The following quote comes off this page:
http://www.acnp.org/g4/
(an incredible amount of info there on all sorts of medication issues but lots of medical terms makes the reading slow)


http://www.acnp.org/g4/GN401000170/Default.htm
This part sounds good???:
"Central Nervous System Physiology
---------------------------------------
One of the most notable findings in recent years has been the effects of cannabinoids on cerebral blood flow and electroencephalographic (EEG) measures. Mathew and Wilson (83) summarized the recent literature and concluded that marijuana smoking increased cerebral blood flow, with the greatest increases in the frontal region and right hemisphere. Marijuana also increased cerebral arterial blood velocity, thought to be due to increased capillary perfusion. There is continued interest in the effects of marijuana on EEG. Struve et al. (126) reported that THC caused an increase in absolute power of all frequencies over all cortical areas. They also reported that THC produced significant elevations in absolute alpha power, relative alpha power and interhemispheric alpha coherence over frontal and frontal-central areas in chronic users (125). They referred to this phenomenon as alpha hyperfrontality."

The rest of the article is very cautious and thorough summary of the current knowledge about MJ. They say yeah, it compromises your coordination at high doses (gets you stoned), interferes with social function ("and impedes the normal development of young individuals") .

More people are using MJ these days across the population, there are no other really obvious problems, the objection with use for any sort of treatment is that the effects are too varied (lots of different neurotransmitters of many types being effected) so it's hard to tell what is causing what. Too complex to draw any real conclusions besides that it gets you stoned and feels good.

The main problem, I'd say, is that it sticks in your body for a long time leaving you with a fuzzy brain.

only lasts about a month , and using the nootropic piracetam can help with the side effects

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8155

Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain
22:00 13 October 2005
NewScientist.com news service
Kurt Kleiner
Paper by Zhang et al
University of Saskatchewan Neural Systems and Plasticity Research Group
Barry Jacobs, Princeton University
Drugs and alcohol, New Scientist
Journal of Clinical Investigation
A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

In mammals, new nerve cells are constantly being produced in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory, anxiety and depression. Other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, have been shown to suppress this new growth. Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to see what effects a synthetic cannabinoid called HU210 had on rats' brains.

They found that giving rats high doses of HU210 twice a day for 10 days increased the rate of nerve cell formation, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus by about 40%.

Just like Prozac?
A previous study showed that the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) also increases new cell growth, and the results indicated that it was this cell growth that caused Prozac’s anti-anxiety effect. Zhang wondered whether this was also the case for the cannabinoid, and so he tested the rats for behavioural changes.

When the rats who had received the cannabinoid were placed under stress, they showed fewer signs of anxiety and depression than rats who had not had the treatment. When neurogenesis was halted in these rats using X-rays, this effect disappeared, indicating that the new cell growth might be responsible for the behavioural changes.

In another study, Barry Jacobs, a neuroscientist at Princeton University, gave mice the natural cannabinoid found in marijuana, THC (D9-tetrahydrocannabinol)). But he says he detected no neurogenesis, no matter what dose he gave or the length of time he gave it for. He will present his results at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington DC in November.

Jacobs says it could be that HU210 and THC do not have the same effect on cell growth. It could also be the case that cannabinoids behave differently in different rodent species - which leaves open the question of how they behave in humans.

Zhang says more research is needed before it is clear whether cannabinoids could some day be used to treat depression in humans.

Journal reference: Journal of Clinical Investigation (DOI:10.1172/JCI25509)

Unfortunately, it looks like that particular component doesn't get you high <g> though it does relieve pain. I'm not certain I'm reading this correct though:
"There were no psychiatric side effects."

http://www.neuromuscularinfo.com/august%202003.htm
(bottom of that page)
CANNABINOID RECEPTOR LIGAND HU210 HAS ANALGESIC AND ANTI-HYPERALGESIC PROPERTIES

HU210 applied to human skin reduced several parameters of pain perception after capsaicin application. This was the first study in humans of a topical selective cannabinoid receptor agonist (HU210). The response to application of capsaicin was assessed in ten men and 10 women (mean age, 29 years), each of whom was pre-treated with HU210 and vehicle control. The gradient of pain perception over time was reduced at the HU210 site (p=0.01). There was no difference in heat pain threshold at baseline between untreated, HU210-treated, and vehicle-treated skin, but at 5 minutes after application of capsaicin, there was a significantly greater reduction (p=0.01) at the control site (46.3 ± 0.7°C to 38.6 ± 1.9°C) compared to the HU210 site (46.8 ± 0.2°C to 43.4 ± 2.2°C). Pinprick hyperalgesia was the same for both groups at all time points (5 min, 15 min, and 30 min), but significant differences in allodynia (pain in response to light touch) were found at both 5 min (p=0.04) and 15 min (p=0.02). There were no psychiatric side effects. These data demonstrate that a cannabinoid receptor agonist applied to human skin is analgesic and anti-allodynic, with no measurable effect on either baseline sensory function or the central nervous system. (Rukwied R et al. Pain 2003;102:283-288)

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it. :p

It is an unfortunate issue for ADDers and co-morbids. Many self-medicate in order to achieve a sense of normality. As much as some would like to convince themselves that it's ok because it appears to "work." the cognitve damage, let alone the social stigma, is irreversible. The question remains, if you're willing to smoke to be normal, WHY would you not consider a legal, less destructive substance? I realize that some may argue that meds can be just as destructive but if there is truly to be a discussion of either method, going without legal or illegal substances would be the physically "healthier" choice. Needless to say, I wouldn't be where I'm at if it were NOT for my "legal" medications.

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it. :pYou're twice as likely to become addicted to a substance while taking amphetamines.

Related thread (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=343774#post343774)

You're twice as likely to become addicted to a substance while taking amphetamines.

Although this may apply to this person in specific I have found the opposite to be true. When properly medicated I find my prone-ness to engage in addictive behavior actually decrease because my ability to engage in fore thought increases.

I just wanted to share the fact that increased chances of addiction when on ADD medication is an exception of a few not the general rule for all.

I have ADD and have a very bad marijuana habit/addiction. I just can't control it. Sometimes I will stop for a week but then start again pretty fast. When I take my med (Adderall XR) my craving for marijuana goes so much high that I absolutely can't resist not smoking.

It's the WORST thing for amotivation and leads me sometimes in terrible depressive amotivation episodes if I take too much of it and become unfonctionnal... especially in College.

Althought it can be so nice if you respect it. :pDOOD who care if your addicted to it, think about it life consisits of addictions . food is addicting violence is addicting sex is addicting working is addicting religion is addicting . keep smoking it calms my hyperactivity makes you think more profoundly. if you think about it you are just smoking and organic plant. people who drink and have no disabilities such as add or other crap and drink alcohol even act worse then peole on add and on weed. they kill people on the streets cuz they drink. and weed is a drug. just because the law says its a drug or people say its a drug does not mean anything. . or un less the state where you live has high penalties for weed or your parants totally think is drug then quit. but if its for stupid reasons **** it live life . we are born we are thought we work and work and die. enjoi life as much as possible!

I wouldn't have put it quite this way, but I actually agree with you wormhole.

That said, if you're going to use marijuana, you should do it responsibly. That means, use it like bacon: it's okay once in a while but it'll mess you up if you have it every day. Make sure to keep exercise, good nutrition and cultivating friendships as your top priorities, and then go ahead and indulge once in a while.

Marijuana is not addictive. I'm not alone in saying that. Anyone who has been addicted to some substance at some point in their life (hence have first hand experience with what addiction REALLY is), and have smoked pot in considerate amount will all tell you from their first-hand experience that marijuana is not addictive. Coffee is much more addictive than marijuana!

If you can't "resist not smoking", it's got nothing to do with physiological addiction. That's all in your head. For true addiction, you experience severe withdrawal symptoms (actual physical pains, discomforts, unease, intense anxiety etc...) when you quit

i smoke dope and id say one effect from the ganjika is that it makes you more paranoid and my hperactivity sometimes makes me extremely paranoid. But on the other hand it helps me focus. Either way if anyone out there are heavy users try once a day, usually at night works the best if your trying to quit.

hi all

I live where it's pretty much accepted that you smoke pot casually...
although I've never actually smoked, I do the hotbox/secondhand thing once in a while... it helps my brain relax and slow down.
just thought I'd tell you about an experience I had..
(I have a mood disorder as well - past issues with depression and I have social anxiety)
I got really high a couple weeks ago, and it was horrible. Got really tired, and fell asleep.
but then I started having these really bad dreams, nightmares, feeling like someone had died... I kept waking up all of a sudden after yelling out or mumbling something.

So I'm not really too cool with that. Marijuana is a depressant after all.
There's scientific research about it's negative effects... yes it helps you focus/obsess about something if in a low dose, but then your brain ends up not producing its own neurochemical that helps the brain focus if you smoke a lot of pot. which is why those super "potheads" are so whacked out in the end.

marijuana might make ADHD whorse in the long term because of vasopressin depletion, supplementing with this neuropeptide will help

Well I didnt want to make a big deal out of it but yeah I am a daily user of marijuana.

Look, before I started using it I was totally anti-social. My mind couldnt think up complete thoughts and I got aggrivated very easily. When I roll a joint or smoke a bowl it all instantly goes away. I can talk openly with people and be comfortable with just being wherever I am. I honestly think I would have killed myself if not for marijuana.






On the other hand, I am strictly and severely against all other drugs including alcohol.

A lot of people thought I was stupid because I couldnt figure out a math problem. They thought I was a "nerd" because I never talked much. Well that all changed once the marijuana found its way to me. My friend told me the first time I came over his place high, "Dude, if this is how you are when you are high, you better start smoking that **** all the time."

It is my life and I will live it however I want to. There isn't much relief and sometimes its all you need and a good bit of ganja will go a long way towards that goal.


Speaking of which ....... :o



By the way, there was a British study on marijuana, documented, that proved that ones attention and focus increased after the user smoked a full joint by himself. He drove a car through a cone track once before he was high and once after he was high. Again, he did a lot better after he smoked the joint. This is all proven scientifically. There isn't much actual documentation that can truthfully say, "Marijuana is bad because..."


and if they say otherwise they are lying and basing "facts" on their own opinions.


potheads unite :D

this message is for all of the younger people that read these forums... are you listening... are you ready...

MARIJUANA IS A BIG WASTE OF YOUR TIME. PERIOD. END OF STORY. READ A BOOK. TAKE A CLASS. LEARN A SKILL.

the sooner you do this, the better. life is too short for bong hits. do it. get it out of your system, then be done with it.

I wish someone had told me this and that I had listened. This is why I am telling you. My Dad was a pothead and told me it was ok to smoke dope because it calms your nerves. And the parent of the year award goes to...

He was wrong. Take the money you are spending on grass and open a stock or money market account. You can thank me later!

I've read about Marijuana being very good for some people, like for example fibromyalgia patients. I just want to say though that it DOES have side affects. People should NOT take it unless they need it to function!

When i smoke weed i notice i dont dream at all at night, but when im not smoking weed for more than 3 days i dream again, anyone else?

^ you dream every night, i think its once for every three hours of sleep (one sleep cycle if its not quite 3 hours). although you might not remember the dreams, your mind still goes through it, every night, many times per night.


personally I smoke sometimes, the feeling it gives me is a releif, however, looking back, some of the worst parts of my life were shared with this drug, wether it was an indirect cause, or an attempt to releive I'm not sure, but it can make things worst if you're not careful

wether pot is 'good' or 'bad' for you is debatable, there are health benefits to canabis, but so is there to red wine, but obviously drinking a whole bottle to yourself a day will never help you. Trying to prove it either way is pointless, there isnt enough concrete information available that proves its good for people with ADD/ADHD. its clear that it dosen't help the motivation, which can cause depression from doing nothing.

It is an unfortunate issue for ADDers and co-morbids. Many self-medicate in order to achieve a sense of normality. As much as some would like to convince themselves that it's ok because it appears to "work." the cognitve damage, let alone the social stigma, is irreversible. The question remains, if you're willing to smoke to be normal, WHY would you not consider a legal, less destructive substance? I realize that some may argue that meds can be just as destructive but if there is truly to be a discussion of either method, going without legal or illegal substances would be the physically "healthier" choice. Needless to say, I wouldn't be where I'm at if it were NOT for my "legal" medications.
Tough for me to believe that weed is worse for you than stimulants.

You can only compare stimulants and weed when you know how much of each one people are taking.

Having a few bong hits every night will make you feel tired,lazy and unmotivated the next day. Not ideal for ADD at all. Also wrecks your short-term memory. People that smoke all day long are usually burnouts as far as I've seen.

Having a small dose of stimulants each day won't have these negative effects on your mental state, if you have a recreational dose of stimlulants you will get the same effects as the pot the day after...tired, unmotivated even depressed and anxious.

So in short it really depends on how much you're having, a little weed every once in a while is fine. smoke it everyday and chances are you'll become a burn out. that won't happen with a therapeutic dose of stimulants

Yes marijuana can help medicate some aspects of ADD, but the side effects make it not worth it IMO. People smoking weed regularly will often seem ADD, once they stop they go back to themselves again. I think weed just makes ADD worse in the long run, it might help fix up a few symptoms but the other effects can make the ADD much worse.


one more thing - marijuana wont give you brain damage or cause any physical harm, most of its effects are psychological and they only last while the person has thc in their blood stream. if you stop smoking you'll feel back to normal in 2-4 weeks

i smoke pot because it is calming. I do not take medication for my ADHD but have in th e past. I am not addicted to pot but smoke it 3-4 times a week.
It increases attention and focus for me. I am not sure if it affects everyone this way. Also have not had any nightmares but that might be because I am not excessive in smoking pot.

i did it once and never again ahh it was to weird for me and im ADHD

yeah i get it that its bad 4 u n al.
but how do u stop?
im adctd. cant go the day witout weed and alchol
now what?

yeah i get it that its bad 4 u n al.
but how do u stop?
im adctd. cant go the day witout weed and alchol
now what?


maori_boy,

Do they have AA in New Zealand? It worked for me and I was a daily drinker and weed smoker for about 20 years. Clean and sober for 3 1/2 now and on a much better path in life.

Dave

yea bt not wher i live ay. bt im movn to the big smoke soon. ther wil b one ther. hardest thng is that drinkng and weed is so acepted in mi family, friends, culture. thts the main reason why iv decided to mov away.
thnx for the help superdave, will look it up.
chur chur!

Always glad to help!

Funny thing for me is my parents didn't drink and didn't even know what weed smelled like as far as I am aware. I still turned into a good little alcoholic and drug addict. Addiction will take any and all it can no matter the background.

Good luck!

Dave

re: 7

That seems like an overgeneralized statement.

IIRC, ADD/ADHD kids who grow up taking stimulants for their AD/HD have lower addiction rates as adults.

i went today without weed.
had 3 bottles of alchol which isnt 2 bad,
my goal to be weed free and alchol free.
it takz 21 dayz to form a habit

good for you maori_boy

My son ADHD 23yr. old smokes a lot of pot and drinks I suspect nearly every day. He says pot makes him more socially as ease and creative. This is bull**** in my opinion.
The reality is that he has no job, no motivation and no place to live. He hangs out with other pot heads practising for the "famous rock band" that they think they will become. Mostly they sit on the couch get high and play video games.

Onine your post disturbs me. If smoking MJ is a life or death situation for you don't you think there is a serious problem with that?

I might sound harsh and I do love my son very much but it breaks my heart and I see the beginnings of a wasted life because of drug and alcohol abuse. And this is a kid who has an immense talent for writing amd has so much to give.


All you pot smokers I'd like to know how is the rest of your life going? Do you have jobs? Are you going to school? Do you have relationships (I don't mean with other potheads)? Are you productive? How's your motivation? These are the important questions to consider and really be HONEST with yourselves.

to anser ur questions.
my lfe isnt going tht great but things are getting better as i stop the dirty habit of smokn pot and drinkn too much.
im almost 19. i dropd out of school at 15. started smokn pot at 12. i have had close mates in the past but they wer pad influences, pure meth druggies etc. now i stay clear of troublemakers.
im not productive, dont have a job and have no motivation.
after one day off no pot, i defnitly feel withdrawal but also know that my lifes gona change round. have more motivation and goals and dreams.

i really hope ur son learns from his mistakes and stops takn the pot and sets some goals. its hard to get out of a rut. but hes lucky to hav someone caring and luving there like you. Talk it over with him, explain that u care and want the best for him. I really do hope he moves on from this bad phase and finds more fulfilling interests.

Thanks maori that means a lot because most of the time I feel like I failed him somehow. I wish the best to you also, I mean that honestly.

That's great, maori! From my experience it takes a week or so to get through the haze after quitting. I know how hard it is - just try to take it a day at a time and it will get better!

Swede - I feel your pain. I used to fool myself with all the excuses I could think of why I smoked pot (it makes me feel better, I think more clearly, things are better). Bottom line was I didn't like myself and wanted to escape, I liked how it felt when I was stoned and I thought it helped make me cool. Then it became addictive. People can debate all they want about the physical addiction but mine was psychological.

Unfortunately, anyone and everyone could have pointed all of those facts out to me at any given time and I would have told them where they could go pi$$ off. "I can stop when I want." "You don't know what it's like to be me." blah blah blah. It wasn't until I saw it myself that I was able to do anything about it. I hate to say it but the only way your son will really get it is to figure it out for himself, in his own way. I know that sucks. I wish you and him all the best.

Dave

im realy craving some weed right now ay..shesh didnt no itd feel like this. oh well gota keep that promise i made ay.
no more weed
no more alchohol!!!
cheers superdave and swede for the ecouragement.
swede u havent failed at al. like dave says it all comes down to him at the end of the day. u have done al u could. th support and love is what he needs right now.

im realy craving some weed right now ay..shesh didnt no itd feel like this. oh well gota keep that promise i made ay.
no more weed
no more alchohol!!!
cheers superdave and swede for the ecouragement.
swede u havent failed at al. like dave says it all comes down to him at the end of the day. u have done al u could. th support and love is what he needs right now.
Hey man, hope the quitting is going alright. I quit about a year ago and **** has been smooth sailing ever since..didn't really realize how much weed was messing with me until I stopped for a good week.

Keep yourself busy and try and get some exercise, that's what helped me the most. Maybe not try and quit weed and alcohol at the same time, might be too hard. If you think you can handle it then go for it, I just ended up back on both when I tried to quit both at the same time though.

Good luck ;)

Marijuana made me really lazy

so i have been self medicating with mj for forty years i have survived but havent fulfilled my potential,,, but what do you do to slow your mind down? for just a little whlie i can concentrate after that i feel no pain the only other thing that works is speed (cars Jap Bikes) but i am running out of licences and in Aus you cant outrun them, yes i can stop, as we speak i have not ahd any for six weeks but that will stop when i return home i will be at peace again for a little while. i need not please any but myself i seek to do others no harm.