As marijuana becomes more accepted and permanently rooted by way of being legalized, the last speck of hope for conservatism in government will disappear.
Marijuana does turn minds to the left. It has already done extreme damage to our government, economy and whole information apparatus over the past 40+ years because of the ways that it has affected the minds of voters.
I am sure you are being sarcastic. Leftist politicians know how to play their market. It is very easy for them to manipulate the pot user by playing the legalization card. It is not the narcotic effects of pot that transforms the brain to think left.
What actually happens in the brain occurs in the dopamine transport through the neurons of the brain. Dopamine is responsible for the reward/pleasure mechanism. This mechanism is controlled by the an attached inhibitory neuron which releases GABA to reduce dopamine transmission. A receptor on this neuron, called a Canabinoid Receptor, can be triggered by chemicals to reduce the release of GABA. These chemicals (Endocannabinoids) are very close to THC. When GABA is reduced, the dopamine transmission is maximized. THC mimics these chemicals--Anandamide and 2-AG--causing increased dopamine reward/pleasure transmission. This is the euphoric reward/pleasure sensation from THC.
In pain transmission, the Endocannabinoid System regulates the transmission of pain signals from neuron to neuron. When an adjacent neuron is stimulated is releases Endocannabinoids which attach to the cannabinoid receptors of the transmitting neuron. When the neuron is stimulated again, the present Endocannabinoids reduce the release of GABA and glutamate. This mechanism is a brake to minimize the pain sensations. THC again mimics the Endocannabinoids and this case, reduces pain. You get euphoria and the reduction of pain. What could be better than that?
However, that euphoric pleasure sensation will have its penalty. THC in the brain alters the neural communication process in the brain and throughout the body. This can affect emotions, movement, learning, memory and decision making. The big question is, will THC affect the production of Endocannabinoids? Will it cause a permanent loss of production, like a diabetes of the brain? Research is ongoing.
FRiend, I ingest cannabis every single day and I and all my pot-loving friends are extreme conservatives.