Marijuana Helps Grow Brain Cells!

there have been research studies that have shown promising leads with some phytocannabinoids (plant based cannabioids) having potential anti tumor properties, (possibly explaining the discrepancy between smoking cannabis and cancer development) I do not believe they have isolated which specific cannabinoid(s) as of yet though - there are 75+ known cannabinoids of which THC was but one in cannabis.

It comes as little surprise that phytocannabinoids have a potential role in brain cell growth, or brain activity in general.. We have known for a while that there are cannabinoid receptors in the brain (CBD-1), and that little is still known about the function of endogenous cannabinoids (produced within our bodies), yet alone the potential functions of phytocannabinoids, and possible cross over roles in our brains, or for that matter our immune system.

The fact that such very similar chemicals are present naturally in our own bodies, and that we have receptors for this class of chemicals (there are also cbd-2 receptors which are a part of our immune system.), and that we know very little of either leads one to believe there are many many breakthroughs, and roles of this unique class of chemicals yet to be understood.

At least the AMA has finally came around to understanding this and are now behind reclassification of the drug, realizing that there is quite a lot of medical potential in those forsaken cannabinoid laden marijuana plants.

Tubub said:

I mean, just look at this other guy on the forum right now... He's trying to claim it's some innate drive in some people to get high.

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:rofl

Not just in people animals too :2razz:

Birds, elephants, cats, reindeer, I can go on

Tubub said:

Few(probably using these drugs themselves but oft forgetting :lol are claiming that weed is some psychedelic madman drug that pollutes your mind into wanting to do any and every drug that exists :spin:

And frankly, that's not what the "gateway" theory is. The "gateway" theory claims that people familiarize themselves with recreational drugs by using substances like weed, and then once they see their not being chased by the F.B.I nor are they automatic sociopaths they start going on to doing more hardcore drugs... like shrooms and abuse of over-the-counter.

Essentially, it gives them a phony sense of control over these substances when, while they may initially control their use, they pretty soon are psychologically if not physically addicted to the high these substances provides.

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I am quite familiar with the gateway theory, thank you. What you just described was not the marijuana gateway, but the prohibition and misinformation via propaganda gateway.

the gateway theory was killed 15 years ago.

One did. He used to hyper-ventilate and I was telling him that probably killed so many brain cells and he laughed. What a tard. I totally forgot about that...

Still, neither of the above mentioned. The one that dips said he did the whole "choking game" bs but I knew even at the time he was just saying it for attention... haha this is funny talking about childhood

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geeez, I would have never guessed... oh wait I did basically, after the spinning in circles to get dizzy, comes the hyperventilation games, then perhaps huffing, or they dabble in pot because it is available at that age being unregulated and all.

perhaps that person on this very forum you are trying to dismiss really knows what the hell he is talking about huh?

marduc said:

I am quite familiar with the gateway theory, thank you. What you just described was not the marijuana gateway, but the prohibition and misinformation via propaganda gateway.

the gateway theory was killed 15 years ago.

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So when I as 1 year old? Too bad.

The gateway drug theory (also called gateway theory, gateway hypothesis and gateway effect) is the hypothesis that the habitual use of less deleterious drugs may lead to a future risk of using more dangerous hard drugs and/or crime.[1]

The gateway drug theory is often attributed to the use of these 3 drugs

* Tobacco
* Alcohol
* Cannabis [2][3][4]

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Clearly, you're not familiar enough. Case and Point.

geeez, I would have never guessed.

perhaps that person on this very forum you are trying to dismiss really knows what the hell he is talking about huh?

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Nope.

Tubub said:

Clearly, you're not familiar enough. Case and Point.

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never claimed the propaganda (or wikipedia articles) was not killed, just the theory.

edit: did you read the whole wikipedia article yet?

marduc said:

never claimed the propaganda (or wikipedia articles) was not killed, just the theory.

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I could get the same information from an encyclopedia or any legitimate article, if that is what you need...

Now that we have established what it was(which is in line with what I previously posted), how exactly was the theory "killed"?

Tubub said:

I mean, just look at this other guy on the forum right now... He's trying to claim it's some innate drive in some people to get high.

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I'd say there's something to that theory. Every human culture in existence uses psychoactives, and even the strictest religious groups-- except for a very small handful-- allow for at least some form of intoxication. I'm lucky enough that all of my vices are legal, for now, but even I indulge heavily in nicotine and even more heavily in caffeine and ginseng.

Drug use is inherent to all human cultures. The only thing that differs is what drugs and for what purposes.

Tubub said:

I could get the same information from an encyclopedia or any legitimate article, if that is what you need...

Now that we have established what it was(which is in line with what I previously posted), how exactly was the theory "killed"?

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I am sorry, the first major blow to the theory happened 10 years ago, I was going off the cuff and misrepresented the timeframe.

It was in 1999 that the Institute of Medicine released their ONDCP requested and commissioned report (you are aware of what the ONDCP is I hope?)

I am not going to go digging through 250 or so pages to find the pertinent info, but if you want here:

Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base

after this study the gateway theory stopped getting pushed very hard, and now is almost nonexistent in drug debates, and a LOT less common in government sponsored/sanctioned info.

It is a loser argument anyways, the gateway theory is a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy (correlation not causation)

EpicDude86 said:

Ahh, lol ironically enough I often have an herbal beverage. :lol: mostly tea

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Most of the tea-flavored shisha is Earl Grey, and I'm allergic to bergamot.

Hatuey said:

There is VERY nasty **** in cigarettes. It's like sleeping with a chick from Jersey Shore.

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Do not make me get "The Situation" up in here:rofl

I love that show:2razz:

EpicDude86 said:

Cigarette smoke is worse, does worse damage to clothing and homes, and will deteriorate your body faster. You are also more likely to light up a cigarette (purchased legally) with more chemicals and addatives in it than if you were to light up a joint (purchased illegally.) That chance lowers for both tobacco and marijuana if you grow it yourself or know the grower. But more often you'll find folks growing their own marijuana than growing their own tobacco to smoke.

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How does it do worse damage to clothes? Weed smells as much as a ciggy. I will give ya that cigs seem to have more chemicals and addatives in it than weed-IF- you know your dealer because weed can be laced with all kinds of nasty and crazy stuff.:shock:


I smoke cigs and sometimes toke so was just curious about your thinking. Not trying to hate or anything

Kali said:

How does it do worse damage to clothes? Weed smells as much as a ciggy.

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Cannabis smells worse, but it's much easier to get the smell out. It doesn't linger for nearly as long as the smell of tobacco smoke, especially cigarette smoke.

EpicDude86 said:

I usually..er..don't...smoke my marijuana through an ice bong or hooka. Makes it so smooth...and sometimes you can even add flavors that mix well with marijuana's natural scent. but it certainly isn't for everyone. I hated it when I first smelled it, but then grew to love it.

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I will never forget the first time I smoked hash. It had such a what word I am looking for? Pungent smell? But oh how I came to love that smell. :2razz:

Now sometimes cigar smells remind me of hash. Does it you?

I must be the only person here that likes the way cigs. smell. I like the smell, taste, etc.

B L Zeebub said:

what stage are you at epoc?

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the HURR DURR stage.

Korimyr the Rat said:

Most of the tea-flavored shisha is Earl Grey, and I'm allergic to bergamot.

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Wow, a bergamot allergy? That's interesting. :O

Kali said:

I will never forget the first time I smoked hash. It had such a what word I am looking for? Pungent smell? But oh how I came to love that smell. :2razz:

Now sometimes cigar smells remind me of hash. Does it you?

I must be the only person here that likes the way cigs. smell. I like the smell, taste, etc.

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It's usually different for everyone. I love the smell of dank weed, a nice expensive cigar, but I cannot stand cigarettes. It smells horrible to me and it feels like burns my nose almost just smelling it. Herbal cigarettes aren't that bad though. Everyone's tastes are different I suppose.

EpicDude86 said:

It's usually different for everyone. I love the smell of dank weed, a nice expensive cigar, but I cannot stand cigarettes. It smells horrible to me and it feels like burns my nose almost just smelling it. Herbal cigarettes aren't that bad though. Everyone's tastes are different I suppose.

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I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, too harsh and they make me feel like I can't breathe if I'm around someone smoking them. I'm pretty neutral about the smell of weed, but I do enjoy the smell of a cigar. It reminds me of my childhood spending time with my grandfather (who smoked Dutch Masters Panetelas until I was about 15). I also really like the smell of a pipe for some reason. If I ever take up smoking it'll be a pipe for sure.

molten_dragon said:

It reminds me of my childhood spending time with my grandfather (who smoked Dutch Masters Panetelas until I was about 15). I also really like the smell of a pipe for some reason. If I ever take up smoking it'll be a pipe for sure.

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The Blender's Gold brand carried by Walgreen's is as good as any prestige brand pipe tobacco-- at least as good as any I've tried-- and even their bulk package cigars smoke like cigars that cost several times as much. They're obviously not Cohibas, but you can't do much better for an everyday smoke.

They've got boxes of twenty 50-ring Maduros for eighteen dollars that taste, smell, and smoke as good as cigars I've paid eight or ten dollars for each.

Captain America said:

It's all in the attitude. The way I see it, if an idiot is stupid enough to drive down the freeway tokin' and texting, he deserves a ride downtown.

Give the cops half-a-chance to be cool and they usually will. Give them bad attitude and they will find some way to ruin your day.

But you already know this.

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Absolutely.

On a good day I've given verbal warnings for like 30 over speed limit with a person who had the right attitude.

Also, Ive wrote someone a ticket for their tag lights and failure to sign registration card when they give that, "You SToP me cuZ i bE BlAck!" attitude.

marduc said:

I am sorry, the first major blow to the theory happened 10 years ago, I was going off the cuff and misrepresented the timeframe.

It was in 1999 that the Institute of Medicine released their ONDCP requested and commissioned report (you are aware of what the ONDCP is I hope?)

I am not going to go digging through 250 or so pages to find the pertinent info, but if you want here:

Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base

after this study the gateway theory stopped getting pushed very hard, and now is almost nonexistent in drug debates, and a LOT less common in government sponsored/sanctioned info.

It is a loser argument anyways, the gateway theory is a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy (correlation not causation)

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I couldn't find anything in there that "killed" the Gateway theory... You have proved nothing in support of that, except re-stating that the gateway theory is bogus in your mind. I have seen the gateway theory play out in real life. I have seen individuals begin recreational drugs and move on to more hardcore drugs BECAUSE they felt that they had control over those substances, when really everyone loses control of such harmful substances.

I heard the gateway theory in grade school, including by those who used drugs... It's by no means dead and by no means "a loser argument..."

And until you have actual evidence to dispute it, the gateway theory will continue to be legitimate and accepted by many.

The gateway theory is sort of true. Being around marijuana and using it can lead to other drug use.

But other drug use for the most part isn't dangerous until you're shooting up or doing oodles of meth.

Whats dangerous is stupid people who don't respect the substance or don't use moderation.

Tubub said:

I couldn't find anything in there that "killed" the Gateway theory... You have proved nothing in support of that, except re-stating that the gateway theory is bogus in your mind. I have seen the gateway theory play out in real life. I have seen individuals begin recreational drugs and move on to more hardcore drugs BECAUSE they felt that they had control over those substances, when really everyone loses control of such harmful substances.

I heard the gateway theory in grade school, including by those who used drugs... It's by no means dead and by no means "a loser argument..."

And until you have actual evidence to dispute it, the gateway theory will continue to be legitimate and accepted by many.

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It can be an accepted theory by many, just not those that actually care to do any critical thinking. Unless, of course, you think the researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are idiots. Here, for your personal edification:

Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug that predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study. Moreover, the study’s findings call into question the long-held belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for six decades and caused many a parent to panic upon discovering a bag of pot in their child’s bedroom.

(snip)

While the gateway theory posits that each type of drug is associated with certain specific risk factors that cause the use of subsequent drugs, such as cigarettes or alcohol leading to marijuana, this study’s findings indicate that environmental aspects have stronger influence on which type of substance is used. That is, if it’s easier for a teen to get his hands on marijuana than beer, then he’ll be more likely to smoke pot. This evidence supports what’s known as the common liability model, an emerging theory that states the likelihood that someone will transition to the use of illegal drugs is determined not by the preceding use of a particular drug but instead by the user’s individual tendencies and environmental circumstances.


“The emphasis on the drugs themselves, rather than other, more important factors that shape a person’s behavior, has been detrimental to drug policy and prevention programs,” Dr. Tarter said. “To become more effective in our efforts to fight drug abuse, we should devote more attention to interventions that address these issues, particularly to parenting skills that shape the child’s behavior as well as peer and neighborhood environments.”

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Study says marijuana no gateway drug | Science Blog

SE102 said:

The gateway theory is sort of true. Being around marijuana and using it can lead to other drug use.

But other drug use for the most part isn't dangerous until you're shooting up or doing oodles of meth.

Whats dangerous is stupid people who don't respect the substance or don't use moderation.

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It's because it is illegal that smoking pot can lead to using other drugs. If your dealer sells pot, crank and ecstasy, you're more likely to try the other two because you are exposed to them.

Tubub said:

You know, the scientific rationale for using weed is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. Have you ever met a stoner? To say that he is increasing his brain power by using that crap is comical. Not to mention that his social skills are basically put right in the ****ing toilet.

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Define "stoner" and stop generalizing, it makes you look foolish.

Tubub said:

I couldn't find anything in there that "killed" the Gateway theory... You have proved nothing in support of that, except re-stating that the gateway theory is bogus in your mind. I have seen the gateway theory play out in real life. I have seen individuals begin recreational drugs and move on to more hardcore drugs BECAUSE they felt that they had control over those substances, when really everyone loses control of such harmful substances.

I heard the gateway theory in grade school, including by those who used drugs... It's by no means dead and by no means "a loser argument..."

And until you have actual evidence to dispute it, the gateway theory will continue to be legitimate and accepted by many.

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splitting hairs and playing semantics over "killed" huh? that and showing you have little concept of logic, and that the logical fallacy renders the gateway theory invalid (and not legitimate), regardless if the theory is still being pushed in school.

Just because you heard it in school, does not mean that the theory has been substantiated, or validated, it means, that the propaganda behind the argument continued - consistent with what I did and did not claim in my original statement.

Lets look at the report from 1999 I brought up:

In January 1997, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) asked the Institute of Medicine to conduct a review of the scientific evidence to assess the potential health benefits and risks of marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids. That review began in August 1997 and culminates with this report.

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The fear that marijuana use might cause, as opposed to merely precede, the use of drugs that are more harmful of great concern. Judging from comments submitted to the IOM study team, this appears to be an even greater concern than the harms directly related to marijuana itself.

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Now, this is an assumption, but I would venture to say a very safe assumption.. the comments submitted, were almost undoubtedly by those who requested this report, meaning the ONDCP had an extraordinary interest in looking at this gateway theory (understandably, it was a cornerstone of their position until this report). The ONDCP wanted this theory substantiated. The substantiation did not come.

The gateway analogy evokes two ideas that are often confused. The first, more often referred to as the stepping stone hypothesis, is the idea that progression from marijuana to other drugs arises from pharmacological properties of marijuana itself

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The stepping stone hypothesis applies to marijuana only in the broadest sense. People who enjoy the effects of marijuana are, logically, more likely to be willing to try other mood-altering drugs than are people who are not willing to try marijuana or who dislike its effects

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Which is what I had already said, the only gateway here is a predisposition to attain altered states, it is this not the marijuana, it is the individual.

the gateway theory is a social theory. The latter does not suggest that the pharmacological qualities of marijuana make it a risk factor for progression to other drug use. Instead it is the legal status of marijuana that makes it a gateway drug.

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Marijuana as Medicine - Assessing the Science Base - Institute of Medicine Report

Again this is what I have claimed, it is NOT the marijuana that is the gateway, it is the PROHIBITION that is the gateway.

This is why I said the gateway theory has been killed, it has NOT been substantiated, the argument is invalid (as Effoftibs study above exemplified numerous studies since have also failed to produce the necessary causation to validate this theory).


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now to deal with your silly semantics hang up over my word choice of "killed

Kill
3 a : to destroy the vital or essential quality of

The ONDCP's gateway position had to be validated, they had a huge interest in it being validated with this study; however the position was not validated.

the essential quality of the theory -which was that marijuana caused people to go on to use other drugs- was not found to be true, in other owrds, it was debunked, in other words causation was not found, in other words, the argument was invalid, in other words the argument was dead in the water, or in other words "killed".. the vital or essential quality of the theory was dead.

now there have been attempts to resurrect the gateway theory; however causation has still never been established, and without causation it remains an invalid argument committing the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy.

I rode a bike before I drove, therefore my bike riding caused me to drive a car.

Now I do believe the topic was that marijuana helps grow brain cells? I think we just substantiated that here (provided you learned something)