Marijuana use affects blood flow in brain even after abstinence

[deez nuts]

bwahahahahaha.

Marijuana use affects blood flow in brain even after abstinence
ST. PAUL, Minn. – People who smoked marijuana had changes in the blood flow in their brains even after a month of not smoking, according to a study published in the February 8 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
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.

The study involved 54 marijuana users and 18 control subjects. The marijuana users volunteered to take part in a month-long inpatient program. The blood flow velocity in brain arteries was tested with transcranial Doppler sonography in all participants at the beginning of the study and again at the end of the month for the marijuana users.

The blood flow velocity was significantly higher in the marijuana users than in the control subjects, both at the beginning of the study and after a month of abstinence from marijuana use. The marijuana users also had higher values on the pulsatility index (PI), which measures the amount of resistance to blood flow. This is thought to be due to narrowing of the blood vessels that occurs when the circulation system's ability to regulate itself is impaired.

"The marijuana users had PI values that were somewhat higher than those of people with chronic high blood pressure and diabetes," Herning said. "However, their values were lower than those of people with dementia. This suggests that marijuana use leads to abnormalities in the small blood vessels in the brain, because similar PI values have been seen in other diseases that affect the small blood vessels."

The PI values for light and moderate marijuana users improved over the month of abstinence. There was no improvement for heavy marijuana users. The light users smoked two to 15 joints per week. The moderate users smoked 17 to 70 joints per week, and the heavy users smoked 78 to 350 joints per week.


###
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

http://alcoholism.about.com/gi/dynam...-mua020105.php

[yoMAMA]

only in st. paul, MN.

:p

[hooligan]

This could explain my roommate's hardcore republican stance.

[amietron]

Originally Posted by hooligan

This could explain my roommate's hardcore republican stance.

Maybe you should introduce him to harder drugs, a la cocaine and heroine.

[Filiprish]

The PI values for light and moderate marijuana users improved over the month of abstinence. There was no improvement for heavy marijuana users. The light users smoked two to 15 joints per week. The moderate users smoked 17 to 70 joints per week, and the heavy users smoked 78 to 350 joints per week.

17 to 70 joints/week, 78 to 350 joints/week!! Them some dern losers!!!

[TB4000]

How do you smoke that much and not constantly giggle and remark, "dude, that is soooo fucked up!" at everything you see?

[applehead]

damn. these people are smoking weed
like they're cigarettes.

[Irezumi Kiss]

Originally Posted by applehead

damn. these people are smoking weed
like they're cigarettes.

So, if they smoked cigarettes, it'd be like, what...smoking air?

[TB4000]

Originally Posted by Irezumi Kiss

So, if they smoked cigarettes, it'd be like, what...smoking air?

LOL...he gotcha there, Meena.

[onnihs]

omfg... i smoke almost everyday, but not nearly 78 to 350 joints per week.... damn and all this time i thought i was a heavy smoker. i didn't even smoke that much in Amsterdam!

ok maybe i did.

[Hiroshi2]

350 joints a week............................I couldn't afford that shit.



And yes, you will kill all of your brain cells if you smoke 350 joints a week. I can believe the part about blood flow slowing down, cause I know if you smoke purple haze or even dro, you'll be able to feel the blood in your veins slow down, in your arms and legs. That's how you know you got some good shit.

[applehead]

maybe it'll be like smoking cardboard.
not that i ever smoked cardboard.
hahahahahahah.

[Hiroshi2]

I think you've been smoking cardboard......................

[Deadpool]

350???? what are they really trying to prove? It doesn't matter what substances you are smoking, if you are inhaling that much smoke a week you are going to have problems period.