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 Reviewed by Hempamasta on . Anatomy & Physiology..in my terms.. 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' Rating: 5