Anatomy & Physiology..in my terms..

[zenkat]

OK, OK, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SMOKING.

I've been smoking for around 12 years, and am pushing on thirty. So this stuff interests me. I'm also a smoking guinea pig - by choice. Addictions are crazy, I'm close to addicted - if not addicted to the Weed Supreme.

Anyway, along my studeous travels, I have learned about things like Neurophysiology- and most of it is understandable if you break it down slowly.

So here goes...

The THC in Marijuana is a specific SHAPE,... that 'locks' into certain neurotransmitters..much like a lock and key. (Enzymes work in the same way).
Once the THC latches on, it can block other processes CONNECTED directly to the neurotransmitter like - THOUGHT PROCESS. There's about 21 neuro's fired with each specific memory...I read things 21 times if I have to. Sounds crazy, but it works.
:rolleyes:
Maybe I'll continue my lesson in the future...I dont know what do you think?

[stankystank]

basicly your saying it blocks off your thinking makes sense

[zenkat]

Yeah, thats right. So the key is Moderation - so you can have sufficient time to detox.

Here's a double chamber for your reply....lol. Ahhhhhh, better.

[stankystank]

makes perfect sense really not that hard to grasp i would have to read up on it more

[Hempamasta]

Okay.. from a budding Psychologist's point of view.. *raisehand*

Dopamine is a neurochemical that basically makes you feel good. The neurochemical activates Dopamine receptors (duh) in the brain. Dopamine is commonly associated with the 'pleasure system' of the brain, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate us to do, or continue doing, certain activities. Certainly dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and striatum) by naturally rewarding experiences such as food, sex, use of certain drugs and neutral stimuli that become associated with them. This theory is often discussed in terms of drugs (such as cocaine, amphetamines, and Marijuana) which seem to be directly or indirectly related to the increase of dopamine in these areas, and in relation to neurobiological theories of addiction, which argue that these dopamine pathways are pathologically altered in addicted persons. The mechanisms of cocaine and amphetamine are different, however. Cocaine acts as a dopamine transporter blocker, competively inhibiting dopamine uptake to increase the lifetime of dopamine. On the other hand, amphetamines act as dopamine transporter substrates to competitively inhibit dopamine uptake and increase the dopamine efflux via a dopamine transporter. Still on the other hand (if you have three hands, then you're a freak) THC (and other cannibinoids) are very structurally similar to Dopamine.

So, you smoke Marijuana, and you're brain's like "ooh! Dopamine!" And then it takes the THC as it would Dopamine, activating the same receptors and making you feel damn good.

Hope that helps. If you need anymore explanation of drugs and the brain, let me know.

[Hempamasta]

Thought of more..

Basically, it goes like this.

Your nerve cells have tiny spaces between them called synapses (singular is synapse) The stimulus goes from one nerve cell, the nerve cell transfers the signal to a neurochemical (like Dopamine, for instance), and then dumps the neurochemical into the "Synaptic Cleft", so that another nerve cell can pick up the signal and send it onward. After the receiving Neuron sees what the neurochemical is, it drops it back into the synapse so the sending neuron can pick it back up (called "re-uptake"). Cocaine keeps it from being "re-uptaken" for a while, so it stays in the synapse for longer. Amphetamines work by keeping the dopamine from being re-uptaken at all, so you get more "speedy".

Okay, really done now. hehe

[beachguy in thongs]

Certainly dopamine is released (particularly in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and striatum) by naturally rewarding experiences such as food, sex, use of certain drugs and neutral stimuli that become associated with them. This theory is often discussed in terms of drugs (such as cocaine, amphetamines, and Marijuana)


Sorry to say, I just started reading this thread so I don't know if this is further down the line or not, but, it has been recently proven that pot doesn't affect dopamine receptors.

[beachguy in thongs]

Oh - I didn't realize we were only here.

[Hempamasta]

It doesn't do anything to the receptors themselves, it mimics dopamine's chemical structure.

[CloudyDay]

It doesn't do anything to the receptors themselves, it mimics dopamine's chemical structure.

You are stupid. What a joke.

Nobody know's how marijuana affects the brain.

[Hempamasta]

You are stupid. What a joke.

Nobody know's how marijuana affects the brain.

Why are you being an asshole about this? If I'm wrong, so be it, but I sincerely doubt that you telling me that I am stupid is going to make me want to change my mind. Christ, learn a bit of diplomacy.


Read this, and learn. How the hell could the human race not know what Marijuana does to the brain? Have you ever heard of research? Research on Marijuana and the brain actually.. did.. happen.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana3.htm

The site says, and I quote, "Foreign chemicals, like THC, can mimic or block actions of neurotransmitters and interfere with normal functions."

In the future, please read stuff about what you reportedly "know" before you call someone stupid.

Actually, surprisingly enough, it doesn't say anything about Dopamine mimicking... hmm. I could be wrong.

[hex050704]

Hello, I am not sure where to post this but at the beginning of this thread was started by a advanced user. Any how I am going to explain a brief history of myself. I will try it to KISS, keep it simple. I am 23, at 16 I was diagnose SLE or Lupus and Sgrogren's Syndrome. Lupus is basically an auto immune disorder causing inflamation of my own body due too many factors. Thru time it has given me many troubles and aches and I have taken just about any chemical drug or medicine out in the market. From Vicodin HP to inj. morphine - Tylenol. This because right now, I have a broken left hip, fractured vertabrae, and due to the medicine intake of 50mg prednisone, vicodin hp 6 times daily, xanax 0.5mg 3 times daily my liver is inflamated. Simply I am tired of taking these man made narcotics. LAST NIGHT AT 12:30 I DECIDED TO SMOKE A JOINT FOR PAIN AND SEE TO SEE IF I COULD GET SOME REST. I SMOKED POT IN MY LIFE, ONCE IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT THATS OVER 10 YEARS AGO. I ASKED MY MOM TO WATCH OVER ME AS I SMOKED A WHOLE JOINT AND NOT LET ME GO OUT SIDE. I USE A ROLLATOR - ONE OF OLD MAN'S CANE W/ WHEELS.OR A CANE AT TIMES. I CANT HAVE MY HIP REPLACED B/C THERE 2 MAIN FACTORS. 1. My liver enzymes are high, inflammatted liver and pancreas. 2. My orthopedicc surgeon is at a family emergency in New Orleans. Its 8 in the morning, I don't know, I felt weird last night, still do, but don't know if I am stoned or not. I also take Peumus Boldus which is a liver detox tea. By the way the use of the cane is no longer needed. I am going to research thiis on me for the next two weeks but I don't know where to post it. Any advice. Oh I have this problem dry mouth, its not cotton mouth, its cause by my lupus. Any remedies other than water?

[hex050704]

RECENT HISTORY: 50mg prednisone is a corticosteroid aka steroid and make me hungry; last week I weighed 152LBs. Today I weigh 159Lbs. Let me just say I spent $600 on groceries yesterday. Vicodin HP 6 x for pain. Not helping my liver unswell and its getting expensive and I am just not liking this anymore. Xanax to calm down due to the steroids. I only sleep 2-3 hours aday. Just to let you know these chemical meds dont have any effect on me, at the most for 2 hours but last night was whoa, wow, and scary to be honest. Let me know your comments. I don't do much. I love nature though.