Cannibis report

[Ripsnort]

Regular cannabis users 'at greater risk of mental illness'

Regular cannabis users are at greater risk of developing mental illness later in life, according to research.

One study found that the risk was seven times higher for heavy users, said Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry in London.

Speaking at the Royal College of Psychiatrists' annual conference in Edinburgh, he said: "In the last 18 months a number of studies have confirmed that cannabis consumption acts to increase later risk of schizophrenia. This research must not be ignored."

The findings come as the Government prepares to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to Class C drug next year.

Most people caught in possession of a small amount will have the drugs confiscated and receive a reprimand or warning, the Home Office has said.

According to a Government fact sheet, cannabis "can cause psychotic reactions amongst individuals with mental health problems", but it does not suggest use of the drug can prompt those problems.

For his study, Professor Murray reviewed research in Sweden, Holland and New Zealand.

A recent Dutch study of 4,000 people in the general population showed that those taking large amounts of cannabis were almost seven times more likely to have psychotic symptoms three years later.

Another study, in 1987, of 50,000 Swedish Army conscripts, found that those who admitted at age 18 to having taken cannabis on more than 50 occasions, were six times more likely to develop schizophrenia in the following 15 years.

Professor Murray said these findings had been largely ignored.

[Eagler]

this board is proof of that

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Eagler
this board is proof of that

Man, you were right on to that one like a fly to ****t!

[funkedup]

Or it could be that crazy people are just more likely to try weed.

[john9001]

Doctor:: your in denial

Patient:: no i'm not

[Furious]

So?

[Frogm4n]

two can play this game riptard

this is from reuters
link:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=OZ5RVDRLAGNBACRBAEZSFEY?type=scienceNews&storyID=2998963

Study: Brain Not Permanently Damaged by Marijuana
6/27/2003

 Researchers analyzing prior studies have found no evidence that smoking marijuana permanently damages the brain, Reuters reported June 27.

The University of California at San Diego (UCSD) study looked at the mental function of regular marijuana smokers when they were not high. They used 15 previously published studies on the impact of long-term marijuana use to reach their conclusions.

"The findings were kind of a surprise. One might have expected to see more impairment of higher mental function," said Dr. Igor Grant, a UCSD professor of psychiatry and lead author of the study.

While marijuana affects perception, the researchers determined that it has only a slight long-term damaging effect on learning and memory. The research showed no long-term effect on reaction time, attention, language, reasoning ability, and perceptual and motor skills.

The study's results could prove significant in the medical-marijuana debate. "If we barely find this tiny effect in long-term heavy users of cannabis, then we are unlikely to see deleterious side effects in individuals who receive cannabis for a short time in a medical setting," Grant said.

Anecdotal evidence suggests marijuana can alleviate pain or nausea in certain patients, though no controlled studies to date have demonstrated those effects. "If it turned out that new studies find that cannabis is helpful in treating some medical conditions, this enables us to see a marginal level of safety," Grant noted.

The reseachers also observed that heavy cannabis users often abuse other drugs and might incur long-term neurological damage from substances like alcohol or amphetamines.

Limitations in the analysis included the number of subjects in some of the studies analyzed, and inadequate information about factors like additional drug use in others.

The study's findings are published in the July 2003 issue of the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

[aztec]

Hehe

[Sabre]

Well, Frog, the study Rip refers to didn't say the heavy weed whackers got dumber...just that they were more likely to develop schitozophrenia (spelling?).  Your study also notes a slight long-term damaging effect on learning and memory, and further notes that no scientific studies support the "ancedotal" evidence of the medical use of marijauna.  So, the conclusion is that it's proven to be potentially harmful, and to have no measurable benefit. I.e. it should remain illegal.  Thanks for your support.

Sabre

[SOB]

Marijuana is the root of all evil.  Anyone who has or does smoke it has or will end up a raving lunatic or social deviant.  We should execute anyone caught posessing it.


SOB

[AWMac]

Huh?

[Frogm4n]

if you also notice it says that alcohol has more of an effect on long term health then cannibis. both should be legal for adults in america to consume in their homes.

[Furious]

Originally posted by Sabre
..., the conclusion is that it's proven to be potentially harmful, and to have no measurable benefit. I.e. it should remain illegal.  Thanks for your support.

Sabre

That might be the dumbest arguement I have ever heard.  

With your logic, most food additives should be illegal.


Thanks for your support.

[SOB]

While we're on this subject, do you all realise what Saturated Fats do to the body?!  And what about tobacco?  And hell, saccarin can cause cancer in lab rats!  It's time for the DEA to start raiding our local super markets, these "pushers" have been peddling their wares with impunity for far too long.


SOB

[Frogm4n]

SOB is right. those items have far more long term effects on humans then pot. time for a grass roots effort to ban everything!