The Brain on (Lots of) Marijuana

Reader Comments
Back to article

Correlation does not imply causation.

Robert of MN 8:53PM January 07, 2012

Correlation does not imply causation. It seems they forgot their statistics.

Rob of MN 8:51PM January 07, 2012

5 joints a day for 10 years? How is that a scientific study. Of course it was bad for them. Everything in moderation. Eating too many vegetables can be a bad thing too.

M.E. of CA 7:44PM May 18, 2011

I hate seeing all these weed never killed anyone comments, its just making us pro-cannabis readers look close minded and stupid. I think what they mean is that you can't overdose on it. It takes about 40,000 times the amount that is required for intoxication, which is impossible.
Also, the health effects are not nearly as damaging compared to cigarettes, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals; however, it still causes minor health problems so you can't say that it's completely harmless. I think that we need to weigh the pros and cons of legalization and make an unbiased decision.

kam of UT 2:24AM December 24, 2010

As a physician in California working as a "pot doc" for the last four and a half years, I have become very informed about marijuana.
1. The US government has been lying about marijuana for decades. It continues to lie about it to this day.
2. Marijuana is a marvelous medicine for many conditions. At least for adults, its safety profile is "less dangerous than peanut butter".

Thomas A Sazani, MD of CA 9:19AM December 18, 2010

Let's remember that the important thing here is not whether a substance is legal, but whether it is problematic for the user. Unfortunately, in the midst of a great deal of MISinformation, there is a LACK of information at all. The fact is that very little research has been done, especially long term, on the effects of marijuana use. This should make us all more concerned with looking for facts than fighting for either side. It is impossible to make a correct decision until enough information is collected to do so.
Cigarettes were once thought to be harmless. Money hungry manufacturer's hid the truth of scientific research, willing to put people's lives at risk in order to make a buck. I'm not familiar with many dealers who are more concerned with people's health than with profits. This time around, let's be smarter as consumer's and KNOW what we are in for before we buy it.

Cathy of NY 2:57PM September 24, 2010

When are all you so call Rocket Sicenist,Doctors, geinous and anyone else that are so nieve,or down right right stupid ( forgive me for being so blunt).I posses none of those quilities,but i'm smart enough to know that,everything in this world seems to harm you.They say that Marijauna.. will in time mess up your brain cell..Oh!!! my GOD.Alcohol(Which have been legal for decates)does it a matter of 1 2 3 4 or more beers or what ever they drink. Alcohol will do it in a matter of mimitues. You then want to kill your parent,or anyone else that gets in your way,you even want to fight 100 people because you think you can.(you've had enough drinks to think so Ha!!!)Or better yet get in your vehicle( cause again you think your invnerable, your one of the Elite..Ha Ha!!!!)Kill,hurt or kill yourself.Don't blame it on mary Jane mixed with aclocol to do that. Mary Jane alone will mellow you out.Now please don't get me wrong or tak it out of content.Marjuana is not for everybody,just like Alcohol? Deperss( Marijauna) you say.I do believe a simple person like me with on Doctors or Rocket Sicentist certifcites would think that.But i do believe that alcohol is even worst much worse.Delegalist Alcohol why don't you. Rember as far as i know it's concided a DRUG isn't it? That does the same or much much much much much worst. Comeon wake up and smell the the coffee.Who are you trying to fool.I'am really really really against any other HARD drugs i mean real DRUGS some that do the same thing as Alcohol Those will really Kill you. I got alot more to say but noy enough time,and please forgive my grammer and spelling,but i'm sure you'll understand and please educate me some more..Thanks

Concepcion G. Rodriguez of TX 2:17AM July 22, 2010

To "Confused",
Could you please cite the specific peer-reviewed research that backs up your "definitive statement" showing that in fact marijuana has caused deaths. I have been unable to find it.

Reality Check of CA 10:10AM July 06, 2010

Good questions and I can answer the first 2.
Pot was originally made illegal to allow police to harass and arrest blacks and Hispanics. It was also taken up as a cause by social crusaders who needed a target after Prohibition. DuPont wanted to market their new nylon rope to the Navy but couldn't compete with the price (or quality) of hemp rope. Then in the 60s became the focus of the culture war.
Alcohol is legal because after 13 years of Prohibition, in which the black market sales of alcohol fueled the rise or organized crime in the country, which undermined and corrupted the judicial system and huge amounts of tax money went down the drain in the form of enforcement and prisons all without significantly reducing alcohol consumption, people finally got fed up with it and repealed Prohibition. Does any of this sound familiar?
Why has it taken us so long this time around?

Michael of CA 6:18AM July 05, 2010

I can't say that I quite understand the passion with which marijuana users attack anyone and everyone who attempts to gain information and knowledge. I think it is quite inappropriate to suggest that Sarah Baldauf, or any researcher or reporter who is attempting to delve deeper into the subject in order to gain insight and truth, is attempting to "keep people from using marijuana". They are simply sharing what they are learning.
People most certainly have the right to make decisions for themselves. The more information one has, the better equipped one is to make a decision. None of us should be in the position to make a decision without knowing as many facts as possible.
It is absolutely unfair to make definitive general statements, such as "in all of human existance marijuana has never been the cause (of) a single death", which is simply not true.
It is normal to be resistent to information that challenges what we believe to be true. In the 1940s and 1950s more than 80% of US adults smoked cigarettes. We believed it made us cool, stylish, allowed us to relax, and was the thing to do. When evidence started to arise concerning possible risks and dangers associated with the use of tobacco there was tremendous resistence because it challenged our beliefs. Today there is no question as to the extreme dangers of tobacco use. Although just under 20% of the US adult population continues to use it, they do so with truly informed consent. They have the right to use it, but they have a right to know its possible dangers as well.
It is very dangerous for any of us to be so closed-minded that we cannot at least consider new information and use that information as part of our decision-making process.

Cathy of NY 10:36AM June 30, 2010