Why are pot smokers so smart?

[TPot]

Seriously. For the most part, weed smokers are really smart, yet we have such a stupid stereotype. Why do you think this is? Why do people judge us as stupid, and why do so many smart people smoke weed?

I have my own answers, just want to know yours.

TPot Reviewed by TPot on 10-03-2007. Why are pot smokers so smart? Seriously. For the most part, weed smokers are really smart, yet we have such a stupid stereotype. Why do you think this is? Why do people judge us as stupid, and why do so many smart people smoke weed? I have my own answers, just want to know yours. Rating: 5

[Markass]

because what they say about marijuana is wrong...

I find it very interesting to read and learn about things....

[ProGroWannabe]

My theory....its not that pot-smokers are so much smarter than the populous as a whole....it's that smart people understand the value of smoking pot! Therefore you get smart smokers.

As far as the stereotype, I think that probably started from government propaganda years and years ago. "Smoking drugs kills brain cells"...or remember this one..."this is your brain, now this is your brain on drugs, any questions?"---that kinda shit. Oh well there's my two cents.

[RhinoGrowUK]

I agree dudes , when i was in amsterdam , i asked a shop owner who actually would buy a £900(us-$1839) glass bong that id seen in there. She said that she knew of all sorts of government, police and political figures buying smoking gear, people you wouldnt expect to even be in that area let alone smoke the Ganj !

It just shows the ignorance of some people !

[beachguy in thongs]

Because they've found out that chronic use creates brain-cell proliferation.

[RhinoGrowUK]

They *believe* it does , we have seen no evidence on a large enough scale to declare that they have "found out" , thats my 2 quids !

[Land of Drought]

Propaganda is a powerful Thing to combat against.............

Plus toking increses Brain cells have you not Heard? ,,,lolol Time to start some posative Propaganda of our Own..

Drought

[beachguy in thongs]

J Clin Invest. 2005 Nov;115(11):3104-16. Epub 2005 Oct 13.
Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects.
Jiang W, Zhang Y, Xiao L, Van Cleemput J, Ji SP, Bai G, Zhang X.

Neuropsychiatry Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

The hippocampal dentate gyrus in the adult mammalian brain contains neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) capable of generating new neurons, i.e., neurogenesis. Most drugs of abuse examined to date decrease adult hippocampal neurogenesis, but the effects of cannabis (marijuana or cannabinoids) on hippocampal neurogenesis remain unknown. This study aimed at investigating the potential regulatory capacity of the potent synthetic cannabinoid HU210 on hippocampal neurogenesis and its possible correlation with behavioral change. We show that both embryonic and adult rat hippocampal NS/PCs are immunoreactive for CB1 cannabinoid receptors, indicating that cannabinoids could act on CB1 receptors to regulate neurogenesis. This hypothesis is supported by further findings that HU210 promotes proliferation, but not differentiation, of cultured embryonic hippocampal NS/PCs likely via a sequential activation of CB1 receptors, G(i/o) proteins, and ERK signaling. Chronic, but not acute, HU210 treatment promoted neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of adult rats and exerted anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. X-irradiation of the hippocampus blocked both the neurogenic and behavioral effects of chronic HU210 treatment, suggesting that chronic HU210 treatment produces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects likely via promotion of hippocampal neurogenesis.

Sorry, if you don't believe in rat studies.

These findings are consistent with recent literature suggesting that cannabis use is not associated with structural changes within the brain as a whole or the hippocampus in particular.
Am J Addict. 2005 Jan-Feb;14(1):64-72.

But, this is interesting.

Chronic exposure to Cannabis sativa (marijuana) produced a significant down-regulation of cannabinoid receptor in the postmortem human brain.

The density of cannabinoid receptor 1 mRNA-positive neurons was significantly lower in Cannabis sativa users than in control brains for the caudate nucleus, putamen, accumbens nucleus and hippocampal region (CA1-CA4, areas of Ammon's horn). No hybridization was seen in the mesencephalon and globus pallidus.

Neuroscience. 2007 Mar 2;145(1):323-34. Epub 2007 Jan 10.

Some more interesting reading.

Drug abusers present significant alterations in extensive areas of the cortex (especially in the frontal and temporal cortex), subcortex (amygdala, hippocampus and insular cortex) and basal regions (striatum). These alterations are associated with abnormal patterns of activation during cognitive memory tasks, inhibition and decision-making. Cocaine abusers present more pronounced and generalised alterations in the brain. By combining neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings is has been shown that the motivational, memory and executive control processes can play a key role in rehabilitating drug addicts.
Rev Neurol. 2007 Apr 1-15;44(7):432-9.

[stinkyattic]

Simple.
The stereotype continues to exist because of a perceived social stigma against smoking weed that prevents the more successful/professional/ambitious stoners among us from being open about our cannabis use.
If those of us who did not fit the 'stupid smoker' stereotype could make a point of being more candid about our own smoking, thus bringing marijuana use by professionals into the mainstream consciousness, that stereotype would be disproved and fade into the past.

[ProGroWannabe]

Very good points. Nice read too beach guy. Thanks!