The Science of Marijuana: How THC Affects the Brain

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/31/opinion/what-science-says-about-marijuana.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2015/06/marijuana-science-drug-research-legality/

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC is the active ingredient in cannabis. This chemical interacts with a wide range of systems, giving rise to an equally wide range of effects. The “high” is therefore a pretty diverse one, with users reporting everything from euphoria and calm to paranoia and anxiety. When smoking marijuana the THC passes from the lungs to the bloodstream, then it's picked up by two receptors; cannabinoid receptor (CB) 1 and 2. These long, rope-like proteins weave themselves onto the surfaces of cells all over the body, which helps explain increased heart rate, red eyes, pain relief and other effects that are not purely psychological. Most of the action takes place in the central nervous system, where THC is carried by CB1; the compound typically has about two to four hours to toy with a range of neurological functions including, memory formation, appetite, and time perception.

In my opinion Marijuana is a personal choice. If people choose to smoke it, so be it. It's their lives and if they want to enjoy one of earths beautiful creations they should.

Marijuana's Long-Term Effects on the Brain

     On November 10, 2014, researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas stated that the effects of chronic marijuana use effects on the brain may depend on age of first use and duration of use.  In a paper publushed today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers for the first time comprehensively describes abnormailites in brain function due to excessive marijuana use.  Findings through MRI techniques show chronic marijuana users have smaller brain volume in to the orbitofrontal cortex, a part of the brain commonly associated with additcition.  The team studied 62 non-users and 48 adult marijuana users where on average the marijuana users consumed the drug three times per day.  Cognitive tests show that chronic marijuana users had lower IQ compared to age-and-gender-matched controls.  Ultimately it was concluded that although there was increased connectivity both structural and functional, eventually; however, the structural and connectivity of the brain starts degrading with prolonged marijuana use, stated by Dr. Sina Aslan, founder and president of Advance MRI, LLC and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. 

    Additionally, tests reveal that early onset marijuana users induce a greater structural and functional conectivity.  After approximately six to eight years of continued chronic use, brain connectivity begins to decline, and can be the result of why marijuana users claim to be "doing just fine."  It is still not known is these effects of marijuana use is a direct result or a predisposing factor.

     I found this article to be quite interesting and informative.  The topic of the effects marijuana has on the brain is unknown and is a reoccurring health topic in society.  With increase of marijuana users, the effects she be further investigated and presented to the public.

Main article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141110161123.htm