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Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

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11–20 of 87 posts

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#11
post #4

The title seems like a stretch since they then go on to say, "Audio samples were analysed objectively using acoustic analysis for measures of timing, vocal control, and quality. Subtle differences in speech timing, vocal effort, and voice quality may exist between cannabis and control groups, however data remain equivocal." "After controlling for lifetime alcohol and tobacco use and applying a false discovery rate, o…

Yes agreed - the title doesn't seem to accurately reflect the details in the abstract.

Beyond a larger sample size, IMO it would have been also been useful to take repeat measurements of the cohort over time and also under the influence, especially given the observation of "change in line with duration of abstinence from cannabis use".

Perhaps those details are in the full paper, I haven't been able to find a copy.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#12
The way America’s legalization effort has progressed has been really unfortunate. It seems as though no attempt at finding a middle ground was made, and consequently we wound up with complete legalization.

Marijuana is an addictive highly potent mood altering substance that’s become available on demand with no real discussion about the consequences. Will anyone argue that having 15% of the otherwise young and productive demographic zonked out 24hrs a day on “Mint Diesel x AK-47 DDH Live Resin (TM)” gives us an advantage over China? Hyperbolic discounting par excellence.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#13
post #12

The way America’s legalization effort has progressed has been really unfortunate. It seems as though no attempt at finding a middle ground was made, and consequently we wound up with complete legalization. Marijuana is an addictive highly potent mood altering substance that’s become available on demand with no real discussion about the consequences. Will anyone argue that having 15% of the otherwise young and product…

[deleted]

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#14
post #12

The way America’s legalization effort has progressed has been really unfortunate. It seems as though no attempt at finding a middle ground was made, and consequently we wound up with complete legalization. Marijuana is an addictive highly potent mood altering substance that’s become available on demand with no real discussion about the consequences. Will anyone argue that having 15% of the otherwise young and product…

By that logic America should also ban video games because Chinese kids arn't "zonked out" on Fortnite. You're not having a real discussion either, you're employing overblown rhetoric in your request to bring the conversation to a more sane environment.

In most states there are limits on purchases for different products. While I totally agree that more regulation should be in place to inform consumers, I cannot at all agree with your rational or verbiage.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#15
post #12

The way America’s legalization effort has progressed has been really unfortunate. It seems as though no attempt at finding a middle ground was made, and consequently we wound up with complete legalization. Marijuana is an addictive highly potent mood altering substance that’s become available on demand with no real discussion about the consequences. Will anyone argue that having 15% of the otherwise young and product…

I would argue that the injustice of mass incarceration resulting from inequitable and inconsistently applied drug laws was far more unfortunate and harmful. I say: more legalization, and now.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#16
post #12

The way America’s legalization effort has progressed has been really unfortunate. It seems as though no attempt at finding a middle ground was made, and consequently we wound up with complete legalization. Marijuana is an addictive highly potent mood altering substance that’s become available on demand with no real discussion about the consequences. Will anyone argue that having 15% of the otherwise young and product…

Federal legislation is far from finished. Who knows what we end up with.

I for one would prefer to pay rehabilitation therapy rather than supporting the ludicrous enforcement apparatus we have now. If someone wants to burn away their brain cells, let them do it. Why involve police and the justice system? Why throw them in jail, where they have even less chance of rehabilitating themselves?

I don't need to retread the old discussion "How on earth is alcohol legal?", since the effects of alcohol abuse are so much worse than the effects of marijuana abuse and it's rather hard to OD on the later. But in the end; what do I care?

There's the case to be made for protecting young adults, since there's solid evidence that smoking weed is harmful to the developing brain.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#18
post #8
post #4

The title seems like a stretch since they then go on to say, "Audio samples were analysed objectively using acoustic analysis for measures of timing, vocal control, and quality. Subtle differences in speech timing, vocal effort, and voice quality may exist between cannabis and control groups, however data remain equivocal." "After controlling for lifetime alcohol and tobacco use and applying a false discovery rate, o…

> Basically no acoustical difference, except in perceived effort. On the data points measured. It's easy to observe things like "heavy cannabis users tend to have flat affect," but very difficult to translate "flat affect" into something measurable. Look at the way that Alex Grey or Terence McKenna talk. There is clearly something going on there, regardless of our ability to measure it.

It’s hard to separate the effect of culture. A lot of cannabis users have an affinity for the cannabis sub-culture, or with related ones like the hippie/hipster cultures that have many shared speech patterns. You might see similar results analyzing the speech of surfers, pilots, sorority members, etc.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#19
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Basically no acoustical difference, except in perceived effort. On the data points measured. It's easy to observe things like "heavy cannabis users tend to have flat affect," but very difficult to translate "flat affect" into something measurable. Look at the way that Alex Grey or Terence McKenna talk. There is clearly something going on there, regardless of our ability to measure it.

It’s hard to separate the effect of culture. A lot of cannabis users have an affinity for the cannabis sub-culture, or with related ones like the hippie/hipster cultures that have many shared speech patterns. You might see similar results analyzing the speech of surfers, pilots, sorority members, etc.

Try to remember that if you hear a pilot meowing.

Re: Adults with history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production

#20
post #8
post #4

The title seems like a stretch since they then go on to say, "Audio samples were analysed objectively using acoustic analysis for measures of timing, vocal control, and quality. Subtle differences in speech timing, vocal effort, and voice quality may exist between cannabis and control groups, however data remain equivocal." "After controlling for lifetime alcohol and tobacco use and applying a false discovery rate, o…

> Basically no acoustical difference, except in perceived effort. On the data points measured. It's easy to observe things like "heavy cannabis users tend to have flat affect," but very difficult to translate "flat affect" into something measurable. Look at the way that Alex Grey or Terence McKenna talk. There is clearly something going on there, regardless of our ability to measure it.

Alex Grey and Terence McKenna consumed many more substances than just marijuana.
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