NORML: ‘Stoner Stupid’ Myth Goes Up In Smoke

[marmar]

‘Stoner Stupid’ Myth Goes Up In Smoke
Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:49:56

By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director


The consumption of cannabis, even long-term, poses few adverse effects on cognitive performance, according to clinical trial data to be published in the scientific journal Addiction.

Investigators at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University, Center for Mental Health Research assessed the impact of cannabis use on various measures of memory and intelligence in over 2,000 self-identified marijuana consumers and non-users over an eight-year period. Among cannabis consumers, subjects were grouped into the following categories: ‘heavy’ (once a week or more) users, ‘light’ users, ‘former heavy’ users, ‘former light’ users, and ‘always former’ — a category that consisted of respondents who had ceased using marijuana prior to their entry into the study.

Researchers reported: “Only with respect to the immediate recall measure was there evidence of an improved performance associated with sustained abstinence from cannabis, with outcomes similar to those who had never used cannabis at the end point. On the remaining cognitive measures, after controlling for education and other characteristics, there were no significant differences associated with cannabis consumption.”

They concluded, “Therefore, the adverse impacts of cannabis use on cognitive functions either appear to be related to pre-existing factors or are reversible in this community cohort even after potentially extended periods of use.” .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blog.norml.org/2011/07/27/stonet-stupid-myth-goes-up-in-smoke/

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. I'll light a pipe to that one

just to get me through the pain.


That includes the physical and the intellectual pain
of our realities.

[cyberpj]

22. " ‘heavy’ (once a week or more) users" - Really? That "or more" is a huge group. Most stoners smoke

daily if not multiple times per day. At least that's been my experience Dude.

[Warpy]

2. The only thing I ever noticed with ultra heavy users

(and I mean users who spent most of their waking hours stoned, not just once a day tokers) was a time lag. That means there was time between asking them a question and when it would register enough for them to respond. Even then it wasn't universal nor was it a huge problem, just a noticeable difference.

I also knew cutting edge hard science types who fit the NORML definition of heavy users. If they were impaired by it, perhaps we need to consider impairing the rest of the population to catch up to them.

I'm glad this study has been done. It's about time.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. ' It's about time.'

Time perception is an important aspect
that many studies have tried to look at.


Many of the quantum physicists that rocked the science world
in the 60s and 70s used illegal substances that raised consciousness.

The discover of DNA..... did ACID.

[Exultant Democracy]

17. The only consistent trend I notices was heavy users who mix it with other medication

anti-depressants in particular. One or the other seems ok, but I've seen them basically erases people when mixed.

[formercia]

19. I know a 24/7 Stoner that made State Employee of the Year

He has severe Krohns and the weed is the only thing that keeps him functional.

All of this Reefer Madness Propaganda needs to be put to rest.

[Warpy]

21. The sooner the better

Like I said, the time lag is noticeable but it's not universal and I don't see it interfering with functional ability. Their other reflexes seemed to be just fine and yes, I did test them.

The fact that ultra heavy use has such a benign effect on a person leads me to want total decriminalization, period.

[anarch]

3. sadly, the prohibition of cannabis has nothing to do with science or logic

This sort of study will have no effect on the bizarre, misguided moralistic values of many of our legislators.

[L0oniX]

4. Carl Sagan = pot smoker

Carl Edward Sagan (English pronunciation: /ˈseɪɡən/) (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer, and science communicator in the space and natural sciences. During his lifetime, he published more than 600 scientific papers and popular articles and was author, co-author, or editor of more than 20 books. In his works, he advocated skeptical inquiry and the scientific method. He pioneered exobiology and promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

Sagan became world-famous for his popular science books and for the award-winning 1980 television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, which he narrated and co-wrote.<2> A book to accompany the program was also published. Sagan also wrote the novel Contact, the basis for the 1997 film of the same name.

[Uben]

5. It has been at the root of all my problems......

It started 40 yrs ago when I was sixteen. I took the plunge and took a few hits off a Hooka at a party. It's been all downhill since then. Despite having never been arrested or ever having any problems with law enforcement, despite being a straight A student in school, despite being a successful business person and retiring at a very early age, it has ......hold it....WTF?


One of these days I'm gonna quit and see how much better things get.

[shanti]

14. heard that!

:smoke:

[mike_c]

7. I am a full professor of zoology, a research biologist, and a lifelong stoner....

Adverse impacts on cognitive function my ass.

[GliderGuider]

9. +100 - Good on ya, Doc!

Uh, what did you say you did, again? :hippie:

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. I like my beer but it doesn't open Neural Pathways

as science has proven like the other stuff.

Pain Pathways are different too I've found with Alcohol being more singular vs the Multi dimensional
aspect of the other.

To me, as a educated social scientist with a BA in political science and a Masters in Special Education, the observations of humanity's
use of drugs, be them, natural from the earth, over the counter, etc. effects society.

I saw a lot when I taught at a residential center
for moderate to severe behavioral youths
and the drugs they were forced to take.
I'm still processing that data.


BTW.. Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane was gonna
give Nixon a tab of LSD but....

look it up on Wikipedia.

To Sum up.... Everything in moderation
except.... politics...and DU.....LOL

[ixion]

13. I'm a senior software engineer and lifelong smoker

and I agree with your sentiment.

[tabasco]

8. K&R

:kick:

[seabeyond]

10. my experience. study for a test stoned, take the test stoned.

can find the info that way

[Exultant Democracy]

18. and drop acid for any advanced math. We had a few wild-childs in my higschool calc class

and yes we crushed the AP.

[seabeyond]

20. damn. is that what i needed to pass that statistics class, lol. i hate math

what made me run away from college.

i will let my boys know. they are challenged by math, too. though kick ass on the other subjects.

i tease

on the telling them to drop acid, lol

[rucky]

11. What was the middle part, again?

:smoke:

[DainBramaged]

15. What.............

:smoke:

[Uncle Joe]

16. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[hifiguy]

23. I smoked on a daily basis for years before I went to college

and smoked every weekend all through college and law school. Graduated from college summa cum laude and from law school with a B+ average. :smoke: