credits every semester and a shitty job. but hey i still toke and i'm still good enough for my field, i can even tell u i'm better at accounting while high than half my classmates sober!!!
i guess it has to do with personal and natural traits that u got too. I was always the smart kid around, and i still manage to keep my smarts regardless of weed. I was always somewhat weaker with memory than my competition (other geniuses in schools) especially short term memory, i remember this from 4th grade bus rides in which my buddy would insantly memorize store names, license plate #s or phone numbers and i could not even say half of it 10 secs later!!
weed >> affects short-term memory somewhat permanently, but not in any severe way, at least in 5 years of smoking after full development of brain.