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Casual marijuana use linked with brain abnormalities, study finds

LOL !!!

Every pot head has a pot smoking friend who's a "engineer " or has a "PHD".

Its just HIllarious !

I don't know about everyone. But since I am a PhD physicist, I happen to know quite a few scientists and engineers. You might find it hilarious, but it's better than ditch digging.
 
It's so funny how that point is made every time. Yet nobody really knows these people. LOL

Every pot smoker I've ever known, which is several, has been riddled with all sort of personal issues and a life that is a fraction of what it could have been. They become consumed with it, and it dulls every bit of their ambition and productivity.

Yes, and obviously weed must have caused it. No way could abuse of pot or lethargy or apathy be caused by anything else but pot. Every potentially bright individual who fell short must have done so through abuse of marijuana. :roll:
 
Well your statement doesn't follow. Saying that marijuana is "harmless compared to alcohol" is comparing the damage done by alcohol to the damage done by weed. That statement in and of itself doesn't say that marijuana absolutely does no damage.

I know quite a few people who have and still do use pot and are PhD scientists and engineers, so I guess your little story there is, again, not an absolute.

Maybe some logic and math classes to understand how proper arguments are made?


I know people who have driven home safely while drunk therefor we should legalize it.

Also, cool story bro.
 
I know people who have driven home safely while drunk therefor we should legalize it.

Also, cool story bro.

What a dumb reply. My argument was not for the legalization of pot, but rather a counter to one claiming that those who smoke pot are universally worthless and damaged.
 
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What a dumb reply. My argument was not for the legalization of pot, but rather a counter to one claiming that those who smoke pot are universally worthless and damaged.

To prove that you need more than "I know a guy" arguments. For starters, I question the sanity of Engineers and Scientists who risk their career to get high.

Why do you think they would do that? And who would they be without smoking pot?
 
To prove that you need more than "I know a guy" arguments. For starters, I question the sanity of Engineers and Scientists who risk their career to get high.

Why do you think they would do that? And who would they be without smoking pot?

I was presented with personal testimony as evidence, and in return gave personal testimony as response. Don't like it? Go after the Erod.
 
Casual marijuana use linked with brain abnormalities, study finds | Fox News



Duh.

I laugh every time I hear from pot smokers that marijuana use is completely harmless compared to alcohol. No one can possibly believe marijuana is the least bit harmless.

I had a buddy in high school that was probably the brightest guy in our class, and he was extremely outgoing. He found pot, and within a year, he had no gleam in his eye. He became this blank, empty loner of a guy that I could hardly recognize.

It eats your brain, folks. Legal or not, it destroys who you are.

On a selfish note, it culls the herd for my kids, whom I'm confident find potheads to be as pathetic as I do.

What a load of crap lol.
 
I was presented with personal testimony as evidence, and in return gave personal testimony as response. Don't like it? Go after the Erod.

I'm measuring your "presonal testimony" against the study in the OP, not Erod.

And as a social worker for 10 years I likely have enough "personal testimony" to lap you and Erod many times over.
 
To prove that you need more than "I know a guy" arguments. For starters, I question the sanity of Engineers and Scientists who risk their career to get high.

Why do you think they would do that? And who would they be without smoking pot?

How is my career in danger? Are we such degenerate addicts that we all have to light up at work?

I smoke weed because it drastically helps my genetic depression and with it has dramatically improved my life and relationships.

Every male in my family has chronic depression that hasn't been treatable by antidepressants. (I became bat **** crazy on the last SSRI I was prescribed ) Some of us became alcoholics (my uncle drank himself to death), and my father is miserable every day. My brother and I both smoke most evenings and we have successful careers and full families and are genuinely happy.

So my question for you is, why do you think i should just remain miserable and depressed or drink myself into a coma instead of using a medication that improves my life? What would you have me do?
 
I don't know about everyone. But since I am a PhD physicist, I happen to know quite a few scientists and engineers. You might find it hilarious, but it's better than ditch digging.

"Ditch digging" ?

People that smoke dope daily, are chosing to go through life with a cognitive handicap, regardless of their education or how mamt degrees they've earned.

And sorry but I'm calling BS on your'e alledged pot smoking PHD acquaintances.

Engineers are a pretty specific brand of individial. I know because I've worked for several Aero-Space Contractors for the last 20 years.

They are typically, quiet, highly intelligent and some are even borderline High Functioning Autistics, who take their abilities, knowledge and intelligence very seriously.

Too seriously to throw caution to the wind and engage in a self destructive behaviour like smoking dope.
 
"Ditch digging" ?

People that smoke dope daily, are chosing to go through life with a cognitive handicap, regardless of their education or how mamt degrees they've earned.

And sorry but I'm calling BS on your'e alledged pot smoking PHD acquaintances.

Engineers are a pretty specific brand of individial. I know because I've worked for several Aero-Space Contractors for the last 20 years.

They are typically, quiet, highly intelligent and some are even borderline High Functioning Autistics, who take their abilities, knowledge and intelligence very seriously.

Too seriously to throw caution to the wind and engage in a self destructive behaviour like smoking dope.

So you just ignore my post to you about me being an engineer and smoking weed then continue on to characterize millions of engineers into one nice little stereotype you've created? And you think my brain is the one that's damaged?

I've met a lot of idiotic conservatives so I guess it would be safe for me to say that all the millions of conservatives in the world are all idiots.
 
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How is my career in danger? Are we such degenerate addicts that we all have to light up at work?

Do you obtain it legally? If yes, did you always obtain it legally?

I smoke weed because it drastically helps my genetic depression and with it has dramatically improved my life and relationships.

Was this prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist?

Every male in my family has chronic depression that hasn't been treatable by antidepressants. (I became bat **** crazy on the last SSRI I was prescribed ) Some of us became alcoholics (my uncle drank himself to death), and my father is miserable every day. My brother and I both smoke most evenings and we have successful careers and full families and are genuinely happy.

I would doubt the marijuana is the cause as much as the illness is the excuse, at least on my experience. For example, I'm sure you uncle was convinced the alcohol fix his depression.

I'm not a doctor, but I am not a fan of most anti-depressants either. Most don't actually fix the bad thoughts, they just take away the emotions tied to the bad thoughts. I'm convinced that is why suicide rates increase on many anti-depressants. The patient still thinks about killing themselves while on the drug, the drug just takes away the fear of following through.

I saw more success with cognitive treatments for depression. In some cases a placebo helped with the cognitive changes because it gives the patient an external focus to anchor on. I always wondered if the placebo effect was what people were seeing in their attempts to self medicate. Once convinced that X is the cure, using X allows them relief from their depression.


So my question for you is, why do you think i should just remain miserable and depressed or drink myself into a coma instead of using a medication that improves my life? What would you have me do?

I don't think you should remain miserable the rest of your life. I am saying that I think you downplay your own efforts too much and credit the marijuana too much. Much of what you think you are getting out of the marijuana you are actually accomplishing yourself and crediting to the marijuana. While marijuana has some effect on depression when stoned (as well as axiety and other disorders), it has also been shown to worsen depression when sober.. so if you are seeing lasting relief from depression when not stoned then that is all your doing.

While I have seen some near miracles achieved with placebo in treating depression, the biggest trick in such treatment is getting the patient to replace the reverence they develop for the placebo with a reverence for themselves. At that point they become far more self sufficient and no longer dependent on external relief.
 
Do you obtain it legally? If yes, did you always obtain it legally?



Was this prescribed by a doctor or psychiatrist?



I would doubt the marijuana is the cause as much as the illness is the excuse, at least on my experience. For example, I'm sure you uncle was convinced the alcohol fix his depression.

I'm not a doctor, but I am not a fan of most anti-depressants either. Most don't actually fix the bad thoughts, they just take away the emotions tied to the bad thoughts. I'm convinced that is why suicide rates increase on many anti-depressants. The patient still thinks about killing themselves while on the drug, the drug just takes away the fear of following through.

I saw more success with cognitive treatments for depression. In some cases a placebo helped with the cognitive changes because it gives the patient an external focus to anchor on. I always wondered if the placebo effect was what people were seeing in their attempts to self medicate. Once convinced that X is the cure, using X allows them relief from their depression.




I don't think you should remain miserable the rest of your life. I am saying that I think you downplay your own efforts too much and credit the marijuana too much. Much of what you think you are getting out of the marijuana you are actually accomplishing yourself and crediting to the marijuana. While marijuana has some effect on depression when stoned (as well as axiety and other disorders), it has also been shown to worsen depression when sober.. so if you are seeing lasting relief from depression when not stoned then that is all your doing.

While I have seen some near miracles achieved with placebo in treating depression, the biggest trick in such treatment is getting the patient to replace the reverence they develop for the placebo with a reverence for themselves. At that point they become far more self sufficient and no longer dependent on external relief.

You don't seem to realize that there are many types of depression, and many of which are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain caused by genetically inherited conditions.

The men in my family, myself included, are primarily depressed with out any reason whatsoever. At many, many times in my life my entire world has been great but I would still be horribly depressed.

Your entire argument is that my depression is bull**** and I solved it through placebo. I can't help but think that you might fall into the category of people that thinks people with depression are just weak and lack will power.

I will however return to my original question: Considering antidepressants have horrible effects on me and my relatives, while cannabis seems to have a dramatically positive effect on us, why should we stop and what treatment would you have us do it its place?

Are you of the opinion that cannabis has no medical benefits or do you just think its use for depression is bull****?

Also: Yes, cannabis has been recommended to me by a fully licensed psychiatrist that saw first hand the kind of horrible effects the antidepressants have had on me. However because we were not in a medical marijuana state she could not prescribe it. Shortly thereafter I smoked for the first time and within a few weeks of regular use the relief was extremely apparent.
 
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You don't seem to realize that there are many types of depression, and many of which are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain caused by genetically inherited conditions.

I am well aware.

The men in my family, myself included, are primarily depressed with out any reason whatsoever.

At many, many times in my life my entire world has been great but I would still be horribly depressed. [/QUOTE]

That is actually pretty much the definition of clinical depression. It isn't clinical depression if you have a reason to be depressed.

Your entire argument is that my depression is bull**** and I solved it through placebo. I can't help but think that you might fall into the category of people that thinks people with depression are just weak and lack will power.

No, I don't think they or you are weak. I think they have an emotional disorder, which they do. I also think that quick fixes like anti-depressants have only made it worse for people suffering through depression. I've never been a fan of chemical fixes to chemical imbalances because I don't think it helps develop the proper coping skills.

Obviously you think you need marijuana to cope with depression. I am saying you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for.

I will however return to my original question: Considering antidepressants have horrible effects on me and my relatives, while cannabis seems to have a dramatically positive effect on us, why should we stop and what treatment would you have us do it its place?

I would argue it is the absence of anti-depressants more than the presence of cannabis. I'm not a fan of anti-depressants, either.

The trouble with anti-depressants, as I see it, is that on the one hand patients have been taught to trust the drug to fix them, so there is a bit of a placebo effect setup before the patient even takes the drug, but then the drug effects the patients emotional and cognitive functions, masking normal healthy defense mechanisms and substituting artificial means of coping. I like to describe the difference between an anti-depressant emotion and a natural emotion as the difference between a strawberry hard candy and a fresh strawberry.

Are you of the opinion that cannabis has no medical benefits or do you just think its use for depression is bull****?

I think as a placebo it is likely more effective than anti-depressants because it doesn't screw directly with your brain's serotonin the way most anti-depressants do. As an actual treatment of depression I think it is, well, no better than placebo, and with more side effects.
 
Re: Study finds brain changes in young marijuana users

I knew the apologists would show up.

Is that how you respond to factual information?
 
I am well aware.





That is actually pretty much the definition of clinical depression. It isn't clinical depression if you have a reason to be depressed.



No, I don't think they or you are weak. I think they have an emotional disorder, which they do. I also think that quick fixes like anti-depressants have only made it worse for people suffering through depression. I've never been a fan of chemical fixes to chemical imbalances because I don't think it helps develop the proper coping skills.

Obviously you think you need marijuana to cope with depression. I am saying you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for.



I would argue it is the absence of anti-depressants more than the presence of cannabis. I'm not a fan of anti-depressants, either.

The trouble with anti-depressants, as I see it, is that on the one hand patients have been taught to trust the drug to fix them, so there is a bit of a placebo effect setup before the patient even takes the drug, but then the drug effects the patients emotional and cognitive functions, masking normal healthy defense mechanisms and substituting artificial means of coping. I like to describe the difference between an anti-depressant emotion and a natural emotion as the difference between a strawberry hard candy and a fresh strawberry.



I think as a placebo it is likely more effective than anti-depressants because it doesn't screw directly with your brain's serotonin the way most anti-depressants do. As an actual treatment of depression I think it is, well, no better than placebo, and with more side effects.

Well, I guess you know more than the medical and neuroscience communities. Depression is just something people should will themselves out of as all chemicals are just placebos.

So clearly I'm just emotionally disturbed. Maybe I was raped as a child and I just repressed it. Thanks doc.

The brain functions through the secretion of chemicals that must interact in certain ways in order to properly function. If you have an imbalance in certain areas of your brain, you are going to have issues, and no amount of will power will change that.

But by all means, don't let any patient testimonies interfere with your anti-cannabis crusade. We're all a bunch of unemployed degenerates anyway, amirite?
 
It's so funny how that point is made every time. Yet nobody really knows these people. LOL

Every pot smoker I've ever known, which is several, has been riddled with all sort of personal issues and a life that is a fraction of what it could have been. They become consumed with it, and it dulls every bit of their ambition and productivity.

I know plenty in the high tech industry and the medical profession. People making lots of $$$ and using their brains.
 
Re: Study finds brain changes in young marijuana users

Is that how you respond to factual information?

What factual information was presented in the post I responded to?
 
Re: Study finds brain changes in young marijuana users

What factual information was presented in the post I responded to?

He responded with fact.
 
Re: Study finds brain changes in young marijuana users

I knew the apologists would show up.

I do not smoke pot and I do drink, and even I see the relevance of his question, and furthermore fail to see YOUR point. The criticisms of your acceptance of the headline and lack of critical analysis of the substance of the news article are valid, and you have not addressed them. If you want to be taken seriously, get at it.
 
Well, I guess you know more than the medical and neuroscience communities. Depression is just something people should will themselves out of as all chemicals are just placebos.

I go back to my initial question: Did your doctor prescribe your marijuana? I never said people need to "will themselves" out of depression. You seem completely unfamiliar with the vast amount of study done on non-chemical treatments for depression...

So clearly I'm just emotionally disturbed.

Depression is an emotional disorder

Maybe I was raped as a child and I just repressed it. Thanks doc.

I never said you were. I never even argued that you problem wasn't genetic.


The brain functions through the secretion of chemicals that must interact in certain ways in order to properly function. If you have an imbalance in certain areas of your brain, you are going to have issues, and no amount of will power will change that.

Will power and coping mechanisms aren't the same thing. But I would also add that no amount of hallucinogen is going to replace the missing natural brain chemistry.

But by all means, don't let any patient testimonies interfere with your anti-cannabis crusade. We're all a bunch of unemployed degenerates anyway, amirite?

Never said that either. But on your note I am sure I can get a list of testimonials from depressed alcoholics as well as to the benefits of being drunk. That doesn't make it a good for you, or a viable option for treating depression.
 
Not a fair comparison. This study was of casual users who smoke once or twice a week. What are the health effects of drinking once or twice a week?

This marijuana "study" had a sample size of 40 people. Its not a fair comparison, since I was using an ACTUAL study.
 
I go back to my initial question: Did your doctor prescribe your marijuana? I never said people need to "will themselves" out of depression. You seem completely unfamiliar with the vast amount of study done on non-chemical treatments for depression...



Depression is an emotional disorder



I never said you were. I never even argued that you problem wasn't genetic.




Will power and coping mechanisms aren't the same thing. But I would also add that no amount of hallucinogen is going to replace the missing natural brain chemistry.



Never said that either. But on your note I am sure I can get a list of testimonials from depressed alcoholics as well as to the benefits of being drunk. That doesn't make it a good for you, or a viable option for treating depression.

About a minute after my original post I updated it to include an answer to the doctor question, so feel free to check it and respond. (Yes a fully licensed psychiatrist recommended it to me)

THC and CBD have been shown to be treatment for things like Alzheimers. The glaring logical fallacy here is that you admit that cannabis changes the brain, but assert that it can only be a bad change. I come to you agreeing that marijuana can change the brain, and telling you that I have personally benefitted from one of these changes. You then tell me that I'm wrong and that it was obviously just a placebo.

Does it not seem to be a little illogical to believe that cannabis can change the brain but NEVER for the good?
 
This marijuana "study" had a sample size of 40 people. Its not a fair comparison, since I was using an ACTUAL study.

Medical studies often have small sample sizes like this. When a study finds a statistically significant trend all this means is that the rate of the occurrence of the anomaly being studied in the group exceeds the margin of error in the general population. A sample size of 40 is about a 16% margin of error (actual value is between +16% and -16%), so the rate of occurrence of the brain abnormalities in the test subjects exceeded that of the general population by greater than 16%.

To put that in perspective: The Current estimate of global warming since 1850 is 0.8°C... +/-20%
 
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