Marijuana: Good for your Brain?

[afghooey]

A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

In mammals, new nerve cells are constantly being produced in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory, anxiety and depression. Other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, have been shown to suppress this new growth. Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to see what effects a synthetic cannabinoid called HU210 had on rats' brains.

They found that giving rats high doses of HU210 twice a day for 10 days increased the rate of nerve cell formation, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus by about 40%.

Source:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155

afghooey Reviewed by afghooey on 12-02-2006. Marijuana: Good for your Brain? Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155 Rating: 5

[Not Enough Herb]

weed is god's plant

of course its good for your brain

now its time for me to make myself smarter

later

[marvelous22]

People tell me everyday that weed " Kills brain cells". Obviously they were wrong. =)

[birdgirl73]

Weed seems to be very beneficial to the brain indeed. But Marvelous, it also does kill brain cells. What people who use that as a reason to criticize weed don't know is it does that "killing" in a beneficial way. In lab tests and in human testing, weed kills glioma cells, which are dangerous brain cancer tumor cells. And it also aids a process called "apoptosis," which is basically the brain's (and body's) way of thinning or trimming out unnecessary or damaged cells that need to be destroyed in order for healthy cells to thrive. The brain-cell killing that occurs in regards to cannabis is quite beneficial.

[orangeman]

Weed seems to be very beneficial to the brain indeed. But Marvelous, it also does kill brain cells. What people who use that as a reason to criticize weed don't know is it does that "killing" in a beneficial way. In lab tests and in human testing, weed kills glioma cells, which are dangerous brain cancer tumor cells. And it also aids a process called "apoptosis," which is basically the brain's (and body's) way of thinning or trimming out unnecessary or damaged cells that need to be destroyed in order for healthy cells to thrive. The brain-cell killing that occurs in regards to cannabis is quite beneficial.

I love your knowledge. I just always happen to find my self chuckling when I stumble across something in your posts that's very interesting and being a good thing. Thanks for the info Birdgirl .

[afghooey]

Weed seems to be very beneficial to the brain indeed. But Marvelous, it also does kill brain cells. What people who use that as a reason to criticize weed don't know is it does that "killing" in a beneficial way. In lab tests and in human testing, weed kills glioma cells, which are dangerous brain cancer tumor cells. And it also aids a process called "apoptosis," which is basically the brain's (and body's) way of thinning or trimming out unnecessary or damaged cells that need to be destroyed in order for healthy cells to thrive. The brain-cell killing that occurs in regards to cannabis is quite beneficial.

Thanks birdgirl. :thumbsup: Do you have a source for that, out of curiosity?

[birdgirl73]

Yeah, let me look through some links and find the sources. I'll be back online later. Right now I have to run, but I'll get back to you on this. If you're in a hurry, you can Google "cannabis and brain tumors" and read what that says. More later!

(Thanks, Orangeman! XOX)

[afghooey]

I'm about to head out myself, but I'll take a quick look and see if I can't find it. Thanks again. ^^

[afghooey]

Found it. For those who are interested:
http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/

[harris7]

Weed seems to be very beneficial to the brain indeed. But Marvelous, it also does kill brain cells. What people who use that as a reason to criticize weed don't know is it does that "killing" in a beneficial way. In lab tests and in human testing, weed kills glioma cells, which are dangerous brain cancer tumor cells. And it also aids a process called "apoptosis," which is basically the brain's (and body's) way of thinning or trimming out unnecessary or damaged cells that need to be destroyed in order for healthy cells to thrive. The brain-cell killing that occurs in regards to cannabis is quite beneficial.

I know that is is proven that cannabis causes no long term brain damage.

i havent come accross this information. would this not be considered brain damage?


to the first post:
I've accutaly read and have the study. it has very interesting results. Prozac acctualy has the same effect on the hippocampus cells.

as well rats share this area of the brain with humans. it is a very interesting finding. it came out just over a year ago. i dont know how they could replicate the study on humans though