Recreational drugs •

"Marijuana does not Cause Mood Swings and Depression "

The latest studies have shown that there is no direct link between marijuana, mood swings and depression.

BEACON TRANSCRIPT – Although the topic is still under a lot of debate, it would seem that more and more studies emerge in order to refute the latest fad in marijuana-bashing theories according to which pot users can experience mood swings, depression and even schizophrenia. Marijuana does not cause mood swings and depression according to the latest research conducted by a team of psychiatrists.

Like any other substance used for a long time, marijuana can also cause dependence. But this is not what the study was meant to debunk. In fact, the team of psychiatrists in charge of this project wanted to prove once and for all that marijuana does not cause depression, anxiety, mood swings or schizophrenia.

In order to achieve their goal, the medical researchers used the health data collected by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Approximately 35.000 adults participated in this national survey.

The next step was to determine the prevalence of marijuana users during 2001 and 2002, a parameter which they later cross-referenced with the number of mental cases registered between 2004 and 2005.

Naturally, the team had to take precautions in order to ensure that the results aren’t botched. After taking into account all possible factors such as medical history, family history and socio-demographic factors. In the end, the team has discovered that there is nothing linking marijuana use to mood swings or depression.

However, the team declared that we shouldn’t take the study’s results for granted. Although they were unable to discover a direct connection between marijuana use and mental disorders, they did find something not entirely unexpected.

According to Mark Olfson, the lead author of the study, recurrent use of marijuana can, in time, lead to the use of other substances such as alcohol, tobacco or more potent drugs. In an official email, the lead author concluded that this discovery raises another concern regarding alcohol. He stated that if cannabis abuse or dependence can cause the patient to turn his attention towards other substances, so can alcohol.

A team of scientists from the Columbia University declared that marijuana does not cause mood swings or depression. The study did not manage to address previous theories regarding the link between marijuana abuse and schizophrenia.

But, according to Keith Humphreys, from Stanford University, who was not involved in the study, the facts in the latter case are still vague and under a lot of heavy debate.

Does marijuana cause mood swings, depression or anxiety? Certainly not, according to the study performed by the Columbia University. However, the study does voice a concern in the area of addiction and misuse.

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"Chronic Marijuana Use can Impede Cognitive Functions"

A new study point out that chronic marijuana users can experience cognitive issues when they enter their 40s or 50s.

BEACON TRANSCRIPT – It is nothing new under the sun that the idea of legalizing marijuana sparks debates. Everybody comes in to throw their two cents in. Some are in favor of legalizing the recreational drug while others believe that his step could be harmful. A recent study has revealed that chronic marijuana use can impede cognitive functions, such as long-term memory and verbal skills.

Although some states have legalized medicinal marijuana, the debate regarding legalizing the drug for recreational use is still out there. Naturally, more and more studies sprout out of the blue in order to prove that marijuana, along with other recreational drugs are bad for us and for our health (we keep hearing Mackey’s voice here).

One of this studies was performed by a team of medical scientists from University of Lausanne, in Switzerland. According to Doctor Reto Auer, the cognitive skills of a chronic marijuana user begin to decrease as the dose increases. Moreover, it would seem the study stresses out the fact this memory decline becomes acuter as the consumer makes his grand entrance into the middle age.

Although the study failed to point out that chronic exposure is, we can safely assume that you won’t be at risk of cognitive decline if you’ve tried puffing from a joint one or twice.

Now, on to the facts. The doctor and his team of medical researchers declared that they did not expect to find such a strong bond between marijuana usage and cognitive degeneration. According to their findings, chronic users who are not in their 40s or 50s may experience long-term memory issues.

The team also pointed out that for every 5 additional years of smoking pot, a patient has a high chance of developing memory-related issues. In order to test out their theory, the team of scientists enrolled a couple of volunteers. The results showed that patients who used to be chronic consumers have a 50 percent chance of memorizing one less word from a list containing 15 words.

A team of scientists from Switzerland discovered that chronic marijuana use can impede cognitive functions. Moreover, according to their statements, the result remained the same even after they took into account other factors such as smoking, drinking or poor diets.

In the end, Doctor Auer said that this study should not be taken for granted because it does not actually prove that marijuana usage can, in fact, lead to long-term memory issues. He also states that although the study failed to show concrete results, it should be taken into consideration when talking about the legalization of marijuana.

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