Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Effects of Marijuana on the Brain

Although there are a few positive aspects to the use of marijuana such as assisting and controlling pain and its use for cancer and AIDS patients, according to my research there are more negative than positive issues related to it. The following are some of the harmful, and not so harmful, effects of using marijuana:

- Marijuana can hinder the memory. While under the influence of marijuana, new information may not register and could be lost from memory.
- It can have a harmful affect on the central nervous system.
- It can affect the emotions causing depression, chronic anxiety or panic attacks in some people.
- Some users may be affected in such a way that one minute they will be laughing uncontrollably and in the next may be experiencing feelings of paranoia.
- It can trigger severe mental disturbances, particularly in the case where a brain has already been seriously hampered as in the case of someone who has suffered a brain injury, is schizophrenic or has a bipolar disorder.
- In some cases, and with repeated heavy usage, it can damage nerve cells.
- It could possibly contribute to cognitive impairment, while using, which will make learning difficult.
- It can cause psychotic reactions such as delusions or hallucinations.
- It may have an affect, on some users, on concentration abilities and distort perceptions, particularly as it relates to time.
- Usage of marijuana will slow the reflexes and reaction times thereby interfering with driving abilities.
- It can affect the release of dopamine which has the potential of creating medical problems.

Although some believe that those who use marijuana are more at risk for becoming addicted to harder drugs, in a 2006 United Kingdom government report, it was stated that they considered it to be less dangerous than tobacco, prescription drugs or alcohol.

Besides its ability to control pain, further research indicates that it can help to reduce stress, increase the libido and creativity, encourage philosophical thinking, enhance enjoyment of food and music and inhibit aggression, in some people.

But when looking at the issue of marijuana usage as a whole, the harmful effects to the brain seem to heavily outweigh any benefits there may be to the user.

2 comments:

  1. This article is really good, I like it so much, there are some nice things you share in your blog. Damiana

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  2. I am recovering from a major brain injury and I have to state that marijuana has helped me greatly. It was encouraged by my neurologist and many studies show it has a positive effect on helping your brain recover. I think you should check your facts because most of the negative effects you have listed have never been scientifically, without biase, proved. Most of what you stated are "it might" or "could possibly" which is a way of saying they don't know. Look to data gathered from European countries where they actually study marijuana unlike the USA where the scientists from the start are only looking for negatives due to funding and pressure from the government.

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