Tweed Master

Okay, first off, I've searched for a good thread about this issue, and I haven't found one, so link me if I was blind (I said "good", that doesn't mean I haven't found any whatsoever)

I think that an entire thread should be dedicated to this subject because it is one of the main negatives effects I've heard people babble about. Even though it may not be one of the leading negative effects that scare people away (I said "may"), I think that it probably is heard often because it is easy to remember.

NOTE: I'm not saying these effects actually occur

Anyhow, I have been reading a lot about marijuana these days as I started recently, and I like to know about what I consume. It seems that everyone agrees that marijuana does not cause brain cells to be killed (advocates I mean). I've also read information that states the exact opposite (neuroprotection).

So, all of the adults I've spoken to who are drug free and such believe that marijuana does in fact kill brain cells. I can tell them that I do not believe such a thing, and that studies are inaccurate, off the wall etc...But I'm not a scientist, I haven't done experiments myself, and I most likely won't. I'm really stuck on what to do, because I can not give them a big speech about it, as I do not have such knowledge, yet. And even if I did, they would probably still believe what they've been led to believe no matter what. I just wish that someone would type out the ultimate report about marijuana and brain cells that dispproves this stupid propaganda. I will most likely look into this more using search engines, looking for different studies and so on, but who can you really believe??? I hate this madness. Someone help me, and let's make this thread thrive with powerful knowledge. A thread so good, no one will ever ask about marijuana and brain cells again, or atleast, nothing will have to be explained because you can link them here.

Oh, and one more thing, let's try to make this completely professional. In other words, newbies with no idea what they're talking about, step aside.

__________________

Ahhh...That sweet...sweet tweed.

Buzzby

Neuroprotection is a process in which marijuana prevents or slows neural damage in neurodegenerative diseases.(1) How is that the opposite of not causing damage to brain cells?

Cite your "evidence" that marijuana kills brain cells (not the opinions of "all of the adults I've spoken to who are drug free"; evidence) and I'll cite the studies which debunk it.

I advise you to chill out and stop worrying. Studies of long-term (decades) heavy (multiple times daily) marijuana users have shown no changes in brain structures. Any behavioral/cognitive changes in those studied reverted to normal within a month of beginning to abstain from its use.

People have been using marijuana for thousands of years. Don't you think someone would have noticed if it caused brain damage? They figured it out about alcohol pretty easily.

__________________

nerphroll

Searching through Medline, one can easily find many in-vitro experiments using cultured mouse neurons that show topicla application of large amounts of THC to be neurotoxic. But does this replicate true physiology? On the other hand, some studies support a neuroprotective role for neurons in that the THC acts as an antioxidant. Promising, but again, to be completely unbiased, realize these are in vitro experiments in which pharmacological, not physiological, doses of THC are used. To date there is no good evidence to support marijuana use with either brain cell death or neuroprotection in primates or humans. Yet alcohol has fried the brains of thousands of old souls (and some youngsters too), while tobacco smoking has slowly suffocated these brains due to years of progressive cerebrovascular disease, or hey, a nice whopping heart attack every now and then causing complete brain anoxia for a while.
Trust me Tweed Master, pot is the least of your concerns. Just look at me...eleven years using and counting....and I'm normal!!