Marijuana 101: Does Weed Kill Brain Cells

Every so often, someone will witness me continuously push on a door when it say “pull” or spend hours looking for my ATM card while it’s in my pocket, and they will refer to me as the stupidest smart person they’ve ever met. Inevitably, they’ll attribute it to the fact that I smoke marijuana. This sucks. The thought of destroying my mind doesn’t exactly appeal to me, especially since I happen to like my brain — and like everyone else on the planet, I think I’m pretty smart. But according to popular belief, weed makes you forgetful, lazy, apathetic, and, of course, it kills your brain cells. As a lover of marijuana, memory games, classic literature, and quantum physics, I beg to differ. I’m pretty sure that President Barack Obama, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, Sir Richard Branson, millionaire Ted Turner, novelist Stephen King and thousands of other smart, wildly successful potheads will back me up. In 1974, the idea that marijuana damaged you physiologically came to public attention when Robert G. Heath conducted an experiment at Tulane University in New Orleans, claiming that he had sufficient proof that weed killed brain cells. Heath attested that monkeys who were given the equivalent of 30 joints per day began to wither away and die after only 90 days. Autopsies done on the monkeys after the experiment confirmed severe loss of brain cells in comparison to the control group that were not exposed to marijuana. I know what you are thinking — how in the blazes do you get a monkey to smoke 30 joints in a row? Playboy Magazine had the same question, but it took them nearly 7 years of requesting and eventually suing under the Freedom of Information Act to get a straight answer about Heath’s procedures. When they finally found out what he was doing, things started to make a little more sense. The monkeys weren’t allowed to leisurely puff on 30 joints during the span of one day, but were strapped down to chairs with transparent, air-tight boxes attached to their heads, while smoke equivalent to 63 joints was pumped into the boxes for 5 minutes. No smoke left the boxes, and neither did any carbon monoxide. The monkeys were suffocating and dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, which accounted for all the dead brain cells found in the autopsies. Talk about twisting the facts to fit one’s own evil agenda. In 1991, Morgan and Zimmer conducted their own experiment to dispel the myth that marijuana causes the death of brain cells. They found that in order to achieve any damaging results from THC, patients would have to be given 200 times the psychoactive dose. In 1992, a study by William Slikker observed that monkeys who were given 4-5 joints per day over the course of a year also failed to show any sign of brain damage. A study done in 1991 by Dr. Robert Block found that frequent marijuana use does not cause any abnormalities in brain tissue or volume of gray or white matter. Despite the good news that weed isn’t killing our brain cells, it is clear in all of these studies that marijuana in high doses interferes with the user’s ability to transfer new information in to long-term memory. Still, there is no evidence anywhere that marijuana users suffer any brain damage or permanent structural damage. So while you may be able to smoke weed and build a nuclear warhead, you may waste some time searching for the safety goggles, which are precariously balanced on top of your head.

Marijuana 101: Indoor Vs. Outdoor

>Good Information to know for all patients and those who are interested on knowing how cannabis works!!! Enjoy!!!

Indoor versus outdoor strains and growing techniques are discussed as often as Indica versus Sativa in some circles. This is particularly true among those who grow plants for themselves or others in their care. Both types are viable options, however, there are differences to mull before choosing to go with an indoor or outdoor strain. Costs, security, and various quality considerations in the flowers themselves are serious factors a patient or a caregiver should be taking into account. The main differences are obvious as the plants grow to maturity. Outdoor strains typically grow in the earth or planter pots, while indoor strains can also grow in potted soil or any number of hydroponic growth systems that are readily available. For a novice grower working on a few plants, either option is fine so long as proper growth conditions can be maintained. A big factor to consider here is security. If you cannot put your outdoor garden somewhere inaccessible to the public, indoor is going to be the choice for you. For the new or casual patient, the biggest differences in indoor and outdoor weed tend to be related to price and quality. This can be a little tricky to navigate without some basic info. Indoor strains tend to be fairly uniform when grown correctly. If a patient is carefully medicating symptoms, this is probably desirable as the effect will be consistent time and time again. Outdoor strains can vary wildly in terms of potency and taste, as well as smoke texture due to varied conditions in weather and soil composition. The cannabinoids, active parts of the cannabis that affects the nervous system, can also vary a bit between the growth types. Indoor and outdoor pricing is also a little varied, at least in L.A. Generally, these price differences are minor, but they are worth noting for patients on a tight budget. Indoor plants tend to yield flowers more often, but in limited amounts due to space constraints, while outdoor plants produce larger blooms of varied quality. This can mean significant savings on your medicine when looking at outdoor options, particularly in ounce form as there is a higher volume of supply of outdoor marijuana available. Another factor to note is that indoor strains require more complex set up costs and typically deal with higher overhead in general. Lights, fans, nutrients, and water circulation systems all cost money in terms of power and operating costs, and this can make specialty indoor strains cost a bit more. This also adds a higher carbon footprint to indoor yields, something many eco-conscious patients might want to consider. Indoor strains are generally more controllable, leading to unique tastes and cannabinoid contents tailored and refined by the grower themselves. Outdoor strains pick up unique or exotic cannabinoids as well as flavor and color differences due to the soil and growth conditions; this can be very beneficial to patients who prefer varied intensities and types of medication. Indoor or outdoor, testing out a gram before buying an ounce is always advisable. When looking for savings in bulk, make sure the outdoor suits your needs and are taking care of your individual medicinal requirements. When growing, keep security, space, and budget in mind. Always check for rot, mold, and outside irritants, and check outdoor even more carefully.

The Stoner Experience: Anxiety and Weed

The Stoner Experience is a new column in which writers will offer their personal experiences with marijuana in the hopes of offering some insight into how weed affects people differently in various situations, and how it can also affect us all so similarly. It was a Friday night, it was summer, and the weather was a delightful 70 degrees or so. I had just smoked a few bowls with some friends at a party and felt stoned as hell. I was content for the moment until a drunk girl began talking to me. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I’m around drunk people and I’m not drunk, their behavior goes from annoying to frustrating quite quickly. In this particular scenario the girl talked without any break or pause and left no possibility for comment. What started happening in my head was regrettable. I suddenly became increasingly aware of myself, my palms began to sweat, and my heart began to palpitate. I was stuck talking to this girl and I didn’t have an opportunity to excuse myself without seeming rude. And, it was freaking me out. God knows it seems stupid now, but being rude to a friend of a friend seemed like social suicide at the time and I didn’t want to commit it. So, I began to panic. Ultimately, what I ended up doing was literally running away while she continued to discuss whatever it was that she was saying. That incident, along with a few others around the same time, caused me to blame the weed for my anxiety. Now, I had already been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and I knew that the weed had little to do with it, but I gave up my ten-year love affair with herb in the hope of releasing myself from some of this anxiety. Of course this hiatus didn’t last more than a year because, let’s face it, sometimes you just get bored and there’s nothing better to do than smoke a little weed. What I’ve found is that the paranoia people experience when on weed is amplified exponentially if you suffer from anxiety. While weed can have a calming and relaxing effect for some people, if you suffer from anxiety, it can work against you. I find that moderation is the key. I now only smoke two hits at a time. That way I get stoned but I don’t lose myself in paranoid thought or catastrophic thinking. Now, there are times where I still feel the cold sting of anxiety creep up on me while stoned but since I’m only a little bit high, I can justify the anxiety away without freaking out. If you find yourself having a full blown panic attack on weed, it can be damaging but try to remind yourself that you’re just high and that the high will wear off. If you find that every time you smoke you feel uncomfortable and you can’t control your own thoughts, you may want to think about moderating your intake. Do you suffer from anxiety and also enjoy marijuana? If so, please share your story below. Do you disagree and think that weed helps with your anxiety?

Exposing Marijuana Myths: A Review of the Scientific Evidence

A.Exposing Marijuana Myths: A Review of the Scientific Evidence B.Marijuana Use Is Increasing At An Alarming Rate C.Marijuana Potency Has Increased Substantially D.Marijuana Is A Drug Without Therapeutic Value E.Marijuana Causes Lung Disease F.Marijuana Impairs Immune System Functioning G.Marijuana Harms Sexual Maturation And Reproduction H.Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Harms The Fetus I.Marijuana Causes Brain Damage J.Marijuana Is An Addictive Drug K.Marijuana-Related Medical Emergencies Are Increasing L.Marijuana Produces Amotivational Syndrom M.Marijuana Is A Major Cause Of Highway Accidents N.Marijuana Is A “Gateway” Drug O.Dutch Marijuana Policy Has Been A Failure Introduction Since the 1920s, supporters of marijuana prohiion have exaggerated the drug’s dangers. In different eras, different claims have gained prominence, but few have ever been abandoned. Indeed, many of the “reefer madness” tales that were used to generate support for early anti-marijuana laws continue to appear in government and media reports today. For a while in the 1970s, it seemed as if scientific inquiries were beginning to influence the government’s marijuana policies. Following thorough reviews of the existing evidence by scholars 1 and official commissions, 2 criminal penalties for marijuana offenses were lessened and a number of states moved in the direction of decriminalization. 3 However, in response to lingering concerns about marijuana’s potential toxicity, the government expanded its funding of scientific research, mostly through the newly-created National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Probably the most important studies of the 1970s were three large “field studies” in Greece, Costa Rica and Jamaica. These studies, which evaluated the impact of marijuana on users in their natural environments, were supplemented by clinical examinations and laboratory experiments oriented toward answering the questions about marijuana that continued to be debated in the scientific literature. The data from these studies, published in numerous books and scholarly journals, covered such matters as marijuana’s effects on the brain, lungs, immune and reproductive systems, its impact on personality, development, and motivational states, and its addictive potential. 4 Although these studies did not answer all remaining questions about marijuana toxicity, they generally supported the idea that marijuana was a relatively safe drug—not totally free from potential harm, but unlikely to create serious harm for most individual users or society. In the years since, thousands of additional studies have been conducted, many of them funded by NIDA, and together they reaffirm marijuana’s substantial margin of safety. Our review of that body of work reveals an occasional study indicating greater toxicity than previously thought. But in nearly all such cases, the methodologies were seriously flawed and the findings could not be replicated by other researchers. Especially since the 1980s, when the federal government’s renewed war on cannabis began, both the funding of marijuana research and the dissemination of its findings have been highly politicized. Indeed, NIDA’s role seems to have become one of service to the War on Drugs. Dozens of claims of toxicity appear in its documents, despite the existence of scores of scientific studies refuting their validity. At the same time, studies that fail to find serious toxicity are ignored. In the following pages, we review the scientific evidence surrounding the most prominent of the anti-marijuana claims.

Sativa/Indica Good Information about the Cannabis that suits you!!!

There always seems to be a cloud of confusion surrounding the differences between sativas and indicas. It’s important for those who partake to understand the differences between the two types available because each will have it’s own unique effect on the user. It’s high time we clear the air. plants are short and compact, usually growing wider and rounder than plants. Indicas will give you a delicious body buzz, and will occasionally make you believe that you’ve turned into a cube of melting butter. Famous for their overwhelming sedative effects, indicas are the perpetrator of couchlock, a condition which makes removing oneself from soft and comfortable places next to impossible. Medically, indicas are useful for the treatment of chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Many people prefer to smoke indicas at night, and they are often used as a sleep-aid. Sativa plants are much taller, sometimes growing up to 25 feet. Because they have a higher THC content, sativa highs are cerebral, psychoactive, and may cause mild hallucinations. Many people prefer to smoke sativas during the day because the high is more uplifting and energizing. Sativas are often used medically for nerve-based pain, such as Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis. People who require something on a daily basis for pain management tend to prefer sativas because they are less likely to inhibit one’s ability to function in a work environment. As a pot smoker, I cannot stress the importance of choosing the correct type of marijuana to smoke in accordance with whatever activity you may have planned. For example, I like to smoke sativa before I go on long runs. Usually, smoking weed prior to a run energizes me and urges me to run faster. I get lost in a wonderfully hazy time-space continuum. A sativa high keeps my mind so engaged with the way the sunlight flickers on glass buildings and the symphonic sound of sprinkler heads tick-tick-ticking that the sheer discomfort of my feet relentlessly pounding against the pavement barely even registers. In fact, it feels good. That is the power of sativas. Once, before heading out on one of these runs, I smoked a bowl generously packed by my roommate, who smokes only indica. I should have known better than to stray from sativas for this activity, but I truly believed that I could compensate for any differences between the two types of weed through sheer force of will. Needless to say, after running only a mile, I felt an overpowering urge to lay in the cool shade of drooping tree boughs — to close my eyes and let the soft grass lull my body in a peaceful, gorgeous sleep. Next thing I knew, I found myself slowing to a stop as I passed a Sonic Drive-In, unable to fight the compulsion to order an Extra Large Cherry Cream Slush. I dragged my feet all the way home as I sucked down my sugary drink, thinking about nothing but the soft furry blanket on my couch that awaited my return. That is the power of indicas. So, if you’re in your cubicle, under a shower of fluorescent lights, with a huge stack of paperwork to sort through, don’t start your morning by smoking an indica. You run the risk of waking up in a puddle of your own drool with your boss staring down at you and your unfinished task, scowling. Instead, stay alert and smoke a sativa. On the other hand, if you are dog-tired and you want to zone out for a while, choose an indica and experience it’s melty gloriousness.

Deep Green Festival in the Bay Area

Second Annual Earth Day Celebration of Cannabis, Health, & Ecology with music by The Luminaries, The Dogon Lights, Jillian Ann, Señor Oz, DJ Feral, Chlorophil, more

Website: http://www.deepgreenfest.com

Price: $12-$25 for festival only, $40-$60 for conference, or $50-$75 for joint festival/conference tickets

Cannabis Facts

Marijuana

It's a plant, so it's natural, and natural is always good-right? Think again, because both natural and synthetic versions of marijuana can cause a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

AKA

Blunt, dope, ganja, grass, herb, joint, bud, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, green, trees, smoke, sinsemilla, skunk, weed, hash, tea, chronic, 420

What is it?

A green and brown mix of dried flowers, stems, seeds and leaves from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa.39 The main active chemical is THC (tretrahydrocannabinol), which moves quickly through the bloodstream to the brain and other organs throughout the body.39 Marijuana is a mild hallucinogen that can also act as a depressant or a stimulant.

The Risks

You may hear people ask, "If it's dangerous, why do so many people have medical marijuana cards?"40 It's true that scientists have determined that the cannabis plant has the potential for addressing a range of medical conditions. But it's also true that when you're young and your body is still growing, marijuana actually has the potential of inflicting a long-lasting, negative impact on your developing brain.

Using marijuana at a young age can result in structural and functional deficits of the brain. This could cause you to develop weakened verbal and communication skills, lowered learning capabilities and a shortened attention span.40

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

In addition to the possible effects on your brain, smoking marijuana may also be hazardous to your developing lungs. Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.41

You may have heard people argue that marijuana is a "gateway drug" to harder drug use. Some say this is a myth, others insist it is a fact. The truth is that there is a link. Research shows that the earlier you start using marijuana, the more likely you are to become dependent on it or other types of drugs later in life.42

THE BOTTOM LINE

Some movies and music make "stoner" culture seem cool, natural and like it's not a big deal. But if being fit and getting good grades are some of your goals, using marijuana can become a big deal, fast. Marijuana limits your brain's effectiveness, slows your thinking and impairs your coordination. A number of studies have also shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. 41

Keep supporting the Cause!!!

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Stay Open Despite Federal Deadline
Here today. And probably tomorrow.

On the day the federal government wished HopeNet to close, the operators of San Francisco's oldest licensed and taxpaying medical marijuana dispensary prepared accordingly: They grilled hot dogs.

"We made about 220," said Catherine Smith, whose Ninth Street medical cannabis dispensary is in line to be shut down by the federal Justice Department.

But for now, it's chow down -- and dispense medical marijuana. The wieners went to some of the people who were getting cannabis in flower, concentrate, and edible form until the dispensary closed at 9 p.m.

HopeNet was one of three dispensaries -- along with 208 Valencia Caregivers and Shambhala Healing Center on Mission Street -- whose landlords received warning letters from Melinda Haag, the United States Attorney for Northern California. Dated Feb. 21, the letters gave the landlords 45 days -- or until Friday, April 6 -- to shut the dispensaries down or face stiff prison terms and property forfeitures.

Thus far, Haag's office had been batting a perfect five-for-five in San Francisco. But while both HopeNet and Shambhala remained open on Friday (and 208 Valencia, we were told), the Justice Department's perfect streak might be coming to an end.

The letters sent to the landlords of Shambhala, 208 Valencia, and HopeNet -- private property-owners in Beverley Hills and San Francisco -- advise that the properties are housing pot clubs that are operating too close to schools or parks.

The fact that the pot clubs follow state and local medical marijuana law and zoning codes are irrelevant. Marijuana is illegal under federal law, the letters advise, and the proximity to areas where children play trigger stiff penalty enhancements.

Similar letters forced other dispensaries to shut down, including two in the Tenderloin, two in the Mission District, and one on Market Street, all since November. Similar actions by Haag's counterparts in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego have shut down hundreds of California medical marijuana dispensaries since a statewide crackdown was announced Oct. 7, 2011. In her office's sole interview since the crackdown began, Haag told California Watch's Michael Montgomery that she's "drawn a line" against dispensaries that operate near children.

But while both HopeNet and Shambhala remained open on the deadline date given in the letters, there may not be much reason to celebrate. Shambhala's landlord received a one-month extension from Haag's office so that the owner, Ebrahim Poura of Beverly Hills, can work out a deal to terminate the dispensary's "15-year lease," according to dispensary manager Al Shawa.

No such extensions were granted to the landlords of Medithrive, Divinity Tree Cooperative, Mr. Nice Guy, Sanctuary, or Market Street Cooperative. Then again, they might not have asked.

In HopeNet's case, landlord Clay Investments, LLC -- which is connected to a Marina District realty firm -- served its tenant eviction papers on Thursday, April 5, Smith said. The dispensary is held in a tenancy-in-common, and is trickier to evict than a property held by a sole owner. There's that, and there's also the possibility that the dispensary could win an eviction case.

While HopeNet and other San Francisco medical marijuana dispensaries were raided in the Bush era, the Justice Department's offensive has, to date, been raid-free. Last Monday's raid of Oaksterdam University in Oakland was led by agents from the Internal Revenue Service, which seized records, computers, and marijuana plants.

The IRS audited Oaksterdam founder Richard Lee and used a section of tax code called 280e -- which prevents businesses that sell illegal substances from claiming certain expenses on their federal taxes -- to put the de facto leader of the marijuana legalization movement out of business.

By contrast, eviction proceedings are held in state court, which recognizes California medical marijuana law. As long as the dispensary is not in violation of its lease, a Superior Court judge or jury may not be able to find a legal a reason to evict the dispensary.

That's the theory anyway. And since the dispensaries swear up and down that they're complying with every law except for the federal Controlled Substances Act, the theory is plausible.

Those keeping score at home may know that it's a legal loophole that didn't work in Marin County. Fairfax-based Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana briefly attempted to fight eviction proceedings filed by its landlord -- following the first steps for property forfeiture filed by Haag's office -- before shutting down and vacating.

So while a legal loophole may not be much, the lights are still on, marijuana's still being sold, and about 20 jobs are still intact. And that, at least, is something.

Follow us on Twitter at @TheSnitchSF and @SFWeekly

Updated Cannabis News

Rally Protests Federal Raid on Pot Trade School
Posted by CN Staff on April 04, 2012 at 06:52:44 PT
By Lee Romney, Joe Mozingo and John Hoeffel
Source: Los Angeles Times

San Francisco -- Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at City Hall here Tuesday to demand federal respect for state and local marijuana laws, a day after federal agents raided the state's first pot trade school and a related dispensary across the bay in Oakland.
The San Francisco rally and march to a nearby federal building was planned before Monday's raid. But the sweep on businesses owned by prominent marijuana activist Richard Lee emboldened protesters and brought denunciations from local officials and lawmakers in five states with medical cannabis laws.

Protesters heaped scorn on Melinda Haag, U.S. attorney for Northern California. "We are going to push back," Stephanie Tucker, a San Francisco activist with the Medical Cannabis Task Force, told the whooping crowd Tuesday. "We've had enough after the hostile attack yesterday in Oakland."

As Tucker led protesters in chants of "Our state. Our medicine. Our laws," Lee, a paraplegic, sat quietly in his wheelchair, surrounded by well-wishers.

Monday's federal search warrants targeted numerous properties, including Lee's dispensary, apartment and Oaksterdam University — which since 2007 has taught about the business, cultivation and laws of marijuana. No arrests were made as part of a joint investigation by the IRS and Drug Enforcement Administration. Both agencies have declined to comment, saying records are under seal.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said the raids caused her concern. "After the people of the state of California voted to make medicinal cannabis legal, thousands of small businesses have invested millions of dollars in building their businesses, created good-paying jobs and paid millions in taxes," she said in a statement. "The business owners are doing everything they can to comply with the law, and they deserve clarification."

She said she was working on several bills that would align federal law with state medical marijuana statutes.

Federal prosecutors have frequently targeted dispensaries that make profits, arguing that California law requires the stores to run as not-for-profit collectives. In practice, many make millions of dollars.

When Richard Lee spearheaded the legalization initiative, Proposition 19 in 2010, he said Oakland's ordinance and state law were ambiguous enough that he could make money. At the time, Oakland allowed individuals to own dispensaries but allowed only "reasonable compensation," not "excessive profits."

Arturo Sanchez, Oakland deputy city administrator, said he believed from a review of Lee's books that the compensation paid to staff and management was appropriate.

Lee has said he reinvests the income from his operations in efforts to mainstream marijuana. He spent $1.5 million to launch his campaign to pass the 2010 legalization measure.

By Tuesday, his Coffeeshop Blue Sky dispensary had reopened, thanks to emergency supplies from growers. The university is expected to reopen Wednesday.

"One way or another, Oaksterdam will live on," Lee said quietly at the rally.

Lee said the IRS had a heavy presence at the raid, "so I think it was about the money."

Lee's attorney, Laurence Jeffrey Lichter, said in a phone interview his client is in "complete compliance" with state and local laws. He pointed out that federal authorities have made evictions and applied economic pressure in California but have yet to issue any indictments.

"I'm hoping what they did yesterday is like the IRS auditing him — that it's an attempt to change his behavior, or to demonstrate to people surviving on this industry in a terrible economy that it's Russian roulette," said Lichter, who serves as Oaksterdam's law dean.

Five members of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors and representatives of state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), and state Board of Equalization member Betty Yee told the crowd at City Hall that they would continue to press the cause with federal officials.

Dispensaries have brought "over $100 million to California's coffers every year," Yee's chief deputy, Alan LoFaso, said to cheers.

In and outside of California, the raid riled state lawmakers who have worked on medical marijuana laws. Ammiano, who has written legislation that would permit and regulate sales statewide, joined Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-Fullerton) and legislators from Washington, New Mexico, Maine and Colorado in signing an open letter to federal officials.

"States with medical marijuana laws have chosen to embrace an approach that is based on science, reason and compassion," the lawmakers wrote. "Unfortunately, these laws face a mounting level of federal hostility and confusing mixed messages from the Obama administration, the Department of Justice and the various United States attorneys.

"We call on the federal government not to interfere with our ability to control and regulate how medical marijuana is grown and distributed. Let us seek clarity rather than chaos. Don't force patients underground, to fuel the illegal drug market."