Does weed hinder brain function and growth?

[TechBoyJK]

Does weed hinder brain function and growth?

Engaged in a facebook debate with some people that happily drink and get drunk but think weed is the devil because it hinders brain function and growth.

 

[scott916]

I'm sure it's certainly not beneficial for people who are in their teens, but I doubt it has a quantifiable effect on brain function in adults.

 

[slackerinabox]

Does weed hinder brain function and growth?

Engaged in a facebook debate with some people that happily drink and get drunk but think weed is the devil because it hinders brain function and growth.

I would google some statistics, but I don't really need my I.T. department to know that I'm a bit of a stoner.

Weed is definitely the lesser evil... Alcohol kills brain cells, damages your liver, and makes men dance... TERRIFYING!

 

[mesthead21]

These threads always go over well

 

[gorcorps]

anything burning will fuck up your lungs and can stunt development during young ages, but as an adult it causes less issues than say alcohol

 

[joesmoke]

id say yes if you were to change "hinders brain growth" to "does not inspire productive activity"

 

[polarmystery]

anything burning will fuck up your lungs and can stunt development during young ages, but as an adult it causes less issues than say alcohol

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090202175105.htm

 

[brblx]

weed mostly impairs memory.

so yes, you could say it hinders brain function. but it doesn't really make you dumber, which i'm sure binge drinking will.

anyone who thinks weed is worse than alcohol is probably already mildly retarded.

 

[techs]

Uh, yeah, I think, maybe. Uh, what was the question again?

 

[rudder]

Sure it does. Alcohol is more toxic to the body though. Ask him to send a link from a news story about someone OD'ing from marijuana use.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

define growth? and are you talking permanently?

 

[hanoverphist]

I would google some statistics, but I don't really need my I.T. department to know that I'm a bit of a stoner.

Weed is definitely the lesser evil... Alcohol kills brain cells, damages your liver, and makes men dance... TERRIFYING!

dont forget the karaoke effect. you never see a group of stoners sitting around singing along to a soundtrack. 😀

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

It certainly made me feel dumb after several months of use, but that seemed to correct itself when I quit.

 

[Ausm]

Maybe that's why I was only 4 feet tall in High School?

 

[BW86]

no, now go smoke a joint

 

[frostedflakes]

I thought alcohol had effects on brain development as well. That was one of the justifications behind getting the drinking age raised to 21 IIRC, along with reducing drunk driving fatalities.

edit: It looks like MADD did use this argument, but doesn't seem like the science supports it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers_Against_Drunk_Driving#Minimum_drinking_age_laws

 

[slackerinabox]

dont forget the karaoke effect. you never see a group of stoners sitting around singing along to a soundtrack. 😀

Well, Guitar Hero is AWESOME high... Maybe I need to buy a karaoke machine...

 

[SlitheryDee]

I think it can hinder neural growth in developmental years. It also hinders brain function every time you smoke it, but that's part of the fun. I believe that if a healthy adult smokes in moderation, even if they do it as often as once every day, there are no discernible residual effects during the time period that they are technically "sober".

 

[IGBT]

the desire to intoxicate is an indicator of a problem. dope and other intoxicants fuel the disease.

 

[slackerinabox]

the desire to intoxicate is an indicator of a problem. dope and other intoxicants fuel the disease.

ok there, grand pa.. i mean, grand ma.

 

[ShawnD1]

ok there, grand pa.. i mean, grand ma.

Actually he's right. Drug abuse is often an indicator of medical problems.

Smoking among schizophrenics is 3x higher than the average population

Correlation between drug abuse and mental illness

 

[Red Squirrel]

Weed is not any worse then alcohol. Both, if done occasionally wont really harm you, both, if done too much, will harm you.

 

[PimpJuice]

I know stoner's who are quite smart.......but almost all of them are underachieving losers.

 

[slackerinabox]

Actually he's right. Drug abuse is often an indicator of medical problems.

Smoking among schizophrenics is 3x higher than the average population

Correlation between drug abuse and mental illness

Who defines "abuse?" What if you enjoy the occasional bong hit and lead a perfectly healthy, tax-paying life? Is that abuse? Is a glass of wine with dinner abuse?

I'm not saying anyone should ABUSE drugs of any kind, but pot in moderation can be a fun, relatively safe recreational tool.


Also, your links are about tobacco and "drugs," not marijuana in particular.

 

[SlitheryDee]

the desire to intoxicate is an indicator of a problem. dope and other intoxicants fuel the disease.

Human beings are too intelligent. We're an aberration. Mental activity on such a high level is stressful. We can handle it if we must, but being able to tone it down at times is a sweet relief. The desire to intoxicate is indeed a indicator of a problem; the problem of humanity maintaining a face of civility while being forced to constantly act against its desires. Everyone intoxicates to relieve this pressure, they just don't all do it out of a bottle or in a cloud of smoke. All that is necessary is to put ones-self in an environment and state of mind where it is forgivable to not act "just so". See the shenanigans people get up to in some more spirited church sermons and other similar events for example.