Greenbud

Marijuana Linked To Schizophrenia Symptoms
Newsday | Jamie Talan | June 16, 2004

Some people who smoke marijuana may experience fleeting symptoms of schizophrenia, a finding scientists say could provide clues to a biochemical trigger for the severe mental illness.

"It points us in a new direction," said Dr. D. Cyril D'Souza, associate professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, and lead author of the study in the June issue of Neuropsychopharmacology.

The main ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-THC, acts on the brain's cannabinoid receptors, named after the receptor's affinity for marijuana and the brain's natural THC-like compound called anandamide. D'Souza, a schizophrenia researcher, and his colleagues knew amphetamines induced temporary symptoms of schizophrenia and wondered whether delta-9-THC would have similar effects.

Amphetamines activate a brain chemical called dopamine, higher levels of which are linked to schizophrenia symptoms. D'Souza's team recruited 22 volunteers with no history of schizophrenia. They delivered two dosages of THC intravenously on three occasions and looked for behavioral, cognitive and endocrine changes.

The dose was equivalent to smoking a half to two marijuana cigarettes.

Most volunteers on the higher dose reported schizophrenia-like symptoms, which lasted about an hour. They included the classic hallucinations and delusions, and also absence of speech and lack of motivation. They also complained of attention and memory difficulties.

[Greenbudnote: Duh! They were high!]

"The findings provide a hint that marijuana could possibly create other problems," said Michael Kuhar, a professor of neuropharmacology at Emory University in Atlanta.

Several newly published epidemiological studies suggest marijuana and other drugs of abuse might trigger schizophrenia, given an underlying vulnerability. "Hopefully, others will try to replicate this study," Kuhar said. D'Souza said cannabinoid receptors seem to be in the same brain regions damaged in schizophrenia - the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

[Greenbudnote: Hopefully, others will replicate this study using actual marijuana since the substance they injected into these folks was most certainly synthetic THC. I don't know why these researchers can't figure out that real pot, with all of its hundreds of compounds, and pure synthetic THC are not the same thing? Comparing synthetic THC to marijuana is like comparing saccharin to sugar cane.]

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"I believe in the near future, the government will use anti-drug hysteria to set up a police state."
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StewScum

I can sort of understand where they are coming from in this article, even if they were using synthetic THC. I suppose one can assume that when a person is high, and their mind is altered then it is a form of schizophrenia. Now, i wouldn't go and say that marijuana makes someone talk to imaginary rabbits or something, but I can see how someone who has never been high before may describe the feeling of getting high as mind altering. It is. Thats why people get high because it alters your perceptions or "expands your mind".

I always thought schizophrenia was when someone just had multiple personalities or something, but i don't think this study puts marijuana use anywhere near causing insanity.


Also,
The study says they gave them enough THC to equal half a joint, uh, i don't know about some of you but i don't think i would get that stoned off of half a J.

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iGame3D

I've had a long conversation with the voices in my head and they all say this is bunk research, right from the start the scientists say may and could, with no conclusive evidence.

The voices in my head are never wrong, and they won't tell where the bodies are.

Arise -SWS-

This whole article reeks of cowsh-t. Point by point, because I'm stoned and this made me mad...

1) "...delta-9-THC, acts on the brain's cannabinoid receptors, named after the receptor's affinity for marijuana and the brain's natural THC-like compound called anandamide. D'Souza, a schizophrenia researcher, and his colleagues knew amphetamines induced temporary symptoms of schizophrenia and wondered whether delta-9-THC would have similar effects."

With this paragraph above, they attempt to equate cannabis with amphetamines. I think we all know there's a difference...

2) "Amphetamines activate a brain chemical called dopamine, higher levels of which are linked to schizophrenia symptoms."

Schizophrenia symptoms, not the disease itself. Think of it this way, if I started itching, developed a rash, and hives started popping up on my skin, you could say i experienced symptoms of genital herpes even though i really just walked through some poison ivy.

On a smaller note, drunk people exhibit symptoms of schizophrenia such as disorentation, moodswings, and compulsive behavior, yet no one has dared produce a study that links alcohol to schizophrenia.

3) "They delivered two dosages of THC intravenously on three occasions and looked for behavioral, cognitive and endocrine changes."

Everyone in here, raise your hands if you've ever injected THC into your arm... *no hands go up* Thank you. If you wanna replicate how marijuana actually acts on the majority of people, you've gotta replicate the method majority of people use it- BY SMOKING IT!!! Give 'em a bong and a fat sack of green, not a needle.

4) "They included the classic hallucinations and delusions, and also absence of speech and lack of motivation. They also complained of attention and memory difficulties."

Is it me or did they exxagerate these a bit? I'd also like to hear exactly what the subjects said, and not the re-wording of their symptoms into DARE-talk. And there we go again with the "amotivational syndrome" BS. Since when could you not form a sentence while stoned? Also, at higher doses (2 joints) it's no wonder people experienced a lack of motivation... you could burn out just about anyone with two joints...

5) "Several newly published epidemiological studies suggest marijuana and other drugs of abuse might trigger schizophrenia, given an underlying vulnerability."

Actually, experimental research is the only way to scientifically prove anything, so no, what these studies suggest is baseless. I could do an epidemiological study right now. My study suggests that because so many Blacks are in jail, the propensity to commit criminal acts is triggered by the amount of melanin in your skin. The darker you are, the more likely you are to commit a crime. Of course we all know this is nonsense, yet switch the topic to drugs and suddenly everyone believes it. How about another study... 100% of people who drink water, die.

Another thing to note is that quote #5 is precisely like saying walking through a patch of poison ivy may trigger genital herpes because their symptoms are so similar.

I think that I've pretty much proven this article is totally ridiculous and the study was yet another waste of money to "prove" cannabis is dangerous and therefore deserving of being lumped in with hard drugs. How much do you want to bet this study was funded by NIDA?

georgesoilis

The American administration leads the way ,and then the scientists follow ...
If you want to have people under your total control ,there is an unmistakable way to achieve it:
First you spread lies as information that have some significance.
Then you produce from some college you set up ,"specialists" on whatever the subject you need to pervert is...
Then all you need is put these clowns to do your propaganda for you.
The result is fearfull people,who are too scared to even breathe.
This is america today.So it is not surprising that the "specialists " try now to prove theunprovable.
Yes if you can not disprove wat they say it becomes truth.
This is the perverted way the few run our world.Are you paying attention here?
SWo dont evn bother to enter this discussion,if you can not prove that ganza is not dangerous ffor the humans,the animals,the outerspace aliens,then you have lost the case before you even start to argue it.
Sorry ,this is how things are today in our beutifull world.
On the other hand you cn just dismiss the comments and stop reproducing them ,so that the lies stop spreading.
This is what we have to do,together with our attempt to ban all religions everywhere.Then humans will be free for ever,from the fat bastards who opress,abuse,torture,discriminate,and at the end of the day thy dont een need to be here.we dont need them,they need us.RThey need you to work in their factories so they will get richer.So if you stop working for them you won.Do it today.You will be better off on benefits from the US of A...I hope.(tyo behonest i dont know for sure if the poor get any help in america.Here in UK we still have benefits for all unemployed and poor.So do you have a chance to get out of the abuse opressuion system?
Or do you have to continue serving the rich ,in exchange for breadcrumbs.
You should think of yourself a lot better,you deserve more than whast the rich alow you to take.
So if you think all the above make sense,you know what to do.stop the system from running our lives.Exit the system and klet the rich try and run it by themslves.
Lets laugh.....

WNB

How vague is that. Schizophrenia has many, many symptoms, most of which do not include talking to walls. If you pull an average person off the street, chances are THEY exhibit some symptoms of schizophrenia. I ****ing hate how the professional liars who write these articles word their statements in a way designed to misslead people, and make things sound much worse than they actually are.


So does alcohol cause schizophrenia too?

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Freedom is Slavery
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brownie

Don't tell the government that, they might try to make that illegal too!

LOL
brownie

PsYch0siS

I'm sorry. This just doesn't have enough big, misleading words to mean anything to me.

"Recent studies indicate that when people consume H2O, commonly called water, through a process called hydration, the body is forced to process said water.

The end result of this process causes the body to excrete vast amounts of yellow fluid. (In other studies, this fluid has been found to stain "snow," another form of "water," proving that H2O is dangerous even to itself.)

Then, you die."

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I Toke and I Vote!

iGame3D

There is actually a website out there somewhere thats says H20 Kills, and people fell for it.

AhA Here it is Funny as hell!

I cracked up so hard at the "100% of people who drink water, die!".

Gentle Giant

News Flash!!!! Marijuana researchers has found that people working for the FBI, DEA, State/Local Law Enforcement, HHS, NIDA, Congress, and Presidents, may have developed schizophrenia.