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When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

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Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#161

Post by Balgair »

nabla9 wrote: post #118

Pediatric neurology and neurology are different specialties in medicine because developing brains are very different from adult brains. I'm all for legalizing pot and it's just natural that young people _experiment_ with drugs. That does not mean that constant drug use during adolescence should be perceived as normal or harmless.

> Pediatric neurology and neurology are different specialties in medicine because developing brains are very different from adult brains.

One example is in cholonergic neurons in the pre-frontal cortex. Pre-puberty, they are inhibitory, and post-puberty they are excitatory; it's a fair bit of a change in a very complicated system. Though I can't find that citation right now, there is a good-ish overview of the changes in the pre and post-pubescent neuroanatomy here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5283387/

There is some evidence, in terms of THC, of effects on the growth of mossy climbing fiber neurons and retardation of climbing onset in adolescents. Again, though, I can't find that citation right now. Maybe I need more of the stimulant caffeine? ;)

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#162

Post by IanCal »

rv-de wrote: post #123
IanCal wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As far as my observations go this is particularly not fitting the perception experienced under the influence of weed. And that is the point of what they're saying. Being bored can be uncomfortable. One route out of that is to do something more interesting and productive, another is to alter your perception so that you are ok with it.

I think it depends on your definition of boredom. What does feeling bored mean to you?

I don't see a problem with the definition you posted.

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#163

Post by gnulinux »

macspoofing wrote: post #144
nabla9 wrote: post #118

Pediatric neurology and neurology are different specialties in medicine because developing brains are very different from adult brains. I'm all for legalizing pot and it's just natural that young people _experiment_ with drugs. That does not mean that constant drug use during adolescence should be perceived as normal or harmless.

>it's just natural that young people _experiment_ with drugs. Is it?

Yes, people are curious. Curiosity is a good thing and experimenting with pot is hardly dangerous. I smoked weed only two times in my life because I was very curious (living in the Bay Area, everyone was smoking it) but decided it's not my thing. I think it's natural.

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#164

Post by icebraining »

lmilcin wrote: post #152
Waterluvian wrote: post #67

Maybe this is too reductionist but I once heard someone describe it as, "there's nothing fundamentally dangerous about pot, but one of its (often intended) effects is that is slows our engines down. And some of us need to be firing on all cylinders." School was a tricky time for me. I'm thriving intellectually now, but I was a C- student pretty much 4th-12th grade. I needed those cycles that pot would have robbed me…

Well, same can be said about watching television, playing games or staring at your phone. Now, if there is no adverse health issue other than making you a little dumber, shouldn't we also ban a host of other habits that cause just a bit of harm to you? What about eating sweets that may give you a bit of pleasure but are also unhealthy if ingested regularly? What about driving car to cinema when you could watch the mo…

Well, same can be said about watching television

And it has: http://i.imgur.com/yPCC3dj.jpg

shouldn't we also ban

Also? Who said anything about banning pot?

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#165

Post by mcny »

narzo wrote: post #44
mcny wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The fact that alcohol and tobacco are legal doesn't mean we should legalise all drugs that are somewhat healthier than alcohol and tobacco. I think we can do much better. You're right. We can do better. I think it shows our hypocrisy. Nobody should get a fine or go to prison for possession of drugs. I think what we should focus on is distribution/sale of controlled substances without a proper label. I don't do drug…

There already are many places where the selling of sugar and caffeine-ridden products is controlled.

> There already are many places where the selling of sugar and caffeine-ridden products is controlled.

I think you are moving the goal posts here.

For one, I fully support regulation. By regulation, I mean education and truth in advertising. People should absolutely have their assets stripped and sent to prison for life for false advertising and bribing/intimidating researchers to produce bad science or knowingly lying about their products in general.

Additionally, I am not talking about putting people in prison for selling mislabeled candy. I absolutely support legislation that sends people to prison for life for selling candy that is not labeled properly or has a labeling inconsistent with its contents.

I am talking about imprisoning ME for possessing sugar and caffeine-ridden products that I intend to eat or serve to my guests at home. Are you willing to arrest me for eating candy? Are you willing to search me "randomly" on the streets because you think I have candy in my pockets?

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#166

Post by throwaway8879 »

rv-de wrote: post #127
conception wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Weed makes you feel - provided one responds positive to it - not weary, not impatient and one finds the present activity overly interesting." - Exactly. It makes you ok with being bored rather than feeling weary and impatient and prone to go and do something instead of finding whatever banal activity you're doing overly interesting.

What's wrong with "banal" activities?

There is nothing wrong. It's just that they don't contribute to success. Now you might ask, what's wrong with not striving for success? Nothing, I suppose. It's nice however to be able to reach one's fullest potential.

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#167

Post by pure-awesome »

heywire wrote: post #140
tekproxy wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't big chief on the daily home slice. Save cashing bowls for the weekend and between 5 and 8 pm and you're fine as frogs hair.

How high are you right now? LOL

They're saying: "don't use weed during the day, just smoke / eat during weekends and in the early evening, and everything will be fine."

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#168

Post by kodablah »

jerf wrote: post #130
kodablah wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Look at tobacco usage. It hasn't plummeted because it was outlawed. Disagree to some extent. Outlawing of most indoor smoking has decreased usage significantly. Also disagree with reasons for smoking vs not since many do smoke recreationally to feel good as opposed to fear of withdrawal. Sure, most of the addicted are the latter, but the laws are there to target everyone.

It was regulated . It was not outlawed . Nobody seems to be saying they want unregulated marijuana usage, so it seems comparable. (If nothing else, everyone agrees it should be taxed, and that is already a form of regulation.)

> Nobody seems to be saying they want unregulated marijuana usage, so it seems comparable

Comparing outlawed, regulated, or unregulated without nuance is unfair. Things can be effectively outlawed, overly regulated, unenforced thereby unregulated, etc. Instead of focusing on the words, we should focus on the effect. To restate my previous claims in terms that hopefully won't be misinterpreted, "Increased regulation/restrictions on smoking has decreased usage significantly."

I'd say the reason it is not comparable is it is adding restrictions instead of removing them. To go from 0 to a set of regulations is one thing, but since that is not the case, the direction matters as much as the result.

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#169

Post by gnulinux »

49para wrote: post #119

maybe it's due to Canada legalizing cannabis, but I feel like I've been seeing a lot more "pot is bad" messaging lately. Is this to head off any other countries from thinking about legalization ?

Pot is a safe drug, safer than alcohol, as insurmountable evidence suggests. This still doesn't mean it's completely safe, as in you can smoke arbitrary amounts without any negative effects. A rational person should read all this evidence and find a good balance between recreation and health. I don't smoke pot because I don't like it that much and the "slowness" it gives me the day after isn't worth the pleasure. I do drink a few times a month because alcohol, even though more dangerous than pot, does give me more pleasure and the day after is usually not bad enough that I wish I didn't drink the day before. It's a personal balance.

Re: When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves

#170

Post by [deleted] »

5trokerac3 wrote: post #98
tosser8398b9 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve had many programming design breakthroughs while lifted. Write ‘em down, check ‘em the next day - many remain awesome (and some are confused). Something about the heightened ability to focus on a single thing, deeply. As you say - it’s a deeply personal thing. I also never actually smoke anymore. Edibles FTW

One might consider that an artistic/creative revelation. Weed is definitely good for that. "Why is this code breaking?" Not so much...

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