Posted on 03/05/2005 6:11:15 PM PST by familyop
Shocking research reveals teenagers who smoke cannabis are twice as likely to develop psychosis.
The ABC's Four Corners TV program tomorrow night airs research that shows the human brain does not fully develop until the early 20s, placing pot-smoking teenagers at risk of suffering significant and permanent damage.
The New Zealand research destroys the myth that cannabis is a soft drug and experts say today's hydroponic marijuana is being "morphed" into a different substance from that smoked by the hippie generation.
Psychiatrist Dr Andrew Campbell said the widespread use among young people – one in five teenagers uses cannabis – was a "tsunami waiting to happen".
"This is going to get worse before it gets better . . . We've already got an epidemic in incidents of psychosis. Cannabis makes teenagers think they are king of the world and in control . . . but if they don't stop using it they're in big trouble," Dr Campbell said.
He is calling for schizophrenia to be called "drug-induced psychosis", and estimates about 80 per cent of his patients have used cannabis.
"Often when users stop smoking is when they start experiencing psychosis," he said.
Reefer madness strikes!
Sorry, I grew up in the 70's.
Some of the biggest potheads I knew are now physicians, attorneys, engineers, and PhDs. A couple of policemen as well.
The Drug Warriors are again resorting to preposterous lies which don't serve their campaign.
That's exactly the thought that crossed my mind.
"research that shows the human brain does not fully develop until the early 20s, placing pot-smoking teenagers at risk of suffering significant and permanent damage..."
hmmmmm.....I just craved donuts...
Hmm, this would explain Libertarians.
Maybe the reefer is doing them some good.
Next they'll be having teens dancing on moving trains.
What a bunch of baloney.
I don't understand the appeal of pot or drugs in general. I admit that I smoked it a couple of times in college and I hated the way it made me feel. The first time, it had no effect on me at all. The second time, I felt stupid, slow and completely disconnected from everything around me. And because I hate that feeling, I don't take pain medications unless I'm in excruciating pain. I just can't understand why people find it pleasureable.
Sounds like you smoked dirt weed....
I had a cloud of pot smoke around my head from my younger years.
166 IQ, and today develop medical devices for a living.
Coronary catheters, stents, ballon catheters, wound closure devices, Mitral valve repair, and yes, even artificial hearts.
Stroke therapy, safety needles, gosh I could name a lot more.
Ane yes, I was a pot head. Giant pot head. Cloud-the-room pot head. Drive-slow-in-the-right-lane pot head. Cheetos-by-the-bag pothead.
One of your friends or relatives likely lives because of the products I worked on, unless you are Amish.
And I'm a Libertarian.
I have no idea what the quality of it was. All I knew was that I didn't ever want to feel that way again after I smoked it.
Psycotic teenage pothead,"I was going to chop you in little pieces,but I forgot where I laid my axe.Got any twinkies?"
Serious question: Do you believe that UFOs are piloted by beings from other planets?
"One of your friends or relatives likely lives because of the products I worked on, unless you are Amish."
All that and a 166 IQ! My, you certainly are special.
I grew up in the 60s and 70s and I also knew many who didn't achieve crap after many years of toking down the line....the study doesn't say 100% of those smoking, only a significant percentage.....knowing a little bit about brain chemistry, I'm inclined to believe it
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