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BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health
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Subject: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 05 - 12:24 PM To no surprise, researchers are finding evidence that cannabis isn't what the "Just Say No" folks would like you to think. New research into brain health coming out of Canada makes for interesting reading.
Lab rats given drug 100 times as strong as pot By DAWN WALTON Friday, October 14, 2005 Posted at 3:57 AM EDT From Friday's Globe and Mail Calgary — Forget the stereotype about dopey potheads. It seems marijuana could be good for your brain. While other studies have shown that periodic use of marijuana can cause memory loss and impair learning and a host of other health problems down the road, new research suggests the drug could have some benefits when administered regularly in a highly potent form. Most "drugs of abuse" such as alcohol, heroin, cocaine and nicotine suppress growth of new brain cells. However, researchers found that cannabinoids promoted generation of new neurons in rats' hippocampuses. Hippocampuses are the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, and the study held true for either plant-derived or the synthetic version of cannabinoids. "This is quite a surprise," said Xia Zhang, an associate professor with the Neuropsychiatry Research Unit at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. "Chronic use of marijuana may actually improve learning memory when the new neurons in the hippocampus can mature in two or three months," he added. The research by Dr. Zhang and a team of international researchers is to be published in the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, but their findings are on-line now. The scientists also noticed that cannabinoids curbed depression and anxiety, which Dr. Zhang says, suggests a correlation between neurogenesis and mood swings. (Or, it at least partly explains the feelings of relaxation and euphoria of a pot-induced high.) Follow the link at the top for the rest of this article. Here is a Google search on more articles about this research. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 14 Oct 05 - 01:59 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:14 PM Prior to posting, I will again state that I have NOT smoked dope (Cannabis Sativa) in over twenty years. Ya know, when I was at university thirty years ago, I knew a bunch of lads who smoked dope... a lot of dope... potent dope. Typical among the heavy pot/hash/oil users were guys like *****. Engineering was a five year program which could be done in fours years by only the extremely intelligent. He not only did his undergraduate degree in four years, he took a bunch of extra courses and had SIX majors. He is now one of the top execs at a large Yankee oil company. He doesn't smoke dope anymore... they have a drug testing program. Over my time at Uni, I knew of at least two dozen guys like *****. Law students, math students, etc, and even some of the Profs smoked dope back then. Not any more... it's not politically correct. When I started Uni, I wouldn't even associate with anyone who smoked dope, until one night after Xmas exams in my third year. I got boozed up and smoked. Didn't get high. The next day, I was told that most people have to smoke twice to get high and I did. My 2.87 CGPA was near 4.0 when I graduated with a Master of Science in Engineering. Never had a beer for over five years. Of course, when I got out in the working world, pot was a no-no and all my peers in the construction industry were heavy drinkers. I have seen a lot of lives ruined by booze. But I have never seen a pot smoker who was not successful and happy. Like I said, I haven't smoked dope for over twenty years, but, the day it becomes legal, I am gonna replace part of my rhubarb patch... and grow into a wise old sage. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:15 PM Awww... Peace.... I don't know what to say. To each his own? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:37 PM I have smoked dope (grass) but not in over thirty years. In fact, when I die I intend to be cremated, put into nickle bags and given to all my friends. Well, the two of them, anyway. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 14 Oct 05 - 02:48 PM Oh, yeah. I just remembered what I was gonna say in my first post. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Little Robyn Date: 14 Oct 05 - 03:25 PM Then why did my nephew become bi-polar after smoking dope on a regular basis? He was fine before that. He's almost a total write-off as a human being, at age 35. He's unable to hold down a job and he keeps annoying the police. Nothing too serious, just getting into fights and driving when he shouldn't. (But I still love him.) Robyn |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 14 Oct 05 - 03:32 PM Because he became bi-polar. Thank goodness he was smoking dope, which delayed the onset of this terrible affliction. Fire up a doobie and chill or provide some evidence for your "claim". |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: GUEST,Boab Date: 14 Oct 05 - 03:56 PM Any doctor who encourages a patient to smoke cannabis in any other situation than terminal illness doesn't deserve the title "Doctor of Medicine". In fact any Doc who encourages smoking of ANYTHING is in the same category. There has been much crap talked about cannabis use----by both sides in the argument. Marijuana is nowhere near being the horrid poison which has been demonised by the "antis". Nor is it the benign and harmless habit extolled by the "pros". On the "anti" side, ONE reefer is much more harmful than ONE cigarette. A home made reefer burns at a much higher temperature than a factory made cig, and does proportionately more immediate damage. On the "pro" side ---nobody I have ever met smokes up to forty reefers a day! Most cannabis users I know indulge their pleasures mainly at parties or social gatherings, etc. Tobacco is only now being seen for what it is--an utter abomination. The difference between the two drugs lies in the fact that tobacco is extremely harmful even when used in a "non-smoking' fashion. Cannabis, on the other hand, can have similar physical and mental effects whether it is smoked or ingested by any other means. If it is smoked, it must be considered like tobacco---an abomination. It is becoming apparent to most interested folks that because of the blind prejudice of the "antis" , and the defiant 'freedom to indulge in a 'joint" pros, a potentially very beneficial weapon in the armoury of medicine has been unjustifiably sidelined for far too long. If you must use cannabis recreationally, eat a cookie--or get the recipe for marijuana butter. These avenues MAY turn out to be benign enough to merit general acceptance. Smoking the stuff---snoking ANY stuff---can do nothing but physical harm. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 05 - 03:59 PM Bipolar disease isn't one that is likely to be set off by something like drug use, but rather the reverse, according to a friend of mine who has the ailment, as does her son. There is a genetic connection, and she feels that the bi-polar disease is what has contributed to his use of controlled substances. Looking for relief. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: GUEST,DB Date: 14 Oct 05 - 05:04 PM Call me old fashioned but I don't think that it is very wise to imbibe dubious substances bought from criminals. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 05 - 05:28 PM It shouldn't be a crime. That would solve that problem. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: GUEST,Boab Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:08 PM The only way I would ever be found returning to tobacco [after what it has done to me----] or starting to smoke cannabis would be if something had very seriously compromised my brain health beforehand-- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: frogprince Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:16 PM I have never seen a pot smoker who was not successful and happy. gnu, you sure have missed seeing a number of people I've known along the way. Having said that, I buy a good share of what you've said. I've known more sad, sorry drunks than sad, sorry potheads; the difference between the legal and social status of alcohol and of pot is an absurdity. And I've known very intelligent, successful people who smoked the "evil weed" at least occasionally. But I've known a few daily pot smokers, and I can't remember any of them who were winners. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:29 PM Cool. All very good points. In the end, we all know that ingestion of anything other than pure water is a detriment to health. Pot included. I just gave you my perspective from my own experience. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: bobad Date: 14 Oct 05 - 07:42 PM One of my best friends is a dedicated daily pot smoker. By all of society's standards of measurement he is successful. He lives in a big house in the suburbs, has three great kids two of whom are in post secondary education one still in high school, belongs to the local sailing club etc. etc. It is my observation that it is not the use of pot or booze or whatever one uses to get through life but the strength of one's character that determines his goodness. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: *daylia* Date: 14 Oct 05 - 08:04 PM Hmmm. So that's why they inscribed "with HIGH distinction" on my diploma! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 05 - 11:26 PM I also have a couple of friends who have continued the practice over the years, and seem no worse for the wear. Truth be told, this seems to be a much better vice than alcohol. And no calories. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: number 6 Date: 14 Oct 05 - 11:43 PM A Nickel Bag ?!?! That has gone the way of the 35 cent pack of MacDonald's cigarettes, 10 cent gallon of leaded gas, ... gone the way of honesty and integrity. A Nickel Bag ?!?!? Anyone here remember Webster's resteraunt on Avenue Road, a couple blocks north of Yorkville Ave. in Toronto? A Nickel Bag ?!?!? Remember when getting high didn't involve supporting your local gangsters and thugs. sIx |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:22 AM Or Chinese nationals? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: number 6 Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:32 AM good one gnu !! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Little Hawk Date: 15 Oct 05 - 01:24 PM I've known pot smokers who became successful and happy, some who became successful and unhappy, some who were total abject failures at everything, and others who muddled around vaguely in the in-between, as it were... I draw no useful conclusions from that regarding the efficacy of marijuana in improving brain function. But I do know this: inhaling any kind of smoke deliberately is a dead stupid idea. The best evidence of that is: NO animal will voluntarily inhale smoke if it has any way of avoiding doing so. Try it out on any animal and see... So, my advice is, if you want to injest marijuana, eat it. Much healthier all the way around. Smoking is bad for you, and it's bad for anyone else who is in the same space with you. This is clearly one area where I am not in accord with traditional Native American culture... ;-) (the exception that proves the rule?) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 15 Oct 05 - 01:35 PM But, like, wow, man. Like, ya gotta spend all that time cookin and tryin ta remember if ya put in the right amount of, ah, er, ohhh, you know, and, if ya use up yer brownie mix makin "brownies', what are ya gonna much on? More "brownies"? Like George Carlin said... ya don't get mored stoned, ya just get lower on dope. Ya know George? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 15 Oct 05 - 01:57 PM Brownies. Yep. I ate some one night in Brooklyn. Had two then about six or seven more (I thought the THC was faster than it turned out being). I was in Brooklyn and going to 14th Street near Greenwich Village. I was gonna stop at the subway station (West 4th Street)before going home. I guess the brownies kicked in near the Brooklyn station (can't recall which one). I took the train the wrong way. Crossed over to get the train going in the right direction (towards Manhattan). Stared out the window and the next thing I knew I was near 125th Street. Crossed over to take a southbound train. Finally forgot I was going to 4th Street first and got off at 14th Street. Then walked to the Village. Ya gotta watch out for the brownies. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Metchosin Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:23 PM ah dam....too bad the stuff gives me migraines. Guess there's no hope of becoming wise, no matter what I do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: dianavan Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:23 PM From the link, "The scientists also noticed that cannabinoids curbed depression and anxiety..." Oh, oh, I think they let the cat out of the bag. I imagine that the pharmaceutical companies will do all that they can to suppress this bit of information. I wonder how much money they would lose if people stopped buying anti-depressants and just took a toke instead. Imagine if they were allowed to grow it in their own backyards! Very bad news for the black market and the legitimate drug market as well. Of course, then governments would have to stop hassling growers and users and concentrate on the hard drugs. Of course that probably won't happen either because its too logical and they might have to some real work. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:24 PM Smoke may be injested with very little harm through the use of modern technology. One does not need much smoke to get high. Like George said.... ya ain't gonna get any higher. Brownies are a bad way to go. Ya get overbuzzed easy (FUBAR). A pinch'll do ya in a bong. Gosh... I am get "nostalgic". But, until the Canadian government recognizes it's own research (LeDain Commission and others since) I am at a loss. I guess I'll have another Bud.... not necessarily for the wiser. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Little Hawk Date: 15 Oct 05 - 03:08 PM Very sensible comments there, Dianavan. I know several people who use pot to ease their anxiety, and it seems to help them. But I am a real subversive. I don't toke and I don't take any legal drugs either ('cept for the occasional aspirin). I also don't watch TV or listen to the radio. I think if the $ySStem became aware of all this I might be in real danger, being as subversive as I am. I mean, how the hell can they play their money and addiction game if people don't go along with it? gnu - Well, I guess any poison doesn't hurt you much if you take it in small enough amounts, does it? You just gotta figure out how small an amount is safe, that's all. Life is always a compromise between one thing and another. On the few occasions when I smoked pot or tobacco (as an educational experiment) I could only be amazed that anyone would actually want their mouth to taste as bad as that during and after indulging in their favorite pastime. Gaaahh! It's detestable. (But not if you take it for granted, I guess...) For a real thrill, roll up a joint that is full of roaches from 15 previous joints. Rank!!!! Ugh. (But it will get you pretty flippin' high, eh?) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 15 Oct 05 - 03:21 PM New York roaches were too fast to catch. And no one wanted to smoke dead ones. YUK! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: *daylia* Date: 15 Oct 05 - 03:42 PM I could only be amazed that anyone would actually want their mouth to taste as bad as that during and after indulging in their favorite pastime. Gaaahh! It's detestable Well, LH, it's kinda like Dylans' voice. If you enjoy and value certain other attributes/characteristics of his songs, his voice gets much easier to put up with. And after years of overlooking it, you hardly notice it at all. But if you don't like Dylan in any way shape or form, then that voice is TRULY obnoxious. "The scientists also noticed that cannabinoids curbed depression and anxiety..." WEll, I can sure vouch for that one! But on the other hand, cannabinoids raise the heart-rate, tiring the body and the mind unnecessarily. THat's why it tends to make people lazy and unmotivated. (ie It's a bright and beautiful Saturday morning and the grass needs cutting ... but .... hey, it's my day off. Maybe I'll just have me a little toke and sit here watching it grow instead ...) And being injected with an artificial chemical 10X stronger than pot??? YIKES!!!! Bet those poor rats spent their short little lives staring mournfully at their exercise wheels, just dreamin of the rock-hard buff little ratty-buns they COULD have, but unable to rouse up enough oooommph to do diddley-squat about it .... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: gnu Date: 15 Oct 05 - 04:48 PM Roaches? Chong in the second (?) movie.... priceless. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 15 Oct 05 - 07:52 PM True to that, gnu. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Oct 05 - 09:14 PM "Ya gotta watch out for the brownies." Yep! Always selling them damn cookies! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Little Hawk Date: 15 Oct 05 - 09:26 PM Got that right, Daylia. I detested Dylan's voice for years, until I actually listened to what he was saying one day in 1969. From then on I loved his voice. That's the magic of love...it transforms everything. I'd say, looking back, that most of my buddies loved pot more than they did their girlfriends! A question of priorities, right? ;-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Elmer Fudd Date: 15 Oct 05 - 09:33 PM ALICE B. TOKLAS BROWNIES (aka ALICE BE TOKIN' BROWNIES) Alice B. Toklas included the following introduction and recipe for "Haschich Fudge" in her 1954 "Alice B. Toklas Cook Book": "This is the food of Paradise.... it might provide an entertaining refreshment for a Ladies' Bridge Club or a chapter meeting of the DAR.... Euphoria and brilliant storms of laughter; ecstatic reveries and extensions of one's personality on several simultaneous planes are to be complacently expected. Almost anything Saint Theresa did, you can do better." 1 tsp. black peppercorns 1 whole nutmeg 4 sticks cinnamon 1 tsp. coriander 1 handful stone dates 1 handful dried figs 1 handful shelled almonds 1 handful peanuts A bunch of cannabis sativa ("picked and dried as soon as it has gone to seed and while the plant is still green") 1 cup sugar 1 large pat of butter Grind the pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, and coriander in a mortar. Chop and mix the dates, figs, almonds, and peanuts. Grind the cannabis and mix it with the spices; dust this mixture over the fruits and nuts. Mix the sugar with the butter and knead this together with the fruits, nuts, spices, and cannabis. Eat with care - two pieces are quite sufficient. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Elmer Fudd Date: 15 Oct 05 - 09:38 PM LH, a lot of my buddies discovered they loved their girlfriends a whole lot more while high on pot--or that they loved their buddies' girlfriends a whole lot more--and sometimes they discovered they had made love to someone's girlfriend a whole lot more. Elmer |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Oct 05 - 09:43 PM Actually they should taste quite nice, even without the 'special ingredient'. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: robomatic Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:00 AM Turns out hitting yourself in the head with a hammer has been erroneously thought to be harmful. The authorities who told us not to hit ourselves in the head with hammers were having us on. But it turns out the students I knew who were hitting themselves in the head with hammers where really really brilliant. One of 'ems been denominated for the Supremes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:04 AM I just remembered again what I was gonna post on 14 Oct 05 - 01:59 PM. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: bobad Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:18 AM Having flashbacks again are you? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:25 AM It is snowing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: bobad Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:26 AM Far out. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:30 AM Filthy crap falling outta the sky. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:36 AM Oh, yeah. I have a serious question for 'catters. I am not a cat lover, but neither am I a cat hater. That said, there is an old grey cat that has been meowing outside my friggin' window at all hours of the day/night--I live in a basement apartment, such as it is--and I have thus far considered 1) killing it 2) taking it to the SPCA where they will kill it 3) adopting it (because he/she/it looks to be about my age in cat years and somehow the poor old thing has made it to a ripe old age despite life's trials), except I can't stand cats Y'all got any ideas? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:38 AM I think it's cowardly to just drive it away and drop it somewhere else, so that ain't an option. (Pedant alert: I know I split the infinitive there.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:49 AM Oh, yeah. Winter is coming and the cat looks like it's been abandoned and for sure it'll freeze to death (it doesn't look smart or agile enough to live out the winter here). |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: bobad Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:52 AM Any Chinese restaurants in town? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:52 AM Offer to feed it. If it makes friends, take it to a vet and see if it's healthy. If it is, decide if it will live in a civil manner indoors in your apartment. All of my best pets have arrived as strays. Three out of the four in my yard and house now were originally stray. The fourth was a defacto stray--she came from the humane society, history unknown. If it hasn't been fixed, have it fixed. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Stilly River Sage Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:53 AM But don't offer the cat any pot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Mythbuster: Pot and brain health From: Peace Date: 16 Oct 05 - 10:58 AM I wish I could--even though I wouldn't. Haven't even had so much as a second-hand toke in about three decades. |
