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 F1234K
Wizard Of Tryptamines
Registered: 10/14/06
Posts: 1,241
Last seen: 3 months, 9 days
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 Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised 
#6864325 - 05/02/07 05:58 PM (5 years, 27 days ago) |
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Via via utteroutrage
Today, 13 states currently have active medical marijuana programs. Illinois, Texas, and Connecticut are chompin' at the bit (Connecticut just did the civil union thing - watch out). Grandma in the Bronx (colorectal cancer) isn't getting tagged for smokin' the rope. Hell, even Sanjaya's fam is in the growing business. Good reports? You got it: Marijuana has shown to cut lung tumor growth in mice and a marijuana-like compound may slow Alzheimer's.
So what has to come out? Marijuana makes makes you crazy and damages the brain. Sorry, that's FOX News. How about a more credible reporting source like Reuters through Scientific American?
Quick Psych 101: Psychology is only useful for broad, sweeping statements and we don't have a true understanding of all aspects of the brain or how they work, let alone how drugs interact with it (note: Not talking out of my ass; I have a Psych degree and recently had a great conversation with a neuroscientist on this exact topic).
From the article: the two main active components of marijuana are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD produces a calming effect. THC is associated with the paranoia, euphoria.
There are upwards of 300 active compounds in marijuana. This study took the two most abundant (THC and CBD), and looked to see where the brain was affected. Because of anti-drug taboos, these studies are almost always conducted with synthesized THC. And an MRI will give you an image of activity or inactivity, but - as already mentioned - we don't know all the details of activity in certain areas of the brain.
To sum up: Doctors treated patients with a synthesis of a compound known to cause mild paranoia. They then put their patients in this machine:
No, Mommy, don't put me in there!
and reported that the brain scan showed affected areas related to paranoia. No shit.
I am not trying to slam the study. The media and its fervor, however, can go take a flying fuck at a rolling donut on this one. Reuters has this article titled "Brain scans pinpoint cannabis health risk." But they didn't. The brain scans show activity or inactivity of the brain, and and the implications affect mental health outlook, while "health" implies physical health or brain damage. First sentence: "Brain scans showing how cannabis affects brain function...." Hold it right there. Function is not measured but by behavior. See previous explanation of what is being measured.
"It's no longer a contentious issue. The expert community, by and large, accepts that cannabis contributes to the onset of psychotic symptoms in general and the severe form of psychosis, schizophrenia," [Professor Robin Murray, conference organizer] said.
Wrong. That sounds like the "Weed makes you crazy" defense. Dr. Zerrin Atakan, author of the study, was found to be an astute, reasonable human being completely void of the sensationalism that would follow a story like this. He was quoted in the Telegraph in 2004 as saying:
Cannabis psychosis is a very vague term. If we ever use the phrase, it is only to describe very short-term effects immediately following smoking, and it certainly doesn't refer to users having a psychotic disorder. People may feel frightened or paranoid, but these feelings pass in a matter of hours or, more rarely, days, and practically never require treatment.
He even laid out some very lucid guidelines in a message to the 2005 Cannabis Education March & Rally, telling everyone to make up their own mind about marijuana, but hitting on some basic facts about smoking before your brain is done growing, smoking if you have mental illness, or smoking every day. Very understanding and well-understood.
So why the hullabaloo? Two words:
Reefer Madness
(note: The Movie is public domain and the Musical is phenomenal.)
The media loves a good weed story; Marijuana's been tried by 1/4 to 1/3 of the US population, probably twice that have been affected by proximity. Sensationalism sells. So if you can blow a study into a headline, go for it, especially if it concerns marijuana and something bad. The federal government is in love with that. It wants to marry it and kiss it on the privates.
As for Robin Murray and his "weed causes schizophrenia" sensationalism, you might want to ask him to tone it down a bit. Of course, he may have to conference in the pharma behind his conference: Janssen-Cilag and Sanofi-Aventis. But I'm sure that their involvement and their production of schizophrenia treatment drugs are all just a coincidence.
I'll dismount the soapbox now and spare you, fair reader, a venture into legalization, the justice system, hypocrisies, and alternative energy, and leave you with this:
"Casual drug users should be taken out and shot"
Darryl Gates
Head of Los Angeles Police Department
United States Senate Judiciary Committee (1990)
For real information about marijuana, please visit NORML.
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Im Not Living, Im Just Killing Time
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Available
Stranger
Registered: 04/10/07
Posts: 46
Last seen: 3 years, 3 months
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Re: Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised [Re: F1234K]
#6864371 - 05/02/07 06:09 PM (5 years, 27 days ago) |
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Well,
Last time i checked MJ wont make you go crazy and shoot up a school or something like other anti depressants have caused. That are legal and prescribed.
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 badchad
Mad Scientist
Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 7,896
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Re: Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised [Re: Available]
#6864566 - 05/02/07 06:55 PM (5 years, 27 days ago) |
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So a guy with psych degree offers his opinion (with no objective arguments) and now the study is "debunked"? I don't quite follow.
His opinion on the study being "sensationalized" and attitudes towards cannabis may be warranted, but it doesn't detract from the actual study.
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...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.
Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.
...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.
Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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HillbillyThoth
Stranger
Registered: 04/22/07
Posts: 118
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
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Re: Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised [Re: badchad]
#6865185 - 05/02/07 09:03 PM (5 years, 27 days ago) |
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I'm taking a middle road here. I've had psychotic symptoms on dank pot, only a joint even, but I think it's extremely rare. I only know one other person in real life who's gone through that kind of stuff. Most people just chill, and I usually do too, but once in a blue moon I go through pure insanity for about 6 - 8 hours.
I felt like I couldn't think anymore; the only thoughts I had were rhythms. I was thinking in tribal music. This led to some bizarre delusions about who made my fan and why he put it next to my bed.
I think for most people pot is safe, hell even daily use is fine for the majority of people. You just have to know your brain and know how you react. Ever since a few of those horrible episodes I've learned to take a couple of tokes only. After five minutes I can tell whether I'm on the path to paranoia or bliss and I act accordingly.
I also agree with badchad. This is HARDLY a scientific refutation.
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buHHH
Mealy Mouthed
Registered: 08/03/06
Posts: 18
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
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Re: Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised [Re: badchad]
#6865190 - 05/02/07 09:03 PM (5 years, 27 days ago) |
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He does have objective arguments. In that the research was flawed in many ways; Using synthetic compounds that only account for a fraction of all the different psycho-active compounds in marijuana. As well as the fact that no one really understands the human brain, and to make conclusions based on MRI scans is in no way conclusive.
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ShroomNinja
P. Shuriken -Ninjas Choice!!
Registered: 12/05/06
Posts: 247
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Marijuana/Schizophrenia Study Debunked, Nobody Surprised [Re: buHHH]
#6867233 - 05/03/07 10:40 AM (5 years, 26 days ago) |
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I'm sure i read an article yesterday where they tested THC and CBD and its effects. The catch was they used people who have never smoked and they gave them quite a substantial overdose! Surely that cant be valid as most people dont start off their "weed career" by having THC direct through an IV.
plus didnt they test the drugs seperatly?? If it was a true scenario the paranoia would have been slightly curbed by the CBD right?
And the shit about it making you schitzo. Dont agree with that at all! Just a bit of a media spin on the truth. As with anything if u have a mental disorder and u take drugs then u know the risk ur taking. Pretty sure its never been proven to CAUSE schizophrenia though.
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Welcome To The Realm of The Unknown!!
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