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Research shows adverse effects of marijuana on teens as drug use among students appears to be rising
Written by Katie Kerwin McCrimmon on Feb 22nd, 2012. | Copyright © EdNewsColorado.org
This article would be quite a bit more compelling if the main source of negative information wasn’t a doctor who profited from treating so-called marijuana addiction. Dr. Thurston admits that this accounts for 95% of his business. Even without addressing the fact that most referrals to substance abuse centers for alleged marijuana abuse are imposed by courts, the percentage of his clientele being treated for marijuana (95%) greatly exceeds the national average (67%). If this were truly a trend, there would be a similar uptick for treatment of marijuana abuse in California. If that existed, I am sure you would have reported on it.
I might tend to disagree with the science quotes, but not the focus of the article. Its not good for children to use cannabis on a regular basis. Its horrible for kids to drink alcohol to excess or on a regular basis. And its correct when kids say alcohol, and its abuse, is worse than smoking pot, and further research on line confirms that, but that’s not the focus–overuse and misconception seems to be the message. What I most appreciate about this article is the author. She is a remarkable writer and her work has always been so. Her stories about the firing of the Community College President a few years ago should have been, if they were not, award winning in the field of journalism. For a thoughtful parent, teacher or counselor, this is a perfect article to use to discuss drugs and alcohol.
Despite purporting to argue strongly from a scientific basis, I saw no differentiation between cannabis strains or, most importantly, addressing potential underlying behavioral variables (biases towards. What about key environmental factors (home/family life, peer influence, or that the American educational system is a “statistically-proven” failure.)
It’s completely reasonable to accept repeatable observations, but there seems to be a distinct lack of context reflected in many of the views expressed in the article, insofar as they are represented.
Clinical Use of Cannabis Sativa
The legitimacy and promotion of Cannabis Sativa with the intent of using the phytocannabinoids of the plant as a substitute and enhancement of the naturally occurring endocannabinoids produced in mammals is to broaden the available data in an unscientific manner. Based on the research postulated and promoted, the distillation of anandamide from chocolate seems to have comparable efficacy. There have not been sufficient and verifiable studies done to postulate that the raw plant in of itself is a better baseline with over four hundred compounds or that the individual synthesized compounds have greater efficacy for clinically varied applications. (But, rough straw-poll sociological studies do indicate that is a negative effect where recreational use of the raw plant is on the increase as well as the increase of negative results to that usage.) In its basest effect the chemical ingestion from the raw plant causes neurons to play “ping-pong” with neural signals rather then directing them in anticipated fashion; a loss of cause and effect if you will. As may be surmised standard pathways for established transmissions are reduced with the potential for pathway degradation. What is specifically dominative is that it is not specifically known what combinations of those active ingredients present, produce what effects and weather enhancement of the desired effects can be achieved through selectivity of compounds and ingestion processes. From a clinical perspective the main objective is to enhance curative procedures and at the same time minimizing negative effects in both the physiological and psychological realms. The use of the raw plant from a clinical perspective is akin to prescribing “Chicken Soup” for maladies with the current lack of clinical research available. It would currently be more prudent to proscribe lifestyle and dietary modification while further verifiable research is conducted on the efficacy on the numerous active ingredients found in Cannabis Sativa and Indica.
I was reading along and finding this article quite useful, until…BAM. THERE IT WAS. …
“But he believes a narrow focus on marijuana abuse among kids DISTRACTS KIDS FROM THE MORE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF OTHER DRUGS THEY’RE USING, including tobacco, alcohol and prescription medications….”
“CANNABIS IS MUCH SAFER THAN THOSE THINGS.”
I know that I am quoting out of context here. However, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF STATEMENTS THAT TEENS ARE EXPOSED TO, WHICH LEAD THEM TO BELIEVE THAT MARIJUANA AND ITS USE ARE BENIGN. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHEN IT IS COMPARED TO “THOSE [OTHER] THINGS.”
THE PROBLEM IS THAT TEENS BELIEVE THAT USE OF MARIJUANA IS BENIGN. They read lots of stuff on the Internet by old folks who have been using pot for decades who tell them that they have survived and are “just fine.” This ignores 1) the specific impact of marijuana use on the ADOLESCENT brain; 2) the fact that marijuana is more potent today.
TEENS BELIEVE THAT MARIJUANA IS SAFER THAN ALCOHOL. THIS THINKING LEADS THEM TO believe that they are acting “safely” by smoking marijuana and not drinking. “Drunk driving.” “DUI.” Do we have comparably ‘loaded’ terms for driving under the influence of marijuana? What are the laws here????