Posted on 05/07/2010 5:38:21 AM PDT by HangnJudge
A number of studies in recent years have revealed complex links between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms and diagnosable psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Although a thorough review of this broad literature is beyond the purview of this brief communication, two avenues of research will be succinctly summarized, pertaining to (1) associations between cannabis use and clinical manifestations of psychosis, and (2) the biologic plausibility of the observed links...
...Conclusion In sum, a growing body of clinical and epidemiologic research suggests significant but complex links between cannabis use and psychosis. Concurrently, ongoing neurobiologic research is revealing findings in the endocannabinoid system that appear to support the biologic plausibility of such links. It should be noted that much of the research conducted to date does not allow for causal determinations. Ongoing research of varying designs will undoubtedly enlighten the field.
(Excerpt) Read more at medscape.com ...
“Ten seconds, Dave.”
I think that the article itslf states it's motive where it states: cannabis use is associated with psychotic phenomenology. First, in addition to being the most abused illicit substance in the general US population, cannabis is clearly the most abused illegal drug among individuals with ...
This entire rant is entirely out of place and inappropriate in ANY scientific study, since it is entirely judgmental and normative, rather than focused on the specific causes, symptoms, diagnosis and prognosis of a syndrome. It is obviously written by some hard core government grant junkies trying to stay on the high of war on drug money.
This is but one more example of how our economy got into a structural mess with enormous parts of the population consuming enormous quantities of resources to do things that are entirely useless to a productive economy.
The gov’t won’t let anyone test MJ, lest they find out it has some valid medical uses, so how can they determine if it has negative consequences like schizophrenia?
In hushed tones, apparently.
But if links between a substance and mental illness are cause for jailtime, then let's lock up the alcohol drinkers and cigarette smokers too.
LOL! Exactly! Just like I keep telling my boss about our corporate office folks, "There's got to be something in the water up there". Although, they're not crazy, just totally incompetant.
"Correlation does not equal causality..."Truly, the standards for scientific research have fallen so far for something like this to be published. I would be embarrassed to publish as pathetic an article as this. It is comparable to the AGW studies . . . I think it, therefore it is.
Nonsense. You threw a piece of red meat to a pack of starving rabid dogs and you know it. LOL!
This is one of a few issues that divide the social conservatives from the more libertarian conservatives. Some of us are of the opinion that it really does not matter. Either way, there are far better ways of dealing with the issue than having the highest jail population per capita on the planet, and having third rate would be special forces thugs running roughshod on the land with a license to root out stoners. It joins with number of other unaffordable incentives for doing nothing useful for a productive economy that has lead to our present economic "malaise."
Alcohol: Psychological Consequences of Chronic Abuse
http://www.bookrags.com/research/alcohol-psychological-consequences—dat-01/
Everything that affects your brain...well...affects your brain. I’m sure, as with anything, moderation minimizes or negates the effect.
In physics garbage like this would be unpublishable.
The only good news is it is reversable... coming from a former pothead. I smoked it multiple times every day for about 2 years. It took a few years to really be thinking clearly again once I stopped. While the drug is victimless and the stoner is harmless, unless s/he gets behind the wheel, those who say one can use the drug with no negative side effects are purly in denial. I support legalizing it only because I have a libertarian side and I think it could be taxed and it wastes prison space, but I will personally never get into the stuff again as all it does is assist in wasting time and productivity.
Yup
I like watching discussions like this
I'm strongly Libertarian
But also a Physician
I despise Enslaving persons by removing choices
I also have a heightened awareness
of the consequences of Suffering
Threads like this speak powerfully
to our internal viewpoints
Cause / Effect
Choice / Do No Harm
Yup
I like watching discussions like this
I'm strongly Libertarian
But also a Physician
I despise Enslaving persons by removing choices
I also have a heightened awareness
of the consequences of Suffering
Threads like this speak powerfully
to our internal viewpoints
Cause / Effect
Choice / Do No Harm
Studies of this sort remind me of a comic I saw once.
Two police officers are walking down a sidewalk, and one says to the other, “I smoked marijuana once. It made me want to hurt and kill.”
You don't see any fear mongering going on here?
Many, many scientific studies show correlations between x and y. Few ever show causation. Many scientists make the mistake of interpretation those studies according to the flawed belief that correlation = causation.
Drinking sodas makes kids fat.
Smoking marijuana makes people psychotic.
In both cases, the correlations are probably real. But the correct interpretation is that an underlying mechanism is responsible for both, not that one causes the the other.
I would be inclined to believe that fat kids drink lots of soda because of a pattern of behavior that leads to obesity. Because they have developed the behavior, their brains lead them to consume high calorie, low nutrient foods. (And this is a biological urge, once the obesity has developed—treating it takes more than just teaching them proper eating.)
I would be inclined to believe that marijuana smokers develop psychosis because of an underlying brain disorder that leads to psychosis. Because their brains are already somewhat off-balance in the neurotransmitter department, they are prone to using neurotransmitter affecting substances.
It's the self-medication issue. People who need or want to change their condition will find ways to do it. There's also a link between alcoholism and poor health. Correlation is not causation.
Like Yogi Berra would say, it's Reefer Madness all over again.
I used to say that pot doesn’t kill brain cells, it just causes you to forget how to use them for a while. LOL!
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