Study shows Marijuana increases brain cell growth

I found this on Digg.

http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2005...ue9/ne-mj.html

"The researchers found that rats treated with HU-210 on a regular basis showed neurogenesis — the growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus."

The hippocampus - mainly known for long term memory.

They used it on rats, and state:
“That does not mean that general use in healthy people is beneficial,” said Memorial psychology professor William McKim. “We need to learn if this happens in humans, whether this is useful in healthy people, and whether THC causes it as well.”

They also state "that marijuana disrupts memory and cognition. “These effects can be long-lasting after heavy use,” he said. “This makes it difficult to succeed academically if you use it excessively.”

Then again, you have state-dependant learning...smoke weed and study, smoke weed and take the test!

What do you guys think?

I always defend marijuana to the best of my ability, but I can't lie. When I smoke more often, my memory does get worse. A lot worse if I smoke a lot.

But I do smoke a lot more than the average person. So who knows.

No offense, but a lot of people I know who smoke pot regularly became extremely dull, not witty.

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Originally Posted by blahaha

I always defend marijuana to the best of my ability, but I can't lie. When I smoke more often, my memory does get worse. A lot worse if I smoke a lot.

But I do smoke a lot more than the average person. So who knows.

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Ditto. I am in and out with phases. I know that my phases where I go weeks or months without marijuana are the phases where I am very noticeably more clear headed. But I also am no expert at moderation. Once I open the door, I binge for a while, but I only do it all day when I have nothing I have to do. It is just that I always make time once I've covered my responsibilities for the day. I have been off the stuff since New Year's Eve, and I am already noticing a big difference.

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Originally Posted by Spartiate

No offense, but a lot of people I know who smoke pot regularly became extremely dull, not witty.

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The funniest people I know are regular stoners... That whole myth about getting stoned makes you dull and shit, I say is false. I don't possibly see how it can make you dull. Even my best friend's girlfriend who smokes very rarely isn't dull when she's high. If anything it might make you funnier.

When you get high and do something you haven't done high before, you won't be as good as you usually are. After you get used to it, you'll be able to do things as if you were sober. Weed is a big part of my life. Without it, it's hard for me to socialize and it does help with depression. I can talk to anyone, take tests, work, and stuff like that just fine when I'm high. The only way people will know I'm high is if they look at my eyes, haha.

Everyone reacts differently to drugs. It can make some people dull and shit. That's no reason to hate it.

Gotta go family emergency.

Link does not work for me.

However, I suspect that the increase in neuronal growth is incredibly statistically insignificant. (ie. .01% higher than normal neurogenesis)

Furthermore, after puberty, you cannot grow anymore brain cells. So I am really curious how they explain that one.

*While typing this, page finally loads... reviewing and will soon edit*

Problems with this:
- No references
- Not peer reviewed
- No publishment
- With the above considered, it already is not scientifically recognized, but let us continue.

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The team tested the effects of HU-210, a potent synthetic cannabinoid similar to a group of compounds found in marijuana. The synthetic version is about 100 times as powerful as THC, the high-inducing compound loved by recreational users.

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First and really the only major problem that needs addressing; HU-210 is not THC. They recognize this themselves here:

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“We need to learn if this happens in humans, whether this is useful in healthy people, and whether THC causes it as well.”

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Furthermore, they are not showing their methods or observatios. So, it could be any amount from 0.0000001% to 5% growth, etc. etc.

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Originally Posted by blahaha

The funniest people I know are regular stoners... That whole myth about getting stoned makes you dull and shit, I say is false. I don't possibly see how it can make you dull. Even my best friend's girlfriend who smokes very rarely isn't dull when she's high. If anything it might make you funnier.

When you get high and do something you haven't done high before, you won't be as good as you usually are. After you get used to it, you'll be able to do things as if you were sober. Weed is a big part of my life. Without it, it's hard for me to socialize and it does help with depression. I can talk to anyone, take tests, work, and stuff like that just fine when I'm high. The only way people will know I'm high is if they look at my eyes, haha.

Everyone reacts differently to drugs. It can make some people dull and shit. That's no reason to hate it.

Gotta go family emergency.

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I'm sure it can make you quite funny, a lot of stoners are easy-going and relaxed, but I've never seen anyone act like they've benefited intellectually from pot. At my old high school, you could easily tell who the potheads were because they were the ones who would walk around the halls with their mouths open. This isn't about hating drugs, more of an observation I've made.

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Originally Posted by Spartiate

I'm sure it can make you quite funny, a lot of stoners are easy-going and relaxed, but I've never seen anyone act like they've benefited intellectually from pot. At my old high school, you could easily tell who the potheads were because they were the ones who would walk around the halls with their mouths open. This isn't about hating drugs, more of an observation I've made.

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Oh, I see. I've witnessed it myself in school. It's easy to overdo it in school (peer pressure and whatnot) and do too much to where you're like that. People around 18-20 years old like me are usually more mature, physically and mentally. Don't get me wrong, I have been so high I let my mouth hang open. :P

The only time I get all zombie-like is when I smoke down for a few days in a row. Smokin down is what we call it when you smoke a lot around here.

(by the way, if anyone was interested, the family emergency is alright. my idiot stepdad took too many muscle relaxers :?)

I actually think I've benefitted intellectually from weed. Don't ask me how. It was ecstasy that messed my brain up a bit (but I haven't touched that since grade 10).

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Originally Posted by b12

"The researchers found that rats treated with HU-210 on a regular basis showed neurogenesis — the growth of new brain cells in the hippocampus."

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I was looking for a reason to start smoking again!

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Originally Posted by CoLd BlooDed

I actually think I've benefitted intellectually from weed. Don't ask me how. It was ecstasy that messed my brain up a bit (but I haven't touched that since grade 10).

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While we're on the subject of getting rats stoned, ecstasy has been show to kill the serotonin producing cells in the brains or rats.

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Originally Posted by The Cusp

While we're on the subject of getting rats stoned, ecstasy has been show to kill the serotonin producing cells in the brains or rats.

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Edit; I realized you meant the drug, not actual ecstacy... sorry.. lol

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Extacy is pretty toxic so it doesn't surprise me a bit. From the days I've experimented with Extacy I remember that the days after I felt very dull, depressed/sad and guilty. This is because Extacy makes your Pineal Gland release all it's Serotonin in 4 to 6 hours: hence the Euphoriant effects and the depression that follows afterwards: Your Serotonin is totally expired and takes some time to build up a new, healthy level again.

It is known to make people Emotionally instable when used over extended periods of time.

And weed isn't called a prophetic, insightfull, Intellectual herb by so many for no reason. This research seems back it up a bit.

I've been edge for a little while now, but before hand when I smoked pot my memory got real shoddy. Dream recall suffered a hit too. I do wish I had tried LSD though, eh, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.