Do you HONESTLY believe smoking weed REALLY makes you smarter?
436256
*Shaking my shaggy skull* Noperz, smoking pot makes you no smarter or dumber than you started out to be in the first place.\n\nBut that said I must add a few things...\n\nContrary to the popular myth that smoking marijuana kills brain cells there is mounting evidence that is not only false, but the effects of THC could have the opposite effect.\n\nCannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. http://66.218.69.11/search/cache?p=neurogenesis+and+marijuana&ei=UTF-8&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&fr=moz3&u=www.jci.org/cgi/reprint/115/11/3104.pdf&w=neurogenesis+marijuana&d=GGiVrm1aMbo9&icp=1&.intl=us\n\nPrevious research had suggested that neurogenesis happens only in select locations in the brain, such as the hippocampus, a region involved in learning and memory. Some studies have shown that this process is inhibited by most illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. However, says Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, marijuana's effect on neurogenesis has not been clear.\n\nHe and his colleagues started investigating this mystery by searching cell surfaces in live, cultured slices of rat hippocampus for receptors that respond to marijuana and a few other similar drugs, called cannabinoids. They reasoned that if marijuana affected neurogenesis in the hippocampus, then cells in that area must have a way to recognize the drug. Sure enough, 95 percent of hippocampus cells responsible for neurogenesis showed evidence of cannabinoid 1 ( CB1 ) receptors, one of two receptors that respond to cannabinoid drugs. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1624/a06.html\n\nThe current study focused on a particular formulation of synthetic cannabinoid known as HU210 -- a compound which Zhang described as the most powerful cannabinoid in the world.\n\nThe authors explored both the short-term and long-term effects of exposure to HU210 in rats.\n\nTo measure the drug's short-term response, they gave adult rats a single injection of HU210. To study the same drug's effect over the longer term, the researchers gave a separate group of adult rats twice-daily injections of the cannabinoid over a two-week period.\n\nAutopsies revealed that by the end of the 10-day HU210 treatment regimen, new neurons had been generated and integrated into the circuitry of the hippocampus region of the rat's brains. This process, known as neurogenesis, was still in evidence a full month after treatment had been initiated.\n\nNeurogenesis was not triggered in response to brain cells being killed through cannabinoid exposure, the researchers add. In fact, HU210 injections did not appear to prompt any loss of neurons in the hippocampus. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=54893\n\nMind you, the study is using a super-concentrated drug form and the verdict is still out on smoking it, but they do suggest THC is the only known drug that actually can reverse the loss of brain cells.\n\nFinally though once again, pot does not change your intelligence and different people react to different drugs differently. But it is possible THC will be a cure in time for certain brain affictions...
1158708
Yes, the weed is good. It grows all around the country, and in the garden of my friends, on the cliff, and on the side of the roads. It's fun to harvest, it's fun to wonder: "Is this weed going to be good?". You roll yourself a joint, trying to make a nice one, and jee, you light it, and there, it's a nice moment. I smoke maybe once a week, or once a month, or sometimes a few times a day, depending on the season.\n\nNo pee test. I would never take a job that asked for me to take one, even once.
774968
Yes. Marijuana use can lead to permanent memory impairment. Frequent use results in loss of neurons in the area of the brain associated with forming memories and recall of memories. Users may also experience difficulty learning. Similar loss occurs in the aging population, thus marijuana use can be similar to accelerated aging of the brain.\n\nAlso, think of your natural state of contentedness when you are neither happy or sad. Following marijuana use, that point will be lowered, making your natural state of mind (mood) one that is more depressed. Heavy use can make this change a permanent one, and many people after quitting their marijuana habit, struggle with depression.\n\nFrequent marijuana use has also been shown to contribute to the formation of amyloid plaque in the brain. This same plaque is known to be a main culprit in the brain disease known as Alzheimer's.\n\nAlso keep in mind that marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke... add to that, the fact that marijuana smokers inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer. This creates a serious danger for cancer of the head, neck and lungs.
1018887
sounds to me like you're abusing the weed.  stay away from that wacky-tobacky, it will rot your brain cells.\n\nits bad, bad, bad for you.
188925
lol if it had high THC in it then it will... Only pot plants can get you high...\n\nBut getting high isnt a good thing.. It kills your brian cells and makes you a mess after a long use time frame of it..
955213
The only people that think drugs are the in thing to do are the ones taking drugs!  Take drugs long enough and it will ruin your life.  I think you did the right thing by quitting weed; now hang out with people that think the same way you do.  Drugs are dumb & dangerous, life is complicated enough without adding a drug habit to it.  Good Luck, there are normal people everywhere that have fun without drugs.
1117538
i think it is bad because the scientist guy is absolutly correct.\nI smoke pot fo remotional reasons. i f I dont smoke i will have an anxiety attack, and marijuan mellows me out. I smoke from the second I wake up, to the secnd I go to bed. I am succesful, but at work I have to write everything down or i will forget! i know its from the pot
321922
First, the herb is called GINKGO BILOBA, and it really does improve your memory.  Pick some up at any health food store, and follow package directions.\n\nSecondly, do not study within 72 hours of smoking pot.  It seriously harms your short term memory, and renders studying fairly pointless.
420946
no, scientific studies have proven you would have to inhale the smoke of 700 pounds of marijuana at one time for it to be lethal.
21949
There is some evidence from human studies that long-term marijuana use\ncan have adverse effects, although it seems that the spectrum of these\neffects is narrower than previously thought and mainly centres around\ncognitive (intellectual) function.\n\nA paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) vol.\n287 No. 9, March 6, 2002, pp. 1123-1131) found that long-term cannabis\nusers performed less well than shorter-term users and controls (people\nwho didn’t use cannabis) in tests of memory and attention.  The\nlong-term users averaged 23.9 years of use, compared with 10.2 years\nin the shorter-term users. You can find an abstract at the American\nMedical Association web site: \nhttp://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v287n9/abs/joc11416.html , but access\nto the full text requires subscription to the journal.  Note that the\ncomments associated with the article (links to them are underneath the\nabstract) indicate that some other investigators do not agree with\nthis conclusion.\n\nAnother study published in a Canadian medical journal (CMAJ 2002 Apr\n2;166(7):887-91 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11949984&dopt=Abstract)\nfound that: “Current marijuana use had a negative effect on global IQ\nscore only in subjects who smoked 5 or more joints per week. A\nnegative effect was not observed among subjects who had previously\nbeen heavy users but were no longer using the substance. We conclude\nthat marijuana does not have a long-term negative impact on global\nintelligence.”  This study compared IQ scores of individuals aged 9-12\nyears before they started using cannabis, with their scores at 17-20\nyears.  Light users, former users and non-users showed a gain in IQ\nover the same period.\n\nOne reason for the decreased IQ and memory in consistent heavy users\ncould be the fact that long-term cannabis use has been found to\ndecrease blood flow to the front areas of the brain (Neurotoxicology\nand Teratology 2001 Sep-Oct; vol 23 pp. 437-43  Frontal lobe\ndysfunction in long-term cannabis users by  Lundqvist T, Jonsson S,\nWarkentin S. of the Division of Medical Neurochemistry, Lund\nUniversity Hospital, 221 85, Lund, Sweden  \nhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11711246&dopt=Abstract\n\nA study published in Public Health and Nutrition, June 2001, vol. 4\npp. 781-786 (Dietary intake and nutritional status of US adult\nmarijuana users: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition\nExamination Survey. By Smit E, Crespo CJ. of the Department of Social\nand Preventive Medicine, SUNY School of Medicine, University at\nBuffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.\nhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11415485&dopt=Abstract\n) found that marijuana users have lower levels of carotenoids in the\nserum.  The authors concluded this was associated with different\ndietary habits: “We found higher cigarette-smoking rates and higher\nconsumption of sodas and alcohol, specifically beer, among marijuana\nusers than among non-current marijuana users. Marijuana users also\nconsumed more sodium, fewer fruits, and more pork, cheese, and salty\nsnacks.”  Carotenoids are important anti-oxidants which help to\nprevent cancer and other diseases.  An increased risk of these\ndiseases might be due not so much to marijuana use itself as to the\nlifestyle led by many who use it.  Better attention to nutrition, in\norder to ensure a good intake of fresh fruit and vegetables,\nparticularly the red, yellow and orange ones, will help to boost\nantioxidant status (see below)\n\nA review of various studies came to the conclusion that: “Regular\nmarijuana use can lead to extensive airway injury and alterations in\nthe structure and function of alveolar macrophages, potentially\npredisposing to pulmonary infection and respiratory cancer.”  Alveolar\nmacrophages are cells in the lungs that help clear away debris and\nba
378400
I would have to say I know of people of whom i have talked to and or have know from my much younger years and yes they tried both. Marijuana and Tobacco and you don't get any smarter that's for sure. It keeps a person from being able to study or to drive on the roads or to concentrate on much of anything for long periods of time.Although there's not been very much study done on the Marjuana smoking some doctors have been known to prescribe it to cancer patients for to keep them so doped up that they may or may not have alot of pain with their type of cancer so, if you want to play it smart , I SAY DON'T DO EITHER ONE, NOT EVEN TO TRY FOR A SECOND.AS THEY SAY BE SMART DON'T START !!!!!
591491
Hats of my fellow well informed freedom fighting friend , most recent studies have shown that Marijuana doesnt destroy any ,,ANY , of your brain cells and in fact a harvard study shows that students who used canabis in moderation while studying for exams were more analetic and scored higher averages than those who didnt . but people are still very ill informed on the real facts . the brain cell killing lie came about without any real studyies and is a product of govermental lies .
375822
if you smoke its going to hurt your chances at succeeding zt the sport.\nSo yes, they are retarded
850552
when you answer a question you know it makes you feel smarter in a way
579472
i think it was george carlin who said "when you smoke enough dope it starts to suggest its own disuse". \n\ntheres a list of different things out there, but you're mostly going to get answers from pot heads who wont admit that smoking can become harmful to your health, and super stuck up types, who are going to tell you its just as bad as heroin or something. \n\nit does cause impaired judgement, and memory loss (not necessarily loss, but cloudiness and forgetfulness).\n\ni dont smoke/drink/drug at all, and i never have. its a personal decision because i know that its in my genes to become a train wreck if i do. theres a lot of ppl in my family that have gone through all kinds of stuff, and even a few ppl that have had some big problems just caused by pot.
1145321
Not only do I NOT think it's bad.  I think it's great.  I have been a heavy pot smoker since I was 12.  I graduated in the top of my class in high school, I graduated college at a university, I am 22, work for myself, and make almost $100K/year totally legal, and I'm working on my MBA.  My mom and aunts and uncles have smoked since they were in high school and all have very good jobs, families, and lives.  All my friends in college and right out of college have been smoking with me forever and are all doing great.  It is so much safer and healthier than alcohol.  Someone tell me what is bad about marijuana.  They have even found out recently that the THC actually fights off the cancer causing chemicals in marijuana, so it actually offsets itself as far as cancer goes.  Wow.  And people actually still live so far in the past and think weed is bad.  Come on now, crack is bad, not weed.
427661
Well, My boyfriend and I smoke weed everyday and it has not effected us in a bad way at all, other than spending some of our weekly "extra" cash, it doesn't drain out pockets. We have a flourishing relationship, our bills are paid, my daughter is doing well in pre-school, and NO she is not around when we smoke, she is sleeping or away and we smoke in a designated spot in the house. I think it all depends on the psychological state of that person, and not on the drug itself. I think if you enjoy smoking, thats fine, some people enjoy a glass of wine after work, whats the difference? As long as it does not effect your finances or social life, have fun while you are young and can afford to do these things.