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Archive for the ‘Marijuana’ Category

Harms of Marijuana and Cigarette Smoke Compared

Friday, February 24th, 2012

Harms of Marijuana and Cigarette Smoke ComparedA new study suggests marijuana smoke isn’t as dangerous as tobacco smoke, making experts worry young people will think lighting up is safe.

“Legalize marijuana” groups will likely see new research that suggests marijuana smoke does not damage lungs in the same way tobacco smoke does as a victory for their cause. The problem is, the new study doesn’t in any way prove that smoking pot regularly is safe, just that the smoke it generates may not damage lungs in the same way cigarette smoking does. Marijuana use does still impair response times and can be particularly dangerous to teens and college students whose brains haven’t finished growing. (more…)


Does Pot Use Produce Psychosis?

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Does Pot Use Produce Psychosis?If you think marijuana is harmless, think again. A new study shows it can have powerful mental health side effects.

In the movies and among many teens and college students, the perception is that pot is relatively harmless. It mellows you out and the worst side effect is a bad case of the munchies, right? Not according to a new study. An article published in the latest issue of the professional journal Archives of General Psychiatry shows a much scarier potential effect of marijuana. It turns out that a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in pot, increases the brain processes that can lead to symptoms of psychosis.

So what does that mean for the average person? Can smoking pot lead to psychosis? Are there are other possible health concerns uncovered by this new study?

Previous research has found that THC can induce symptoms of psychosis in healthy people and worsen psychotic symptoms in people already experiencing them. Long-term cannabis use is also associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, the study suggests.

The study is groundbreaking in another way: Its findings are the first to use images of the brain to demonstrate that the reason symptoms of psychosis arise in marijuana users may be because THC interferes with the brain’s ability to distinguish between stimuli that are important, and those that aren’t, according to the study. (more…)


Presidential Pardons Include Three Drug Offenders

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Presidential Pardons Include Three Drug OffendersThe latest round of presidential pardons were just announced and three of the eight had ties to illegal drugs.

President Obama recently granted eight pardons for convictions ranging from the distribution of illegal drugs to stealing satellite cable and the prohibited sale of alligator hides. How does someone convicted of distributing illegal drugs get cleared by the Commander In Chief? That’s just what we were wondering. Unfortunately, the White House offered no elaboration on President Obama’s second round of pardons since taking office. (more…)


Teen Pot Use Leads to Psychotic Symptoms Later

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Teen Pot Use Leads to Psychotic Symptoms LaterA new study points to ongoing issues from early marijuana use.

It’s often thought of as a little harmless experimentation. Everyone does it, right? Even the current and former presidents have admitted to smoking pot. But a new Dutch study shows that smoking marijuana as a teenager or young adult raises your risk of having psychotic symptoms later in life.

Researchers found that those who started smoking pot had double the risk of developing psychotic symptoms, according to a recent report in USA Today.

“This cements much more firmly the reality that marijuana use in adolescence is a risk factor, along with the other genetic, environmental and socioeconomic risk factors, for developing psychosis,” said Dr. Kathryn Kotrla, associate dean and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine in Round Rock. (more…)


Drugs as Tourist Attraction

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Drugs as Tourist Attraction in AmsterdamThe Dutch government is cracking down on those who travel to Amsterdam to take advantage of lax drug laws and the area’s coffeehouse culture.

After decades of earning a reputation for easily accessible drugs, the Dutch Minister for Security and Justice just confirmed a crack down on tourists flocking to coffee shops to buy pot and other drugs. Currently, cannabis and hash are sold legally in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands has long been known for its liberal soft drug policies, allowing a tourist trade to be created around Amsterdam’s coffee shop culture. While drug tourism is concentrated in Amsterdam, the problem is found throughout Holland. Recently though, some border cities have been cracking down. (more…)


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