Long-term effects of marijuana discovered

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

For years, no long-term studies have been undertaken to determine if marijuana actually has long-term side effects. Many users have claimed that there are no side effects to marijuana smoking.

 

Now those users have been proven wrong. A study of marijuana users vs. a control group found that use of marijuana gradually lowers learning abilities and impairs memory. The effects aren't drastic, but they were enough to make one of the reasearchers state, "It definitely fogs your brain."

 

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8839

[jeskill]

For years' date=' no long-term studies have been undertaken to determine if marijuana actually has long-term side effects. Many users have claimed that there are no side effects, and that marijuana really isn't addictive.

 

Now those users have been proven wrong. A study of marijuana users vs. a control group found that use of marijuana gradually lowers learning abilities and impairs memory. The effects aren't drastic, but they were enough to make one of the reasearchers state, "It definitely fogs your brain."

 

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8839[/quote']

 

The users have possibly been proven wrong that there are no long-term side effects, but you're extrapolating that this study also shows marijuana is addictive (and I'm assuming you mean physically, not psychologically addictive), when it says no such thing. Also, "fogging the brain" is different than causing irreversible brain damage. It will be interesting to see if there is irreversible damage to memory.

 

But really, does anyone actually think that marijuana helps their memory? I've never heard anyone saying, "oh gotta go smoke some weed before I study for my test!". Maybe I just hang out with the wrong people.

[ecoli]

Many users have claimed that there are no side effects, and that marijuana really isn't addictive

as jeskill says, the article doesn't refute that, or agree with it.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Well, it states that there are side effects, but nothing about addiction.

 

Edited post for clarity.

[bascule]

It most certainly changes the way you think. Whether the effects are beneficial or deleterious depends greatly upon your neurophysiology...

[Xyph]

I think they should have waited a bit longer before attempting a study like this.

 

24 hours isn't nearly enough time, IMO, to be sure that there are no lingering effects from the drug, and by publishing too early for any long-term effects to be determined they're potentially just providing more fuel for politically biased misinformation campaigns. It wouldn't hurt to exercise more caution when dealing with such polarised issues.