Long-term cannabis users may have structural brain abnormalities

News Type: Other — Seeded on Mon Jun 2, 2008 10:36 PM EDT

Article Source: EurekAlert!

science, marijuana, war-on-drugs, cannabis

Long-term, heavy cannabis use may be associated with structural abnormalities in areas of the brain known as the hippocampus and amygdala, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the long-term effects of cannabis use, according to background information in the article. "Although growing literature suggests that long-term cannabis use is associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, many people in the community, as well as cannabis users themselves, believe that cannabis is relatively harmless and should be legally available," the authors write. "With nearly 15 million Americans using cannabis in a given month, 3.4 million using cannabis daily for 12 months or more and 2.1 million commencing use every year, there is a clear need to conduct robust investigations that elucidate the long-term sequelae of long-term cannabis use."

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6.8

{"commentId":1879242,"authorDomain":"ageing-hippie"}

Ageing Hippie

interestin thoughts on the effects on an ageing hippie.

{"commentId":1879242,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"ageing-hippie"}

1 vote

#1 - Mon Jun 2, 2008 10:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":1879586,"authorDomain":"dannymcgee"}

Danny McGee

15 users versus 16 non-users? It's not exactly a large study...I'm skeptical, to say the least. Thanks for the seed!

{"commentId":1879586,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"dannymcgee"}

2 votes

#2 - Mon Jun 2, 2008 11:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":1879600,"authorDomain":"mrgeniussir"}

King of Newsvine

15 men (average age 39.8 years) who smoked more than five joints daily for more than 10 years

I've known some heavy smokers, but WHO SMOKES THAT MUCH? I guess you DO get used to it.

{"commentId":1879600,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"mrgeniussir"}

3 votes

#3 - Mon Jun 2, 2008 11:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":1879709,"authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}

winsomecowboy

5 a day is on the lighter side of chronic. Depends how large they are or if they are shared i suppose.
I know quite a few people who 'indulge' round 5 times a day but smoking a whole joint of anything by yourself is kinda an admission your weed is inferior. 2 or three tokes is more usual.

I have anecdotal evidence that chronic usage does tend to retard your growth socially and most chronic users I've met get a bit loopy by their 50's. Thats 3 decades of daily dosing. I know some 50+ guys that are still smoking and sharp though.

{"commentId":1879709,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"winsomecowboy"}

5 votes

#3.1 - Tue Jun 3, 2008 12:12 AM EDT

{"commentId":1879842,"authorDomain":"mrgeniussir"}

King of Newsvine

3.1:

Depends how large they are

Now that you mention it-a fat joint would be like 5 of those little skinny ones. Joint isn't a very scientific term is it? And yeah-Quality is another thing that would need to be measured.

I know some 50+ guys that are still smoking and sharp though.

Some people are highly functional while stoned.

{"commentId":1879842,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"mrgeniussir"}

4 votes

#4 - Tue Jun 3, 2008 12:45 AM EDT

{"commentId":1879991,"authorDomain":"mikesifeldeen"}

Mike Sifeldeen

Long-term, heavy cannabis use may be associated with structural abnormalities in areas of the brain known as the hippocampus and amygdala

I have a problem with this wording.

Is the long-term cannabis use the cause of the structural abnormalities, or do people who naturally have these abnormalities have a predisposition to cannabis usage?

{"commentId":1879991,"threadId":"276716","contentId":"1533379","authorDomain":"mikesifeldeen"}

5 votes

#5 - Tue Jun 3, 2008 1:48 AM EDT

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	Heavy marijuana use shrinks brain parts: study	Reuters	Mon Jun 2	6
	Nigeria seizes 80 tonnes of drugs	BBC News	Tue Jun 3	0

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Long-term cannabis users may have structural brain abnormalities

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