I was rebutting the idea that marijuana is an addictive or gateway drug. Not that its “social/recreational” use will foul someone. However, its regular use will indeed do so.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse:
“Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug wear off. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across time) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38.”
There are POLITICAL INTERESTS at work behind virtually every kind of research. YOU would be doing the young people who look to you for wisdom a favor by consulting your common sense and empirical evidence as much as you consult the research.
I'm sure the research is valuable on many fronts -- but my own real-life experiences with life-long recreational pot smokers (I know quite a few -- I'm from coastal California, what can I say) indicates that if not for the pot, they would have put Stephen Hawkings to shame, because even with their lifelong (since their teens -- and no, not me, but a number of professionals I know very well) recreational pot use, they are a hell of a lot smarter, innovative, and productive than the average professional.
Lying to kids about the consequences of pot and alcohol use is the best way to lose their regard, because the truth will out. And the truth is that what pot does long-term to "chronic users" is misrepresented in the research you cite in your post. You can send me research all you want that peaches will not grow in my particular neighborhood ... as I have seen material that says just that. Fortunately, my peach tree cannot read the research. :^)
You cited the National Institute of Drug Abuse as saying: “Research has shown that, in chronic users, marijuana’s adverse impact on learning and memory persists after the acute effects of the drug wear off. A recent study of marijuana users who began using in adolescence revealed a profound deficit in connections between brain areas responsible for learning and memory. And a large prospective study (following individuals across time) showed that people who began smoking marijuana heavily in their teens lost as much as 8 points in IQ between age 13 and age 38.”
Yefrag, I wrote: I'm sure the research is valuable on many fronts -- but my own real-life experiences with life-long recreational pot smokers (I know quite a few -- I'm from coastal California, what can I say) indicates that [if your research was correct], they would have put Stephen Hawkings to shame [if they'd never smoked pot], because even with their lifelong (since their teens) recreational pot use, they are a hell of a lot smarter, innovative, and productive than the average professional.
Know that these individuals' moderate, if chronic recreational use of pot certainly isn't what made them a lot smarter, more innovative, and more productive than the average professional, in spite of what your vaunted Research promises neither did it make them stupider or slower. It's only because I personally KNOW enough of such people that I'm aware that the research you cite is mistaken; you should be aware of it, too. Like most "research," it supports the conclusion it was grant-funded to reach.
