Cannabis is Harmful Towards Developing Brains

[Captain Hanks]

Not really (or at leas I highly doubt it). In fact, it would go against everything I have researched and studied as well as my own beliefs. I would think of it to be helping brain development growth.
However, there is this butthead who has been nagging me about it lately. I'm having problems finding any on my own, anyone know of any studies proving the above title false?:rasta:

[mrdevious]

I wouldn't recommend any alterations in brain-chemistry at an age when the brain is still developing. Cannabis certainly isn't guaranteed to be detrimental, I have a 20 year old friend who's been smoking pot every day since she was 13, and she has one more semester to go before getting her degree in business administration. My other hardcore stoner friend is in his third year of sciences, getting all A's and B's, majoring in physics, chemistry, evolutionary and nuclear biology, as well as advanced calculus.

On the other hand, through the teen years synapses are forming and grouping, the brain is pruning and making connections more efficient, the hypocamupus is still developing in memory and emotional control (THC has been shown to stimulate cell-growth in the hipocamupus however). The point is, consuming a substance which will (while tolerance is low enough to still induce pleasure) stimulate seratonin and dopamine production at heightened levels, will be bound to carry a risk of descencitizing those receptors (or "burning them out") and cause issues with depression, emotional stablity, and occasionally psychological instability. Not to mention such a stress-relieving and often escapist substance used in the teen years will deprive the brain of the necessary time needed to develope skills in dealing with stress and responsbilities independantly.

I say legalize cannabis, but it's not for kids.

[five0addict]

:stupid:
mrd seems somewhat educated.
danm!

[Inferius]

I don't have the motivation to look it up on erowid,
but I've read that truly long lasting negative health effects are only acquired by teens who smoke 5 joints a week, or something like that.

[LIP]

Well, from something i read A LONG time ago, it can keep healthy cells alive longer, which i supose would contribute to learning... But i've always said that kids shouldnt smoke untill about 16. I started puffing when i was 11, not as much as i do now, and it didnt fuck me over, but thats just me, i cant talk for everyone.

[Samwhore]

it doesnt kill brain cells, cannabis just makes my brain cells take a nap

[TheSmokingMonkey]

Fact: In 1972, after reviewing the scientific evidence, the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse concluded that while marijuana was not entirely safe, its dangers had been grossly overstated. Since then, researchers have conducted thousands of studies of humans, animals, and cell cultures. None reveal any findings dramatically different from those described by the National Commission in 1972. In 1995, based on thirty years of scientific research editors of the British medical journal Lancet concluded that "the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health."

[TheSmokingMonkey]

Fact: None of the medical tests currently used to detect brain damage in humans have found harm from marijuana, even from long term high-dose use. An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four to five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year. The claim that marijuana kills brain cells is based on a speculative report dating back a quarter of a century that has never been supported by any scientific study.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

the facts are from here.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Study_finds_marijuana_use_leads_to_brain_developme nt_in_rats

"This is quite a surprise, chronic use of marijuana may actually improve learning memory when the new neurons in the hippocampus can mature in two or three months," said Xia Zhang, with the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit of the University of Saskatchewan.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

But, there is a lot of information out there indicating that marijuana MAY hinder development of metacognition (the ability to think about one's thoughts and form complex ideas) and MAY increase susceptibility to other drug use/addiction and MAY increase the risk of developing schizophrenia at an earlier age.

The bottom line is, nobody really knows, and the risks are probably overstated.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

On the other hand, it also forestalls the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

My personal opinion is that kids' brains are still forming habits and that it should be treated like many families treat alcohol - "only for special occasions" or "just a taste". When a child demonstrates a reasonable level of emotional and intellectual responsibility, then they should be treated like an adult, and that includes regarding drug use. For some people that is age 14 and for others it isn't until they are 18 or 20.

[Storm Crow]

Monkey, you got it just about right, according to this study on IQ and pot smoking. Pay attention to the number of joints you smoke a week- it can make a big difference. http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/166/7/887 --Kids, this study is a classic! Everyone who ever expects to hear the "it rots your brain" arguement, should have this little gem stashed for just such an occation.

[DonJuan]

Are you a medical Doctor Hanks? I surely wouldnt reccomend weed to a teenager, and I am a smoker and not medically qualified. I believe is best, through perso experience, to wait a bit - like say 21 yearts of age. Let yourself grow up a bit mentally before maybe changing your world view with Cannabis.;)

[DonJuan]

sorry about the misspelling...i am stoned! :D

[LIP]

But, there is a lot of information out there indicating that marijuana MAY hinder development of metacognition (the ability to think about one's thoughts and form complex ideas) and MAY increase susceptibility to other drug use/addiction and MAY increase the risk of developing schizophrenia at an earlier age.
The bottom line is, nobody really knows, and the risks are probably overstated.

In a study scientists found cannabis can cause a mental healt issue to show, and therefore the cannabis is blamed for it, but in the same experiment they also said cannabis cannot CAUSE any mental health issue, just make it apparant.

And that was a study carried out by biased cunts who thought it DID cause it. That proved them wrong.

[qdavid]

I'm not exactly sure if what this means, if anything, but it is a proven scietific fact that the corpus collosum (of your brain) doesn't fully come together, from it's seperate hemispheres, until about age 25.

[orangeman]

If this is true then my brain is harmed because I'm 16 and obviously I'm still developing lol.

[Polymirize]

I'm not exactly sure if what this means, if anything, but it is a proven scietific fact that the corpus collosum (of your brain) doesn't fully come together, from it's seperate hemispheres, until about age 25.

Uh, its been awhile since I've studied the subject, but that doesn't sound right at all. The corpus collosum is the large band of neurons connecting the right and left hemispheres but I could swear its fully developed long (long) before the age of 25. Can you back that up?

As for the issue in general... It would be silly to assume that cannabis doesn't have an effect on the developing brain. And while different doesn't necessarily imply worse, I can think of a lot of people I know who "started to early" and never really moved on because of it.
Regardless, at a young age when the mind is still developing so much, it seems it would be far better for kids to be exposed to music, or the outdoors, or art than smoking cannabis.

just my thoughts...

[rebgirl420]

Ive smoked since i was 11 also and now im in college getting straight A's like I have all my life and i'm going to become an elementry school teacher :)

[b0Ng h!tz 4 mE]

lol wow.. i didnt start tokin til i was like 13-14 or somethin.. hell i dont even think i knew what weed was when i was 11 haha

[LIP]

Ive smoked since i was 11 also and now im in college getting straight A's like I have all my life and i'm going to become an elementry school teacher :)

You can be my teacher lol ;):rastasmoke:

[Inferius]

If this is true then my brain is harmed because I'm 16 and obviously I'm still developing lol.

Do you ever feel surprised how much your brain is changing?
How much you're consciousness is growing....

[Captain Hanks]

Do you ever feel surprised how much your brain is changing?
How much you're consciousness is growing....
I've noticed an obvious improvement the last two years. Other have noticed as well.:rasta:

[Captain Hanks]

Ive smoked since i was 11 also and now im in college getting straight A's like I have all my life and i'm going to become an elementry school teacher :)More power to you. I'll bet cannabis contributed to your success.:rasta:

[rebgirl420]

Hehe yeah it did I mean I play bass and am an artsy person in general whether it be drawing or writing and when im high I get my best work done in school.

[xweefernationx]

And as for the concept that "cannabis is a gateway drug is false". They say that kids and teens that drink more are more likely to move onto higher drugs than those who use cannabis alone and also if you check in the videos they are actually talking about how small amount of cannabis taken orally is better than ritaline so dont belive all the propaganda folk

[SFGurrilla]

I wouldn't recommend any alterations in brain-chemistry at an age when the brain is still developing. Cannabis certainly isn't guaranteed to be detrimental, I have a 20 year old friend who's been smoking pot every day since she was 13, and she has one more semester to go before getting her degree in business administration. My other hardcore stoner friend is in his third year of sciences, getting all A's and B's, majoring in physics, chemistry, evolutionary and nuclear biology, as well as advanced calculus.

On the other hand, through the teen years synapses are forming and grouping, the brain is pruning and making connections more efficient, the hypocamupus is still developing in memory and emotional control (THC has been shown to stimulate cell-growth in the hipocamupus however). The point is, consuming a substance which will (while tolerance is low enough to still induce pleasure) stimulate seratonin and dopamine production at heightened levels, will be bound to carry a risk of descencitizing those receptors (or "burning them out") and cause issues with depression, emotional stablity, and occasionally psychological instability. Not to mention such a stress-relieving and often escapist substance used in the teen years will deprive the brain of the necessary time needed to develope skills in dealing with stress and responsbilities independantly.

I say legalize cannabis, but it's not for kids.

I'm 19 now and I have smoked pot since I was 14. I do notice some slight


stimulate seratonin and dopamine production at heightened levels, will be bound to carry a risk of descencitizing those receptors (or "burning them out") and cause issues with depression, emotional stablity, and occasionally psychological instability. Not to mention such a stress-relieving and often escapist substance used in the teen years will deprive the brain of the necessary time needed to develope skills in dealing with stress and responsbilities independantly.


Theres no way to reverse this is there.

[beachguy in thongs]

Eur J Pharmacol. 2008 May 13;585(2-3):441-52. Epub 2008 Mar 18.
Cannabis and the developing brain: insights from behavior.
Trezza V, Cuomo V, Vanderschuren LJ.

Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. [email protected]

The isolation and identification, in 1964, of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, opened the door to a whole new field of medical research. The exploration of the therapeutic potential of THC and other natural and synthetic cannabinoid compounds was paralleled by the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, comprising cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, which offered exciting new insights into brain function. Besides its well-known involvement in specific brain functions, such as control of movement, memory and emotions, the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in fundamental developmental processes such as cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. For this reason, changes in its activity during stages of high neuronal plasticity, such as the perinatal and the adolescent period, can have long-lasting neurobehavioral consequences. Here, we summarize human and animal studies examining the behavioral and neurobiological effects of in utero and adolescent exposure to cannabis. Since cannabis preparations are widely used and abused by young people, including pregnant women, understanding how cannabinoid compounds affect the developing brain, leading to neurobehavioral alterations or neuropsychiatric disorders later in life, is a serious health issue. In addition, since the endocannabinoid system is emerging as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric diseases, a detailed investigation of possible adverse effects of cannabinoid compounds on the central nervous system (CNS) of immature individuals is warranted.

[Storm Crow]

since the last time I posted in this thread. Here are a few more interesting studies on the subject.

Moderate cannabis use not harmful to the brain of adolescents, M R I study finds
IACM-Bulletin (http://www.cannabis-med.org/english/bulletin/ww_en_db_cannabis_artikel.php?id=218#3)

No brain structural change associated with adolescent cannabis use
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/botrender.fcgi?blobtype=html&artid=1524733

Pot May Not Shrink Teens' Brains After All
Medical News: Pot May Not Shrink Teens' Brains After All - in Neurology, General Neurology from MedPage Today (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/tb/3242)

Swiss Study Finds Marijuana Use Alone May Benefit Some Teens
FOXNews.com - Swiss Study Finds Marijuana Use Alone May Benefit Some Teens, U.S. Doctor Disagrees - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,308258,00.html)

Some go without a cigarette: characteristics of cannabis users who have never smoked tobacco.
Some go without a cigarette: characteristics of cannabis users who have never smoked tobacco. (http://marijuana.researchtoday.net/archive/4/11/1483.htm)


And in kids with ADHD, I have personally seen it do some pretty good things. :thumbsup:

Granny :hippy:

[ijustloveweed]

I've always thought it depends on the person, When i started smoking i was 13 and some of my friends were just dumb asses high or sober. Some people don't need to smoke when they are young but it never affected me in a negative way in school and we usually blazed every morning in high school

[jaytug]

I wish I had started smoking when I was younger... I'd now be better at improvising music...

[beachguy in thongs]

Well, my pregnant girlfriend won't be prescribed any more ondansetron, which is a Zofran generic. They said that they couldn't give her anything else, because she's pregnant.

I'm not going to risk brain damage to my unborn baby (a consequence, among others, of letting hyperemesis gravidarum go untreated), and, thyamine deficiency and beriberi to my girlfriend. So what are the doctor's trying to tell me?

Between the three options: Weed: babies have shown to be tinier, when pregnant mothers use during mid-gestation (dose-dependant) Ondansetron: neonatal withdrawal, serotonin receptor damage to the mother, headaches, dizziness HG: brain disease,excessive vomiting, insufficent nutrition to the baby, calcium deficiency.