I have always wondered what marijuana does to the brain. In todays society, you always hear the positives of using marijuana, never the negatives. I have never tried marijuana but I have numerous friends that have and they tell me it gives them a whole new outlook on life. I thought I would dig a little deeper and see how it really affects them.
Marijuana can be beneficial in the treatment of AIDS, cancer, and other painful illnesses but it can also have harmful affects on the central nervous system and can hinder the memory and movement of the user's brain. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the main active ingredient in marijuana and it affects the interplay of neurons. The strength of some of these signals can be altered due to THC and it can interfere with normal communication between neurons and brain circuits. Overall, the use of marijuana can affect learning, memory, pain perception and reward processing.
"Scientific research suggests that repeated marijuana use during adolescence (at least four joints per week) can increase the risk for psychosis, decrease adulthood IQ, and lead to changes in the brain that increase vulnerability to more dangerous illicit drugs."
Think about that next time you want to take a hit of that joint.
Kelsie Raines
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1808
http://www.brainfacts.org/about-neuroscience/ask-an-expert/articles/2013/how-does-marijuana-affect-brain-function/
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