• Members of the previous forum can retrieve their temporary password here, (login and check your PM).

Low level cannabis use linked to major structural brain changes

Migrated topic.
endlessness said:
Now looking at the changes themselves, what do they mean? The study claims there was an increased density in grey matter in amygdala and left nucleus accumbens. What can that mean? A search in google reviews that mindfulness practices and reduction of stress increase grey density in amygdala:

Is this study maybe just showing marijuana users are more mindful and less stressful ? LOL

(then again, other studies show the inverse with different types of mindfulness... see how complex this is and how careful we must be with conclusions? Dispositional Mindfulness Co-Varies with Smaller Amygdala and Caudate Volumes in Community Adults )
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...I remembered studies showing similar results through meditation after just a few weeks.

I also saw this in the news just now...Why not label this an "abnormality" as well? Oh...because it wasn't due to those evil exogenous drugs :d
Artists brains are 'structurally different'

Limited study found more grey and white matter in artists' brains connected to visual imagination and fine motor control
Click to expand...
 
Ironically I've lacked the motivation to post in this thread, but I'd like to thank you guys for providing all of these sources that show how this paper is propaganda.

This is great data to show people who are misinformed. I am a daily cannabis user, from morning to night. All I do is work on school stuff to obtain my masters degree. And when I'm done with my first masters, I'm going after another. So has cannabis affected my motivations and ambitions? NO!

I will mention that some strains specifically indicas effect me in a stuck in couch way, where as sativas are my ADD medication, its like I can't stop working, or cleaning, or doing something, sitting and doing nothing is just not an option.
 
Good catch with the similarities of brain changes in meditation and marijuana use, endlessness

They never said "negative" changes in the article 😉
 
universecannon said:
It looks to me like the authors aren't being very honest about it...
liorpachter.wordpress.com

Does researching casual marijuana use cause brain abnormalities?

In reading the news yesterday I came across multiple reports claiming that even casually smoking marijuana can change your brain. I usually don’t pay much attention to such articles; I’…
liorpachter.wordpress.com liorpachter.wordpress.com
Click to expand...

Mitakuye Oyasin said:
Thanks for the links UC. Glad to see this "study" get discredited as it should.
Click to expand...

universecannon said:
Director of NORML addresses this study

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/why-m...ain-faulty?paging=off&current_page=1#bookmark
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, after reading the links above it is hard to say that they debunk the study. The links do point to flaws in interpretation and limitations of the study but they do not really discredit the observations made. Let us think that it is the interpretation of the authors that we mainly disagree with in the particular study and not necessarily the results (since the results could very well have been interpreted in a positive light). And most importantly, there is not a single study without limitations or holes.

I might also take the opportunity to express my discontent with the nexus community and the use of what it seems like it is having double standards; there is a whole thread here compiling studies that present cannabis and cannabinoids in a positive light. Do I see such deep scrutiny at the results and interpretation of the studies therein? I think not. But here comes an article or two that sheds some negative light on cannabis and we become unnecessarily jumpy as we try to shoot it down. May I remind people the extreme limitations of the recent MAPS' MDMA and PTSD study? I don't recall people coming out to call bullshit.

The Nexus is science-oriented and we should stand by that. But it shouldn't mean that we should be happy to accept without criticism a study whose results we like and with one stroke dismiss the results of a study whose results we do not.
 
Excellent point Inf.

I think the important factor weighing for the apparent double standards you correctly observed is the fact that the negative studies serve to fuel anti-drug propaganda and thus pose further difficulty for the legalization of such substances, which means more lives lost and families ruined... Therefore there is a greater incentive to show their flaws and limitations.

I can only speak about myself but if I thought that a decision which would present risk to people`s lives or freedom would be taken based on a biased positive view of cannabis, I`d also help scrutinizing them. For example if someone here in the Nexus was considering abandoning any cancer treatment and going solely for cannabis treatment, and cite some or other of these `positive` papers showing benefits, I´d definitely put energy into thoroughly looking at them to see limitations and help preventing a possible misguided impulsive decision or generalization from results that are not relevant to that person`s case. In fact this conversation of taking critically the positive results for possible cannabis cancer cure was already had many times in the chat.
 
Infundibulum said:
I might also take the opportunity to express my discontent with the nexus community and the use of what it seems like it is having double standards; there is a whole thread here compiling studies that present cannabis and cannabinoids in a positive light. Do I see such deep scrutiny at the results and interpretation of the studies therein? I think not. But here comes an article or two that sheds some negative light on cannabis and we become unnecessarily jumpy as we try to shoot it down. May I remind people the extreme limitations of the recent MAPS' MDMA and PTSD study? I don't recall people coming out to call bullshit.

The Nexus is science-oriented and we should stand by that. But it shouldn't mean that we should be happy to accept without criticism a study whose results we like and with one stroke dismiss the results of a study whose results we do not.
Click to expand...
Within that thread, there is a post linking many studies that claim negative effects here that includes:
Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Adolescence, Adverse Effects, Mental Health, Dependence.

While I didn't author any of the papers, I did attempt to compile & organize these studies; while I personally have a very positive view of Cannabis overall, I do think their are some heart attack & stroke risks associated with smoking a lot of it (which I do). Evidence I don't believe Cannabis is not 100% positive is within: Death by... um... cannabis?


I welcome others to post within that thread: for scrutiny, to call BS, or to add to the information.
 
You make a good point infund. My intention was not to imply that the results of the study are "debunked", just that the interpretations and conclusions on the part of its authors and the media at large seem largely twisted and unsupported at this point. I think the first link also points out instances where the authors are being flat out dishonest.

Also, I'm not sure which MDMA PTSD study you mean? This one?

endlessness said:
Excellent point Inf.

I think the important factor weighing for the apparent double standards you correctly observed is the fact that the negative studies serve to fuel anti-drug propaganda and thus pose further difficulty for the legalization of such substances, which means more lives lost and families ruined... Therefore there is a greater incentive to show their flaws and limitations.
Click to expand...

This is a great point, and exactly why I posted those links that I'd happened to stumble across. Not only is the study being interpreted prematurely as negative by its authors and the mainstream media, it is also being heralded as ammunition against legalization because, according to media-logic, cannabis now = brain damage/deformations...And this could have huge implications, potentially effecting millions of lives who would otherwise benefit from this medicine. So of course a study like this and the interpretations drawn from it are going to get more careful attention.
 
Has anyone else noticed an increase in anti-cannabis articles lately? Or is it just me?
I don't include this one specifically. At least this on had a scientific background. I have just noticed a lot of anti-cannabis articles that are not really based on anything lately.

Guyomech said:
I know of at least one weed-smoking workaholic in this group.
Click to expand...

:lol:

Well then I know of two!
 
This study doesn't add anything new. Other studies has shown that cannabis like many other substances, has negative side effects in combination with certain other pharmacologically active compounds. High alcohol consumption combined with cannabis give meassurably reduced cognitive capacity for several days afterwards, if its a habit, then visible structural changes in the brain doesnt seem very unlikely. Considering regular heavy drinking does the same, fortuanetly its reversible. Stress in general doesnt have to be at critcal levels before its visible on a brain scan. Poor diet, depression, long term high levels of stress hormones are also visible for a well trained neurologist.

I'm not a fan of cannabis, but this study doesnt iluminate neiter good or bad qualities of cannabis in any way that hasnt been done before, and better.

Its a huge problem that academic institutions are not free the way scientific research should be, ufortuanetly politicians and finacial supportes tend to have the last word regarding which projects gets funding, and to which extent. The researchers has to swallow their pride and make compromises if they want their career to progress at a decent rate.
 
null24 said:
They say weed smoking makes one apathetic too, but I don't really care.
Click to expand...

Haha
I was hoping the benefit of full membership would be mine before this comment got too old.
Awesome!

As for the main topic: It seems to be a reaction to the possible wide-spread legalization of cannabis, IMHO. There's been considerable short/long term research on cannabis use from possible Brain Damage: http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/15/10/1829.full.pdf -Discussion, p. 1833, para 2

Pulmonary Function: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1104848

and Cancer Potentiality: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=410634

Cannabis may not be a major player in the psychedelic arena (ie. ego shattering, etc.) but it is a major player in the consciousness awareness game and its increasing accessibility makes it more dangerous than ever.

Mr.Peabody, people are waking up and cannabis legalization would help with that process. imo.
I imagine there will be all kinds of "new developments" in the anti-cannabis agenda. My son was explaining the amount of propaganda tossed around in the latest "don't do cannabis" video they watched in school 2 weeks ago.


Another good rebuttal to the original claim.

liorpachter.wordpress.com

Does researching casual marijuana use cause brain abnormalities?

In reading the news yesterday I came across multiple reports claiming that even casually smoking marijuana can change your brain. I usually don’t pay much attention to such articles; I’…
liorpachter.wordpress.com liorpachter.wordpress.com


Ashema
 
Back
Top Bottom