Marijuana

[Terry]

You are dead set :  That's Willy, as "U"l soon find out!  ::O:    :confused:  :-\

[mr.willy]

Smoking mj does NOT a mental illness make

Flybananas you know nothing and you contribute no facts of any kind on this subject.

An association between marijuana use and mental illness, particularly psychosis, has long been recognized. Recently, with a better understanding of brain function and pharmacology, researchers have renewed their interest in this subject. Although present statistics suggest that marijuana accounts for 10 percent of all cases of psychosis, epidemiological evidence suggests that the number could be higher. Patients with psychosis are at higher risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases compared to the general population.

Researchers at Yale University School of Medicine report that cannabinoids, which are the active ingredient in marijuana, can induce acute transient mental illnesses, particularly psychotic symptoms, including paranoia and acute psychosis in some individuals. As to why some people experience this and others don't remains unclear. The Yale researchers also note that in individuals with an established psychotic disorder, cannabinoids can exacerbate or worsen psychotic symptoms. These exacerbations can persist long past the period of intoxication. Available evidence suggests a causal relationship between marijuana, psychosis and the development of schizophrenia. However, because most people who use marijuana don't develop these disorders, the Yale researchers theorize that cannabinoids interact with another component, perhaps genetic risk, that predisposes them to psychosis. Dysfunction of the CB1 receptor has been proposed as a possible risk factor and is being further investigated.



Worldwide, researchers are studying the effects of marijuana on mental health. In 2008, French researchers published a study in which they evaluated 32 cannabis abusers along with 30 healthy controls using self-reports. Their study showed that cannabis abusers were more likely to have mood and anxiety disorders and to experience high levels of psychological distress, trait anxiety, physical anhedonia, and sensation seeking than controls. A similar study from the Netherlands showed that acute cannabis use can cause memory impairment persisting for months after its use. Cannabis, however, showed no changes in brain anatomy based on MRI reports.

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1035/7/29167/does-marijuana-cause-mental-illness.html

In other words flybananas  YOU are full of BS !!!!!!!!!!!

[flybananas]

*mutters something about all that money spent on danged degrees and licensure*

6 year degree and i know NOTHING!  i'm stupid! I should just go... Oh that would be too mean. after all, honesty is one thing ~ meanness i cannot abide!

Sorry mr willy. So sorry for your entire family.

However, you cannot negate 6 years training. 2 years further supervision and licensure. Your sources are invalid to me because the goverment PAID for those studies and will get the results THEY want.

Show me an independent study. Otherwise you add NOTHING but paranoia and incorrect supposition to this argument.

[mr.willy]

Worldwide, researchers are studying the effects of marijuana on mental health. In 2008, French researchers published a study in which they evaluated 32 cannabis abusers along with 30 healthy controls using self-reports. Their study showed that cannabis abusers were more likely to have mood and anxiety disorders and to experience high levels of psychological distress, trait anxiety, physical anhedonia, and sensation seeking than controls. A similar study from the Netherlands showed that acute cannabis use can cause memory impairment persisting for months after its use. Cannabis, however, showed no changes in brain anatomy based on MRI reports.

apparently flybananas you have a hard time reading what was posted, maybe its from smoking to much weed, ;D and again you have showed no studies of any kind and if not then you  are nothing but   paranoia and incorrect yourself without any facts at all.

good night its time for sleep for me. ;D

[flybananas]

nope, just all the info stuffed in my head from all that schooling. And no, i'm not a mjologist. I am  licensed to provide counseling. I reckon that makes me a MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. So, no - no quoting and posting walls and walls of difficult to read on my cell fone studies. Just my professional knowledge.

Please, please quit ignoring everyone else. Why are you singling out MY questions?!

Oh yeah, i'm the one that hit the nerve. According to your own sources there - in about 10% of users there are signs of psychosis. However, it remains UNCLEAR if the mental illness was caused by, exacerbated by or if the individual was simply self-medicating. The mentally ill do that a LOT. You end up with cooccuring mental issues ~ substance ABUSE (classified differently than substance USE) and some type of other mental illness (psychosis for you lay people). Often, those with personality disorders will self-medicate as well, making diagnosis and treatment particularly difficult. Plus, those with personality disorders usually learn to function EXTREMELY well in society making diagnosis even MORE difficult. Often families don't want to acknowledge there may be issues. FURTHER hindering possibility of diagnosis and treatment. Then, there are simply dysfunctional families who actually cause the pain, but lets assume for arguments sake that's not the issue here.

So, what have we learned tonight kimosabe? 1. No proof exists that mj use CAUSES mental illness. 2. Society and family can make diagnosis of mental illness difficult, thus impeding treatment. And 3. We never EVER trust government studies.

[Whoo]

Okay, I'll jump in on this one.  Mr. Willy, re-read some of your own postings.  For instance:
"...cannabinoids, which are the active ingredient in marijuana, can induce acute transient mental illnesses, particularly psychotic symptoms, including paranoia and acute psychosis in some individuals. As to why some people experience this and others don't remains unclear. The Yale researchers also note that in individuals with an established psychotic disorder, cannabinoids can exacerbate or worsen psychotic symptoms."  Translation:  a pre-existing condition can be exacerbated in some people, not so much in others, with the same condition.  Nanners is 100% correct (hey Nanners, those pedigrees DID teach ya somethin'!) ;)

If you're gonna try and talk about schizophrenia coupled with MJ use, you should be prepared to know that I and at least one other person on here has a family member who has been diagnosed with the disease, and I reckon said other person would agree with me 100% that sometimes the only thing to help our loved ones (when their meds fail, and sometimes even a 100% compliant patient's meds just do that, it is the nature of the disease) is a joint.  That's an independent fact for ya, no hosted study required - just a life story that has been repeated time and again in the school of hard knocks.

[Whoo]

Look, mr. willy - I don't believe anyone on here is trying to "bash" you.  It sounds like you experienced a family tragedy, and that's a sad thing.  However, and as we are trying to point out to you (even using your own postings), research has been unable to directly, causally connect MJ use to a mental disorder; MJ doesn't create a mental disorder and at worst, can impair certain cognitive functions on a temporary basis.  Again, while some people may feel increased anxiety, or depression, etc., THOSE CONDITIONS WERE ALREADY PRESENT IN THE INDIVIDUAL.   Now, SYMPTOMS of a mental disorder can be induced, but the disorder is already present.  Do you see the difference now?

[hammondjam]

I'm done discussing with a "wall". I'm going to finally follow Terry's lead and NOT waste my time with Willy. Maybe Indiana got tired of him so he came here to "link" us to death. Proof isn't necessary and personal experience doesn't count if one just "believes" HUH?   

[mr.willy]

marijuana use is not an effective method for coping with life's problems, and staying high can be a way of simply not dealing with the problems and challenges and I will continue to fight it, but not if there is a medical use for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WhatMeWorry?]

Does MJ cause mental illness or do mentally ill people self medicate?

[mr.willy]

Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is an illegal drug in the United States with a high potential for abuse. It   impairs and may distort sensory perception and induces a feeling of well-being and relaxation. Some users report a heightened state when using marijuana but this is a false perception and marijuana can affect the sense and reflexes similar to alcohol. Marijuana also  significantly impairs cognitive functions despite users believing that they are thinking more 'clearly'.

Marijuana addiction is very much a possibility, producing cravings similar to other drugs. There is much debate as to whether marijuana addiction is physical or psychological. Long term marijuana users who quit the drug do experience withdrawal symptoms during the detox periods. Others crave for the effects of marijuana without showing any withdrawal symptoms.

[taxidr]

Marijuana Addiction
Marijuana is an illegal drug in the United States with a high potential for abuse. It   impairs and may distort sensory perception and induces a feeling of well-being and relaxation. Some users report a heightened state when using marijuana but this is a false perception and marijuana can affect the sense and reflexes similar to alcohol. Marijuana also  significantly impairs cognitive functions despite users believing that they are thinking more 'clearly'.

Marijuana addiction is very much a possibility, producing cravings similar to other drugs. There is much debate as to whether marijuana addiction is physical or psychological. Long term marijuana users who quit the drug do experience withdrawal symptoms during the detox periods. Others crave for the effects of marijuana without showing any withdrawal symptoms.

I'm going to have to run some tests of my own. I won't be doing any driving today anyway.   :

[mr.willy]

The Effects of Marijuana During Pregnancy
Pot and pregnancy don't mix. Marijuana contains over 300 chemicals. The active ingredient, THC (tetra-hydro-cannabinol) influences brain chemistry in a way similar to alcohol. It affects your memory and slows your thinking and reflexes.
Marijuana has been shown to affect babies, too.

We know that marijuana crosses the placenta, and can be found in the newborn's body for up to a month after a single use. Just like smoking tobacco, it causes less oxygen and food to get to the baby. This factor alone affects your baby's growth and brain development. Newborns of mothers who have used marijuana throughout pregnancy cry more. Some studies suggest that children exposed to marijuana while in the womb are at increased risk for attention disorders and learning problems that might not show up until school age.
Some say that they smoked marijuana and their baby seems fine.

They might have been lucky. There is much we don't know about how marijuana affects developing babies. Marijuana is used in different strengths, mixed with other drugs and even sprayed with weed killers when it is grown. These factors all make any pot use during pregnancy risky.

[taxidr]

MJ was a better option for me than morning sickness pills. Those drugs caused many birth defects. remember the flipper babies of the 70's.

[mr.willy]

marijuana can be physiologically and psychologically addictive. And Australian scientists recently reported that cannabis junkies hooked for more than 10 years develop brain injury. Compared with matched controls, users in this relatively small but provocative study scored lower on mental health and cognitive performance measures, and their MRI scans showed brain shrinkage in regions targeted by cannabis. Face it: Were the crude, dried, ground weed reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for safety, it would flunk on its brain effects alone.

Yet cannabis has adverse effects on more than the brain. The heart is stressed by marijuana, which for one thing elevates serum triglycerides that bring coronary disease risk. Marijuana is a serious respiratory irritant that serves up more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke. When pregnant women smoke, the drug gets into the fetus; in nursing mothers, it enters breast milk. And in the cannabis-receptor-laden testicles, there is growing evidence from the laboratory and in humans that THC causes mutant sperm, which among other things can't swim right—thus impairing male fertility, at least while the male and his sperm are under the influence.