While so much of the privileged world finds a quantum of solace in the move to legalize pot, The Odd Squad's Al Arsenault discovered green heaven ain't exactly all it's cracked up to be:
THURSDAY Sept. 5, 2013 -- Contrary to popular belief, marijuana is not a "safe drug," particularly for teens, a new review reveals.
Researchers found that marijuana (cannabis) could be especially harmful for teenagers,
since it affects the addiction processes in their developing brains.
The findings are troubling since marijuana is a popular drug among
teens, the researchers added.
"Of the illicit drugs, cannabis is most used by teenagers since it is perceived by many to be of little harm. This perception has led to a growing number of states approving its legalization and increased accessibility. Most of the debates and ensuing policies regarding cannabis were done without
consideration of its impact on one of the most vulnerable population,
namely teens, or without consideration of scientific data," study
authors Didier Jutras-Aswad, of the University of Montreal, and Dr.
Yasmin Hurd, of New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in
New York City, wrote in a news release from the University of Montreal.
They
added, "While it is clear that more systematic scientific studies are
needed to understand the long-term impact of adolescent cannabis
exposure on brain and behavior, the current evidence suggests that it
has a far-reaching influence on adult addictive behaviors, particularly
for certain subsets of vulnerable individuals."
Marijuana
interacts with the brain through chemical receptors situated in the
areas responsible for learning and management of rewards, motivated
behavior, decision-making, habit formation and motor function. Since the
structure of the brain changes quickly during adolescence, marijuana
can affect how these traits develop, the researchers noted.
In
their review, they examined more than 120 studies on various aspects of
marijuana and the teenage brain, including the biology of the brain,
the brain's chemical reaction to marijuana and the influence of teens'
genetic make-up and environment. They also analyzed previous studies on
the "gateway drug" phenomenon, or an association between marijuana use
and later addiction to other serious drugs and psychosis.
"When
the first exposure occurs in younger versus older adolescents, the
impact of cannabis seems to be worse in regard to many outcomes such as
mental health, education attainment, delinquency and ability to conform
to adult role," Jutras-Aswad explained.
Only
about one in four teenage marijuana users will become dependent on the
drug, which suggests that certain genetic and behavioral factors play a
role in whether or not the drug use will continue, the researchers
found. They added that marijuana dependence can be inherited or result
from other psychological factors.
"Individuals who will develop cannabis dependence generally report a temperament characterized by negative affect, aggressivity and impulsivity, from an early age. Some of these traits are often exacerbated with years of cannabis use, which suggests that users become trapped in a vicious cycle of self-medication, which in turn becomes a dependence," Jutras-Aswad said.
The researchers concluded that marijuana is not harmless, and genetic or psychological screening can help identify those at greatest risk of abusing the drug.
"The
objective is not to fuel the debate about whether cannabis is good or
bad, but instead to identify those individuals who might most suffer
from its deleterious effects and provide adequate measures to prevent
this risk," Jutrus Aswad said in the news release.
I would like to see a cross study regarding chronic fatigue and marajuana use. I believe there is a strong link!
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