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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Study Sheds Light on Damaging Effects of Marijuana among College-Aged Adults

As support for legalized recreational marijuana use increases, some have warned that there is presently little research indicating the effects of low to moderate use of the drug. However, the results of a small but sobering study released in April by several Boston-based researchers have shed light on the damaging effects of even casual use of the drug among young adults, according to the Society for Neuroscience. The results of the study may hold import for colleges and universities, which struggle perennially with binge drinking, drug use, and the subsequent host of negative decisions.

The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, which compared high-resolution MRI brain scans of recreational marijuana users aged 18 to 25 with those of nonusers, found significant abnormalities in the left nucleus accumbens and the left amygdala of marijuana users, even those who smoked just once per week. These regions of the brain are responsible for pleasure and reward, processing memory, emotional reactions, and the assessment of negative consequences.

Previously, the only existing studies on the subject had applied to those who smoked excessively—for example, once per day for approximately three years. This study targets those who smoke only a few times per week.

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL, look at obama

Anonymous said...

This is a no brainer. All the "heads" I attended high school with back in the early 80's are either dead or haven't amounted to anything other than having a lengthy criminal record.

Anonymous said...

More propaganda. Stimulation of the amygdala has been shown to increase aggression. So having an amygdala that is not always stimulated should result in people being calmer and also making better decisions. The accumbens plays a similar role in fear, aggression and impulsivity. Having reduced stimulation in both would likely lead to a calmer and happier group of individuals. SHOCKER!!! That's one of the main reason people smoke pot. The idea that smoking pot transforms people into none thinking beast is just ridiculous.

Draw your own conclusions. The research is right there. The way its being reported though is agenda driven.

Anonymous said...

This is why the liberals like legalizing marijuana--to make more stupid voters!

Anonymous said...

11:45 Think about it, if all those people in Ferguson were stoned they wouldn't be able to loot and riot.

Anonymous said...

Amen Anon 11:12

Anonymous said...

So pot does all that, what about alcohol? Better ban it also.

Anonymous said...

I am ready to make my chances with POT over chemo any day.