Study Turns Pot Wisdom on Head

Globe and Mail (Canada) ^ | Oct 14, 2005 | Dawn Walton

[proud_yank]

"twice a day for 10 days "

I didn't even catch that!! Must've been stoned or something. Woaaaaah.

[Vaquero]

interesting study from Australia http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/10/29/1035683407043.html?oneclick=true ".....Patton, who has been researching the effects of heavy marijuana use at the CAH, said while research had found high rates of marijuana use among sufferers of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, researchers are yet to establish whether the marijuana use is the symptom or the cause. "The evidence is that the cannabis use makes the psychotic illness worse. If you have a psychotic episode, there's a greater likelihood of further episodes. Most people who work in the area believe marijuana use is a contributing cause. The suspicion is that it would have some effect on the brain's chemicals and their functioning but the exact mechanism is yet to be determined."

[proud_yank]

Imagine the muchies these rats must get... "Single rat gnaws entire garage and it's contents in a single night."

Pretty funny. Actually I was laughing to myself imagining the scientists doing these experiments. 'Bong rip for rat, Bong rip for me...... Man..Science is FAR OUT!'

[proud_yank]

I ain't buying it. I know too many potheads.

From the last comment in the article: All evidence to the contrary is incorrect or, worse, the blatant disinformation put forth by fanatical, unenlightened anti-pot advocates.

You're just not 'enlightened'!!

[jrg]

Brilliant. A true master debater

Brilliant. A true master debater

There, corrected your typo.

[FairOpinion]

On one hand they say:

"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.

THEN you read how the experiment was actually DONE:

"They found that the rats treated regularly with a high dose of HU-210 -- twice a day for 10 days -- showed growth of neurons in the hippocampus. The researchers don't know if pot, which isn't as pure as the lab-produced version, would have the same effect. "

They are claiming that marijuana has LONGTERM benefits, from giving rats, a substance that is NOT marijana, FOR 10 DAYS.

[youngjim]

This study is totally irresponsible

You're darn right it is! All that perfectly good tick going to a bunch of rats!

It's a dirty job but for the good of science, health, and the American Way, I hereby volunteer myself for further testing.

[Billthedrill]

So...anybody wanna hippocampus-wrestle?

[FairOpinion]

Also see my post 26.

The study does NOT warranty the conclusions they reached.

There are hundreds of REAL studies, which show the detrimental effects of marijuana, and here is a study, that gives a substance which is NOT marijuana, to RATS, for !) DAYS and they use that as basis to negate the hundreds of responsible, thorough studies.

That is indeed is actually more than irresponsible.

[Wolfie]

Well, if its BS, then its the same sort of BS that the Prohbiitionists have been using to support their side for decades.

For example, the oft-repeated claim that marijuana use kills brain cells came from one, and only one, "study" where they actually suffocated lab chimps with marijuana smoke. They hooked up the chimps to gas masks and pumped in nothing but smoke until the chimps asphyxiated. They then did an autopsy and found dead brain cells (no sh*t Sherlock, asphyxiation will do that), and voila! - Marijuana kills brain cells.

[-YYZ-]

There is a de facto atmosphere out there that permits discreet use, yet you must associate with criminals to obtain a supply.

Hmmm, to be quite exact if you're a pot smoker YOU are a criminal. The law just treats sellers a little more harshly than users, that's all. Sure, it's ridiculous, but that is the fact of it.

[pageonetoo]

And what happens, when they take if for years? Hmmmmm???????

They don't double post.

[68 grunt]

He isn't debating, he is baiting.

[proud_yank]

It is pretty bogus science. I don't see how you can conclude any 'long term' effects from a 10 day study.

[WillamShakespeare]

I'm not saying that pot should or should not be legalized, just that we need more valid research...

Actually I don`t know why it`s not legalized for industrial purposes (hemp)..From the hemp plant you can make paper, oil, rope ..The Indians used it for bow strings (amongst other things). It was used a lot when this country started which is why you have a lot of towns across the US named after hemp like Hempstead.

[Wolfie]

At best, the cumulative research shows that marijuana use has consequences on par with alcohol use. Why we lock up the user of one and not the other is purely a matter of politics, not science.

[youngjim]

That is indeed is actually more than irresponsible.

Do tell. Sounds to me like you don't like their conclusion so you dismiss their technique. Maybe that works for you, but it's hardly an argument.

BTW, A nice bowl will help you with your humorless disposition.

[evets]

Marijuana: gateway drug...

[FairOpinion]

So you consider 10 DAYS "longterm"???????

[dfwgator]

I think also that a lot of so-called "pot-heads" happen to also abuse alcohol and/or other drugs, so I question if pot alone could do that much damage. I say this as someone who has never taken pot, nor ever intends to. But having said that, I just never saw why pot is such a big deal, compared to alcohol, other than the stigma that's attached to it.