Memory Problems

[Massi123]

I'll put it short and sweet. I've read several Pros and Cons lists for pot and was intrigued to find on erowid.org that short-term memory loss was not listed as one of the cons. Erowid Cannabis (Marijuana) Vault : Effects (http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_effects.shtml)

I just started going to college a couple of weeks ago and am overwhelmed as is by the massive work load, and amounts of terminology one must remember. Should I be concerned at all about my smoking getting in the way of this? I am curious because I just found a purple haze hook up in town yet am very afraid of forgetting everything i just spent four hours trying to remember. Perhaps I should limit how much I smoke or should control what time of the day i do it under? I most definately do not like getting stoned and stuying though, so i hope the answer isn't: "you'll remember things better if you're in the same chemical mind state as you were when you remembered it." My drug of preference for studying is a hard core amount of caffeine.

Plz post some links too if you can

[TheSmokingMonkey]

If you haven't already noticed a deficit, you're probably not going to.

I think you will be ok.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

Marijuana, Memory, and Perception -- DORNBUSH et al. 128 (2): 194 -- Am J Psychiatry (http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/128/2/194)
summary: low doses didn't affect memory, high doses did.

Marijuana and Memory (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v227/n5263/abs/2271151b0.html)
summary: it varies from person to person, further research is needed.

Entrez PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9259040&dopt=Books)
summary: visuospatial memory (like re-drawing a shape from memory) was negatively affected by heavy use in women, not by light use, and not in men.

Entrez PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=7648994&dopt=Citation)
summary: there is evidence that 24 hrs post-use, memory is adversely affected, but further research is needed to determine long-term effects.

bottom line, if you are a light or weekend smoker, you will do fine as long as you study hard and go to class. if you are a heavy smoker maybe you should cut back.

[TheSmokingMonkey]

You can come up with more yourself if you go to Google Scholar and search for articles.

[ukmonkey]

I aggree with the state of mind / caffeine comment... hence why I take a few proplus before every exam, it really clears your head.