Replies

People who smoked marijuana had changes in the blood flow in their brains even after a month of not smoking, according to a study. The findings could explain in part the problems with thinking or remembering found in other studies of marijuana users, according to study authors Ronald Herning, PhD, and Jean Lud Cadet, MD, of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, Md.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050211084701.htm

Since marijuana and other drugs reduces the function of the brain and can affect the decision making, I am in favor of drug tests and to immediately fire any employee with positive test result. Drivers driving drunk or on drugs should get much higher penalty.

Drug addiction changes the biochemistry of the brain and long term use even changes the anatomy of the brain. Since drug addiction reduces the performance and changes the behavior of the person, you may even say that it reduces the free will, thus it should as well be opposed by libertarians.

Since marijuana and other drugs reduces the function of the brain and can affect the decision making, I am in favor of drug tests and to immediately fire any employee with positive test result.

You could make the same argument about junk food. I am all for decrmininalizing and yet I agree it should be at the company's discretion to fire abusers of any substance.

Hey, we could play "study" ping-pong all day.

Mental Functioning Not Affected by Long-Term Marijuana Use, Johns Hopkins Study Says

Long-term use of marijuana does not lead to a decline in mental function, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in Baltimore. Individuals who confessed to having smoked marijuana, even heavily, have no more signs of impaired mental function than people who have never used cannabis (Constantine G. Lyketsos, et al., "Cannabis Use and Cognitive Decline in Persons Under 65 Years of Age," American Journal of Epidemiology, May 1999, vol. 149, p. 794-800; "Long-term Use Doesn't Hurt Mind, Study Says," Detroit Free Press, May 7, 1999; "The Straight Dope," Science News (US), May 22, 1999).

Scientists at JHU tracked the mental functioning of 1,318 Baltimore residents aged 18 to 64 over the course of 11 ½ years. After analyzing data gathered by the Mini-Mental State Examination, or MMSE, researchers concluded that there is no cognitive decline associated with marijuana use. The researchers said that cognitive decline is related to aging and starts in individuals younger than 30 years old. The decline is said to increase exponentially with each decade that passes, but attaining a higher level of education may reduce the severity of cognitive decline.

Nice that you pick and chose. However, have you seen the studies that show that folks under the influence of pot drive SAFER than your average person.

Since safety is what you want, you should REQUIRE all drivers to smoke pot first (at least, if you want to be logically consistant - and not a hypocritical jack-booted, mind-numbed fascist thug like most drug warriors)....

And, for the record, I'll pit my "brain power" against just about anybody you can find, anytime, anywhere. And, I'll do 3 bong-hits first and STILL kick ass.