Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Godless Dave · 06-27-2003, 12:47 PM

News story

The study in question actually used data compiled from previous studies.

Quote:

The results, published in the July issue of the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, show that marijuana has only a marginally harmful long-term effect on learning and memory.

No effect at all was seen on other functions, including reaction time, attention, language, reasoning ability, and perceptual and motor skills.

I meant to post a link to the story this morning, but I kept forgetting for some reason.

Arken · 06-27-2003, 01:14 PM

So that means that a former boss of mine was a colossal waste of good carbon before he started hitting the bong three times a day over the course of thirty years?

Corwin · 06-27-2003, 01:18 PM

This has actually been known for some time... marijuana causes fairly extensive brain damage... but unlike other drugs it tends to heal up once you stop using.

It may take a few months to a year before a regular pothead is back up to his normal levels.... but it does happen.

Shadowy Man · 06-27-2003, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Other illegal drugs, or even alcohol, can cause brain damage.

So, marijuana is actually less dangerous than alcohol.

Corwin · 06-27-2003, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadowy Man
So, marijuana is actually less dangerous than alcohol.

Brain damage heals fairly quickly.

Lung damage doesn't.

The equvalent 'brain damage' from alcohol takes a hell of a lot more to achieve, and no, it doesn't heal up as well. Of course by that point you've also been a heavy enough drinker to mess up your liver as well....

Shadowy Man · 06-27-2003, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corwin

Lung damage doesn't.

Is there a study on what the lung damage due to marijuana is? I would imagine that it wouldn't be as bad as cigarettes, but I don't know for sure.

I am under the opinion that marijuana should be just as illegal as alcohol. It's never been presented to me in any convincing manner that marijuana is any worse than alcohol.

Corwin · 06-27-2003, 02:11 PM

Lung damage is tough to quantify, and tough to compare due to different habits. Smoked marijuana is generally held in the lungs longer, and joints are almost always unfiltered. (And not everybody uses joints.)

I'm not making legal statements here.... I don't really see a justification for it being any less legal or less controlled if legal than alcohol, but when people start spouting off propaganda like 'alcohol is more dangerous than pot' it just bugs the shit out of me.

trunks2k · 06-27-2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Corwin
Lung damage is tough to quantify, and tough to compare due to different habits. Smoked marijuana is generally held in the lungs longer, and joints are almost always unfiltered. (And not everybody uses joints.)

Yeah, but on the other side of the coin, not many people smoke as much marijuana as tobacco. Many people who smoke cigarrettes can easily smoke a pack a day, many smoke more than that. In my experience, people smoking marijuana don't smoke nearly as much.

Corwin · 06-27-2003, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by trunks2k
Yeah, but on the other side of the coin, not many people smoke as much marijuana as tobacco. Many people who smoke cigarrettes can easily smoke a pack a day, many smoke more than that. In my experience, people smoking marijuana don't smoke nearly as much.

That's why it's hard to quantify or qualify.

And some people do smoke as much.... there are a huge number of variables involved.

anakata · 06-27-2003, 06:58 PM

I must mention Hall et al. Adverse effects of cannabis from Lancet 352:1611. It's a couple of years old, but the best review I've seen so far. PDF available here.

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06-27-2003, 01:14 PM	#2
Arken Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 6,303	So that means that a former boss of mine was a colossal waste of good carbon before he started hitting the bong three times a day over the course of thirty years?

06-27-2003, 01:18 PM	#3
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	This has actually been known for some time... marijuana causes fairly extensive brain damage... but unlike other drugs it tends to heal up once you stop using. It may take a few months to a year before a regular pothead is back up to his normal levels.... but it does happen.

06-27-2003, 02:11 PM	#7
Corwin Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 4,369	Lung damage is tough to quantify, and tough to compare due to different habits. Smoked marijuana is generally held in the lungs longer, and joints are almost always unfiltered. (And not everybody uses joints.) I'm not making legal statements here.... I don't really see a justification for it being any less legal or less controlled if legal than alcohol, but when people start spouting off propaganda like 'alcohol is more dangerous than pot' it just bugs the shit out of me.

06-27-2003, 06:58 PM	#10
anakata Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 194	I must mention Hall et al. Adverse effects of cannabis from Lancet 352:1611. It's a couple of years old, but the best review I've seen so far. PDF available here.

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