[DougF]

Welcome raghu,
glad to someone new in the group,

First I would like to say that orbsycli is on walk about and we may not hear from him for a spell,

raghu,
Quite a lively discussion going on here on the side-effects of MJ !
I'm afraid, that's not a convincing argument in favor of MJ.
A recent study about the schizo-MJ connection states that even a single dose of MJ increases the risk of schizo by 40%.

That's quite a huge risk, and can't just be waived away into smoke...just like that !

Surely you won't argue about the potential hazards of radiation, on actively dividing cells of our body, considering that each one of us here does carry a bundle of proto-oncogenes, which are capable of triggering off tumor growth at the drop of the hat!
(Note: don't take the metaphor too literally !)

second I know you can't post links yet (need 10 post) but I looked for the reference and couldn't find the article or related information as to the "schizo-MJ connection" if you could please tell us the link as I would very much like to read this, Thank you.

Schizophrenia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[raghu]

Originally Posted by DougF

Welcome raghu,
glad to someone new in the group,

First I would like to say that orbsycli is on walk about and we may not hear from him for a spell,



second I know you can't post links yet (need 10 post) but I looked for the reference and couldn't find the article or related information as to the "schizo-MJ connection" if you could please tell us the link as I would very much like to read this, Thank you.

1.Thanks man for the warm welcome.

2. Is he on a trek/hike/ sojourn?? I'll be missing him & his quick witted replies, that's for sure!

3. The statement was published by a daily newspaper citing the jornal
'Lancet' as its source. (in the month of July)
Sorry, but can't verify it for you, because I haven't subscribed for that jornal. But, I think it is this :

Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review
Theresa HM Moore, Stanley Zammit, Anne Lingford-Hughes, Thomas RE Barnes, Peter B Jones, Margaret Burke, Glyn LewisThe Lancet - Vol. 370, Issue 9584, 28 July 2007, Pages 319-328

[DougF]

raghu
Sorry, but can't verify it for you, because I haven't subscribed for that jornal. But, I think it is this :

Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review
Theresa HM Moore, Stanley Zammit, Anne Lingford-Hughes, Thomas RE Barnes, Peter B Jones, Margaret Burke, Glyn LewisThe Lancet - Vol. 370, Issue 9584, 28 July 2007, Pages 319-328

you were right on the money here is the link.

Translated version of http://www.lanutrition.fr/Le-cannabis-moins-inoffensif-qu-on-pouvait-le-penser-n-1756.html

The cannabis less inoffensive than one could think it
LaNutrition.fr, 31/07/2007


New studies highlight the health risks of a consumption of cannabis. Not only this last is particularly toxic for the lungs but in more it would increase the risks of schizophrenia.

The shit, a cool product? Not really to believe several public works of them recently in great scientific reviews… Last week, a Swiss study suggested a bond of cause for purpose between the fact of smoking of the cannabis and the appearance of schizophrenia. Two new studies have been just published on this psychosis and the cannabis. The first confirms the results of the Swiss study: it shows that the cannabis increases the risks of most fragile to rock towards schizophrenia. The second watch to smoke a joint is particularly harmful for pulmonary health. This would have as much effect than to smoke 2,5 to 5 cigarettes.

this says that the cannabis increases the risks of most fragile to rock towards schizophrenia.
does this mean already on the edge or what, it don't sound good though.
and look at the last line (that I highlighted)
Schizophrenia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Substance use
The relationship between schizophrenia and drug use is complex, meaning that a clear causal connection between drug use and schizophrenia has been difficult to tease apart. There is strong evidence that using certain drugs can trigger either the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in some people. It may also be the case, however, that people with schizophrenia use drugs to overcome negative feelings associated with both the commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication and the condition itself, where negative emotion, paranoia and anhedonia are all considered to be core features.[68] Amphetamines trigger the release of dopamine and excessive dopamine function is believed to be responsible for many symptoms of schizophrenia (known as the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia), amphetamines may worsen schizophrenia symptoms.[69] Schizophrenia can be triggered by heavy use of hallucinogenic or stimulant drugs.[70] There is evidence that cannabis use can contribute to schizophrenia.[71]

.
.
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[Michaelangelica]

Schizophrenia & Marijuana

At the population level, elimination of cannabis use would reduce the incidence of schizophrenia by approximately 8%, assuming a causal relationship.
Cannabis use appears to be neither a sufficient nor a necessary cause for psychosis.
It is a component cause, part of a complex constellation of factors leading to psychosis.

Causal association between cannabis and psychosis:...[Br J Psychiatry. 2004] - PubMed Result

From my very casual reading, of the often popular press, the problem seems to be with adolescents. Something about the brain being formed/changing at that time etc

Not many good studies and not much info on dose dependency effects to my knowledge.
Also what severity of conditions is displayed, length of illness etc?
Other drugs used /interactions ( alcohol, acid, meth, etc).?
Also which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Acid and amphetamines would be my first suspects for causing Schizophrenia . Acid (LSD) practically mimics the condition (along with Pellagra).

Schizophrenia is " commonish" amoung young adults.
Its not easy being a teen.

You could do a Goggle Scholar search, if your life is not too short.

[maikeru]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Indeed, much of this information is anecdotal. Even I, myself, have stories to tell where my memory wasn't specifically effected, but my ability to *recall* that memory definitely was. Memory is a complicated piece of our being, itself still being explored and our understanding increased.

snip...a bit too large for a simple reply.

Dude... where'd I leave my sunglasses?

Thanks much for the explanation of memory...such a complicated subject it is. Yes, so it would act on many regions of the brain and alter neurotransmitter levels and receptivity, etc. There are many foods or chemicals which do this, and marijuana is not really so different from those except in the effects of its chemical constituents and how they affect the body. Simple things like coffee, IIRC, seem to enhance memory by increasing blood flow, oxygen and nutrient uptake in the brain, causes dopamine levels to rise (which may be part of the reason coffee is so pleasurable), and increases plasticity and activity of certain neurons in the hippocampus and frontal neocortex. I think I read about those effects under caffeine and coffee on Wikipedia.

Before I go further on this and try to understand how marijuana might affect memory through its physiological and biochemical mechanisms, I'll buy a textbook on neuroscience and read it over the next few weeks to sharpen my knowledge of neuroscience in general. Time to stop saying I wish I knew more about neuroscience and actually go learn more about it.

Oh, and I took your sunglasses. You need look no further.

[DougF]

I found this link today and it doesn't sound for the home team.

1 pot joint as bad as 5 cigarettes - Addictions - MSNBC.com

Smoking marijuana damages lungs' airways, study finds
London - Smoking one cannabis joint is as harmful to a person’s lungs as having up to five cigarettes, according to research published on Tuesday.

Those who smoked cannabis damaged both the lungs’ small fine airways, used for transporting oxygen, and the large airways, which blocked air flow, the researchers said.

It meant cannabis smokers complained of wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness, the study by experts at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand found.

The researchers tested 339 people — those who smoked only cannabis, those who smoked tobacco, those who smoked both and non-smokers.

The study found only those who smoked tobacco suffered from the crippling lung disease emphysema, but cannabis use stopped the lungs working properly.

“The extent of this damage was directly related to the number of joints smoked, with higher consumption linked to greater incapacity,” said the authors of the report published in the medical journal Thorax.

“The effect on the lungs of each joint was equivalent to smoking between 2.5 and five cigarettes in one go.”

The British government is considering whether cannabis should be reclassified as a more serious drug because of the dangers associated with stronger strains.

The danger cannabis poses to respiratory health is consistently being overlooked,” said Helena Shovelton, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation.

“Smoking a joint is more harmful to the lungs than smoking a cigarette and we have just banned people from doing that in public places because of the health risks.”

Last week British researchers said using marijuana increased the risk of developing a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia.

Copyright 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

[Michaelangelica]

Compared to prescription and OCR drugs marijuana is probably about as dangerous as sugar.
Look up the deaths due to all three. (Adverse Drug Reactions ADRs =usually (euphemistically) = death)

Consequently very few medicines are effective for everyone, and it has been estimated that less than 20 % of the medication prescribed is effective.
On the other hand, many drugs may cause adverse drug reactions (ADR) leading in some cases to death. In the US alone more than 100.000 patients die because of ADR each year, thereby making ADR to the fourth leading cause of death, representing 5 % of all hospital admissions.

Pharmaco-Gendia | Pharmacogenetics
See also my posts on Adverse Drug Reactions in Darwin revisited.
Under Pharmacogenetics. I'd direct you too it but the Hypography search engine does not work for me.

Some late breaking canadian nes

Health Canada approves cannabis-derived pain drug

Updated Wed. Aug. 8 2007 8:31 AM ET

Canadian Press

TORONTO -- A cannabis-derived drug that's been on the market for two years in Canada to relieve pain in multiple sclerosis patients is now approved for use by certain patients with cancer.

Health Canada has approved Sativex as an added pain relief treatment for adults with advanced cancer who have moderate to severe pain when using the highest tolerated dose of strong opioid therapy, said a statement Tuesday from Bayer Inc.

Patients can self-administer Sativex by spraying it into the mouth - under the tongue or on the inside of the cheek.

CTV.ca | Health Canada approves cannabis-derived pain drug

[orbsycli]

Found an ad in the SF Metro:

[Michaelangelica]

here is your chance

PhD Scholarship - Cannabis use, memory function & brain imaging
Scholarship Description

Newly funded NHMRC project to be based at the Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, in collaboration with ORYGEN Research Centre, The University of Melbourne and The University of Wollongong. Full time PhD scholarship ($23,125 per annum) based in Melbourne available in the area of cannabis use, memory function and brain imaging (MRI) to commence in 2007 or 2008. Open to students who have acheived or expect to attain Honours 1 or equivalent. The student will work with an interdisciplinary research team in cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, substance use, & neuroimaging to investigate memory processes and brain function in adolescent and adult cannabis users. Please send applications, inclusive of academic transcript, to Dr Nadia Solowij. To be undertaken at The University of Melbourne.
Reference Number: 3234
Study Subject: Cannabis Use, Neuroimaging, Memory, Adolescence
Web Address: Home : Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre : The University of Melbourne
Provided By: The University of Melbourne, University of Wollongong.
Level: Post Graduate (Research)
Availability

This scholarship is offered to one person. Open for applications from August 10, 2007 until September 7, 2007.
Payment Information

The value of this scholarship is AUD23125 (total amount). This award is to be used for living expenses. This scholarship is paid monthly for the period of 3 years.
Research Information

This scholarship is for one of the following fields of research: BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES or MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES.
Eligibility

This scholarship requires you to have achieved Honours 1 or equivalent.
Application Details

To apply for this scholarship you must refer to scholarship description.
Main Contact
Dr Nadia Solowij (Lecturer / Research Fellow)
School of Psychology
Email: nadia@uow.edu.au
Address:
University of Wollongong
Wollongong
NSW, Australia
2522

[Moontanman]

Everyone wants to step on the grass, in these studies do they take into account that stronger marrijuania is smoked in much smaller amounts than tobacco or are they comparing equal weights of both? with really good pot and a good bong you can smoke as little as 1/4 the weight of a ciggarette and get all the pain relief you need. I've actually weighed the two and a cigarette is much bigger than the average joint or bong hit. a pack of cigarttes weigh at least an ounce and most people smoke two or more a day. a 1/8 ounce of cannibus can last two weeks if you don't stay stoned all the time. I know smoking isn't good for you if it's corn silk or loco weed but one thing is for sure. Cannbus isn't anywhere near as addictive as tobacco if it's addictive at all. I used to smoke quite heavily when I was young, I never noticed any lung problems and I ran several miles a day and scuba dived regularly. Of course i didn't smoke two ounces a day either.

Michael