Cannabis' Effects on the Brain

[EverythingsHazy]

This thread is for sharing and discussing studies about Cannabis' long term effects on the brain. Whether or not we'd like to admit it, there are definitely some negative side effects to Cannabis use. Rather than denying them and living in ignorance, we should work to identify them, and then find ways to lessen them.

Here's a study that says it does have negative long term effects on brain volume:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4104335/#!po=55.7971

Here'a one that says that Cannabis doesn't necessarily have any detrimental long term effects on brain volume/composition:
http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/4/1505

 

[C No Ego]

Because phytocannabinoids that store in our tissue so closely mimic our own endocannabinoids that are synthesized on demand from arachidonic acid ( An unsaturated fatty acid, usually essential in nutrition; the biologic precursor of the prostaglandins, the thromboxanes, and the leukotrienes (collectively known as eicosanoids). it seems that our body uses both of these forms of cannabinoids equally while not discerning any real differences during the active biochemical processing time...
the duration of effects are noticeably felt after ingesting phytocannabinoids and taper down as those cannabinoids get neurally fired and sent into metabolic waste as in ooh metabolites...

adding extra cannabinoids ( via phytocannabinoids) into our endogenous cannabinoid system simply boosts that system just like if we were to go run for an extended time and work up a runners high from all the endocannabinoids firing...

this is where it gets complicated... different exogenous cannabinoids have differing effects...how to know what exactly is needed for maintaining absolute homeostasis in our biology is key... we are simply putting molecules in there hoping for an effect depending on what type of molecules they are etc....

unlike phytocannabinoids that get stored in tissue. We synthesize endocannabinoids on demand from arachidonic acid derived from our diet or food source ( omega fats). how much of that acid that's available @ any time determines our endocannabinoid functioning/signalling and that arachidonic acid that forms endogenous cannabinoids on demand is completely reliant upon how much omegas we have consumed.. we will not have a functioning endocannabinoid system if we do not eat omega fats or a depleted system that needs boosting- Ta-Da= cannabis

and then there is this...

https://www.google.com/patents/US6630507

 

[biohacker]

Woah! Mind blown! Some serious intellect here and I love it! You the man c no ego!

 

[EverythingsHazy]

I've read about Cannabis being neuroprotectant, as well, which is great. I just hate how many contrasting results these studies get. Some say there are no differences, and others say there are noticeable decreases in the volume of certain regions of the brain.

 

[TeeJay1952]

So I am not lazy or high, I am alternative jogging?

 

[C No Ego]

I've read about Cannabis being neuroprotectant, as well, which is great. I just hate how many contrasting results these studies get. Some say there are no differences, and others say there are noticeable decreases in the volume of certain regions of the brain.

In humans, the endocannabinoid system is located throughout specific regions and the brain has the most endocannabinoid activity with the reproductive system having the second most activity...

as to blood though, phytocannabinoids enter blood first and foremost to then move into the brain region so yeah, there would be response in that brain region first while spreading out from there...the response in our cannabinoid system from phytocannabinoids as science has shown is neuro signalling at the cannabinoid receptor on the cell surface ( phospholipid bilayer) either opening or closing calcium ion channels ( up regulation/ down regulation) depending upon the molecular profile or structure of the particular cannabis compounds. shape and form affecting function= biological functioning

neuro science was created through the synthetic mapping of the biochemical pathways that the cannabinoid takes in our bodies.... it has been said that without phytocannabinoids from cannabis species to show us the endocannabinoid system we would not even know of this homeostasis regulating system for biological life.. we would still be saying that endorphins are released with cannabis use and that is the effects, and that would be totally wrong as it's so much more than endorphins releasing etc...

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Here's another study that shows lower volume in certain brain regions of Cannabis users, but suggests they might not be caused by the Cannabis use:
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2429550

 

[C No Ego]

Here's another study that shows lower volume in certain brain regions of Cannabis users, but suggests they might not be caused by the Cannabis use:
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2429550

unless you look at studies outside of America you will only find harm based studies.... to bolster prohibition and keep people in fear...

that is not to say that there are no incorrect usage strategies when consuming cannabis.
cannabis doctors will tell you that some people need supplemental cannabinoids and others already have an over abundance or over active endocannabinoids... still though, for the person lacking cannabinoids agonist thc compounds would be prescribed and someone over active could be prescribed cbd antagonist compounds to slow down the system etc...

as to the harm studies... there is zero doubt that the hit it and hold it in approach for smoking cannabis is not healthy and starves needed oxygen to the brain when you constantly are holding in a hit.... that says nothing of the cannabis plant itself though, just that someone is depriving oxygen to their brain which if they were to just hold in their breath without cannabis smoke they would have similar oxygen deprived results so.....

then there is the research of Dr Donald Tashkin who is the leading researcher on smoked cannabis for the longest time and he found no over all negative pulmonary functioning in his research and that has been accredited to the cannabinoids in cannabis as to the over all health effects gained even when smoked....

 

[biohacker]

that is not to say that there are no incorrect usage strategies when consuming cannabis.
cannabis doctors will tell you that some people need supplemental cannabinoids and others already have an over abundance or over active endocannabinoids... still though, for the person lacking cannabinoids agonist thc compounds would be prescribed and someone over active could be prescribed cbd antagonist compounds to slow down the system etc...

How would one know where their system is at?

as to the harm studies... there is zero doubt that the hit it and hold it in approach for smoking cannabis is not healthy and starves needed oxygen to the brain when you constantly are holding in a hit.... that says nothing of the cannabis plant itself though, just that someone is depriving oxygen to their brain which if they were to just hold in their breath without cannabis smoke they would have similar oxygen deprived results so.....

I hold my breath all the time when I do my Wim Hof Method. I actually think i'm doing something healthy. However, I do rid my body of CO2 when I do the technique, so maybe it's different than just the average joe holding their breath?

then there is the research of Dr Donald Tashkin who is the leading researcher on smoked cannabis for the longest time and he found no over all negative pulmonary functioning in his research and that has been accredited to the cannabinoids in cannabis as to the over all health effects gained even when smoked....

Smoking definitely has a very negative affect on the pulmonary system. Night and day with vaping though.

 

[C No Ego]

How would one know where their system is at?

Exactly! usually adding cannabinoids into the system shows immediate effects and what needs up-regulating or down-regulating... but generally people with digestive issues are low in endocannabinoids as the ability to digest food from a homeostasis standpoint is compromised from lack of endocannabinoids... people with excess energy generally have excessive endocannabinoids and could use down regulation... only a couple of medical schools are teaching this at this point and it is very new discoveries scientifically speaking... direct experience has been occurring since the monks started cultivating cannabis strains in the mountains

I hold my breath all the time when I do my Wim Hof Method. I actually think i'm doing something healthy. However, I do rid my body of CO2 when I do the technique, so maybe it's different than just the average joe holding their breath?

free divers, etc... will not be as effected from the hit and hold but normal everyday breathers who do not work up to the deep breathing ability will be negatively affected...

Smoking definitely has a very negative affect on the pulmonary system. Night and day with vaping though.

the smoke or carcinogens do have that negative effect but the bodies response to the phytocannabinoids in the smoke help deal with that... that has been the consensus thus far from the research...

 

[biohacker]

fascinating....I LOVE your content, it's so novel and deep, and i'm very curious to pick your brain further, when I get back later. Thanks for posting that! But you gotta switch your colours or something...I had to highlight the post in order to be able to read it

 

[Alexis]

Here here. That blue text messes up my focus big time! I think it might have something to do with my optic nerve injury. Seriouslt, when I look at it, the white/grey text below in my visual field at the same time is blurred and out of focus.
When I look at it directly, it takes a few seconds to come into focus.
This might be just me because that is the exact thing that happened when the nerve injury occured. Dizziness, nausea and a delayed focis by 5 seconds every time I turned my head.

Not pleasant and quite frightening! When I looked at the blue text, I got worried that something had happened to my eyes, but I do wonder if this text effect might be unhealthy for the eyes?

@C No Ego , please correct!

 

[biohacker]

C No Ego said:

"Exactly! usually adding cannabinoids into the system shows immediate effects and what needs up-regulating or down-regulating... but generally people with digestive issues are low in endocannabinoids as the ability to digest food from a homeostasis standpoint is compromised from lack of endocannabinoids... people with excess energy generally have excessive endocannabinoids and could use down regulation... only a couple of medical schools are teaching this at this point and it is very new discoveries scientifically speaking... direct experience has been occurring since the monks started cultivating cannabis strains in the mountains"

I really want to believe this because it's an angle I have never considered before. However, I just don't understand how this is possible. What immediate effects? I have zero digestive issues but feel that the constant bombardment of phytocannabinoids has down regulated my endogenous production of anandamine, and thus resulting in a depleted endocannabinoid system when I don't intake the phytos? It's as if the exogenous phytocannabinoids disrupts homeostasis?

For those with excess energy (i'm bipolar so I know what excess means! lol), wouldn't THC have more of an effect to quell it? It wouldn't necessarily mean that they have excessive cannabinoids?

It just seems quite conjecture, if I even understand correctly, so would love some references or information that I could research up on to get on the same level.

I'm presently on a protracted break, after using for 20 years so this topic really intrigues me.

the smoke or carcinogens do have that negative effect but the bodies response to the phytocannabinoids in the smoke help deal with that... that has been the consensus thus far from the research...

Again i'd love to see the research, as combustion's deleterious effects on the pulmonary system certainly wreck havoc, even if it doesn't cause cancer (protection by cannabis).

 

[Alexis]

I cant help but think that the chemicals in weed may be a significanr part of negative effects on the brain and consciousness, in relation to virtually all study results out there.

Can we underestimate the harmful effects of chemicals in weed? Or do I mean overestimate?
My own brain is shot to pieces I know that. I did actually incur some negative brain effects one weekend when I ate 3 eights of hash when I was 17.
And heavy ecstasy use did magnanimous damage. So Im not PERSONALLY worrying about my own cannabis use and brain effects. That ship has long sailed. I just take each day at a time. It is like my £17,000 student loan debts. I cant pay it back, not earning a wage to even begin, I dont even think about it ever, except once a year when I get my annual statement, but only for a second.

I cant change my past. Im not questioning people being concerned about their long term brain health in realtion to cannabis. I do believe there is evidence that cannabinoids are capable of stimulating neurogenesis though?

And in the case of traumatic brain injury, cannabinoids may be the best thing.

But I feel it is a very valid idea that just about all the research out there pointing to negative brain, or other effects of cannabis, how much is this related to the unregulated and wide range of toxic chemicals consumed in the weed?

This has to be considered in assessing the data surely? Chemicals have got to do as much harm as anything. I say this in the context that maybe dont buy too much into fear about the actual cannabis' effects itself. We need the world to gradually come towards sanity. Chemicals in weed have got to go.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Why is there proof of lower brain volumes in Cannabis users, in regions of the brain that have higher densities for cannabinoids? That's what I'm wondering. It just so happens that some of these areas have a lot to do with pleasure/reward processing, and motivation.

Constantly bombarding those areas with cannabinoids, if it lowers their volume, possibly due to effects on synaptic pruning, can't be good for long term mental health.

 

[Alexis]

Why is there proof of lower brain volumes in Cannabis users, in regions of the brain that have higher densities for cannabinoids? That's what I'm wondering. It just so happens that some of these areas have a lot to do with pleasure/reward processing, and motivation.

Constantly bombarding those areas with cannabinoids, if it lowers their volume, possibly due to effects on synaptic pruning, can't be good for long term mental health.

Not disagreeing at al on that at all, or on the general angle of this thread, in case I gave to wrong impression. I am just mentally despondent right now all of a sudden and not right in my head at all, therefore not seeing things objectively.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Not disagreeing at al on that at all, or on the general angle of this thread, in case I gave to wrong impression. I am just mentally despondent right now all of a sudden and not right in my head at all, therefore not seeing things objectively.

Oh, I wasn't referring to anyone's post in particular. That's just the issue I find most concerning, because it can't be circumvented by vaporizing (rather than smoking) or edibles (rather than inhalation).

 

[biohacker]

Good point Hazy, and you have no idea how refreshing it is to me that you even CARE, especially considering that I think you are much younger than me. I mean, look at how dead this thread is, as well as the CannaBreak thread, this forum is mostly for those that care about vapes and getting high, so thanks for bringing this thread up even. I have posted links to other forums that are way better for this kind of discussion, and then you can actually see real anecdotal reports from real people that have been there for 5, 10, 35+ years.

I know that the negative effects are mainly dose dependent, as centres such as the amygdala and hippocampus can shrink with chronic use, and thus result in memory and emotional centres being negatively affected. I know that ever since i've stopped usage, my anxiety is basically NON EXISTENT. I'm much more happy and positive, even with the sleep deprivation i've been experiencing.

Overall, I feel like i'm almost back to my normal self, and that's after using every single day for a year straight (1.5-2g/day), but really more like the past 10 years straight. My tolerance for other people has greatly diminished, i've become much more anti-social and reclusive, and motivation dwindles when I reach tolerance (which happens fast with high daily use). But, who knows...perhaps it's just the process of getting older, and in my 30's realized how completely fake most people are, and how being social means alcohol much of the time for maybe people, which annoys the heck out of me (even though I USED to be one of those people too). Alexis knows, certain people can only relate on a certain vibration, and for me it seems that vibration has something to do with cannabis' energy or something.

At my age, I probably just don't care as much as i'm used to... I feel like i've done my homework enough and self experimented that i'm pretty happy with how safe cannabis is, and I worry now more than ever about what Alexis said with the chemicals and fertilizers. I'm starting to think they are more worrisome than the actual drug of THC. But with that said, I won't be ignorant to what THC can do negatively, but it's all about risk/reward assessment and deciding what is best for our own wellbeing.

Everyone is different, and has a different path to walk. When needed medically, I don't care about any long term effects because if medicine is NEEDED, than its long term effects will ALWAYS be FAR FAR SAFER than pharmaceutical poisons IMHO.

However, from a recreational standpoint, the ball is in your own court.... only you can choose what you put into your body, be it weed, booze, E, LSD, anabolics, whatever.... and you choose the dose and frequency. My own personal view point is that moderation is the way to go with everything, and always have breaks if you can to cleanse and detox all the pathways in the body.

If I start to get negative effects, I take action and make adjustments. It's the people who become complacent and lack mindfulness that get into problems, as it's so easy to become habituated and dependent/addicted to those reward pathways.

I'm so happy i'm not addicted to gambling, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, soda pop, fast food, tv, and a plethora of other destructive habits. Pick your poison (if it can even be called that)... I think cannabis is better/safer than all of those.

Just on

 

[herbivore21]

Here's another study that shows lower volume in certain brain regions of Cannabis users, but suggests they might not be caused by the Cannabis use:
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2429550

This brings up the golden rule of scientific method:

CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION. Just because two phenomena are observed in the same cohort, does not mean that one caused the other, or that they are directly related.

If you do a correlational study that finds cannabis users have reduced size in certain brain regions compared to others, this may be evidence that people with neurodegenerative brain diseases, acquired brain injuries etc are self medicating with cannabis and overrepresented in such studies (and this is only one possible explanation!).

I'll also point out that CBD is a cannabinoid known to stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis, that is the growth of new nerve tissue in the part of the brain known as the hippocampus. The same tissue is found to atrophy and lose density in the brains of people who have experienced long term stress/anxiety/depression. In this case, cannabis can in fact cause this part of your brain to regain damaged mass! Quite the contrary to damaging parts of the brain!

 

[biohacker]

Thanks @herbivore21 would love some references for that, as I do feel I have similar issue due to long term stress/ptsd/anxiety/adhd/cluster b & c traits (borderline and avoidant), bipolar. If CBD is gonna help me, i'd focus on that...especially since I have access to incredible CBD 99% crystals as well as shatter.

The problem is i've never enjoyed the effects of CBD dominant strains, it's like very incomplete to me without the THC and nearly causes me anxiety. Same thing with low temp vaping...uncomfortable feeling.

Thanks for gracing us with your presence in this thread man! You are an asset here indeed.

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Good point Hazy, and you have no idea how refreshing it is to me that you even CARE, especially considering that I think you are much younger than me. I mean, look at how dead this thread is, as well as the CannaBreak thread, this forum is mostly for those that care about vapes and getting high, so thanks for bringing this thread up even. I have posted links to other forums that are way better for this kind of discussion, and then you can actually see real anecdotal reports from real people that have been there for 5, 10, 35+ years.

I know that the negative effects are mainly dose dependent, as centres such as the amygdala and hippocampus can shrink with chronic use, and thus result in memory and emotional centres being negatively affected. I know that ever since i've stopped usage, my anxiety is basically NON EXISTENT. I'm much more happy and positive, even with the sleep deprivation i've been experiencing.

Overall, I feel like i'm almost back to my normal self, and that's after using every single day for a year straight (1.5-2g/day), but really more like the past 10 years straight. My tolerance for other people has greatly diminished, i've become much more anti-social and reclusive, and motivation dwindles when I reach tolerance (which happens fast with high daily use). But, who knows...perhaps it's just the process of getting older, and in my 30's realized how completely fake most people are, and how being social means alcohol much of the time for maybe people, which annoys the heck out of me (even though I USED to be one of those people too). Alexis knows, certain people can only relate on a certain vibration, and for me it seems that vibration has something to do with cannabis' energy or something.

At my age, I probably just don't care as much as i'm used to... I feel like i've done my homework enough and self experimented that i'm pretty happy with how safe cannabis is, and I worry now more than ever about what Alexis said with the chemicals and fertilizers. I'm starting to think they are more worrisome than the actual drug of THC. But with that said, I won't be ignorant to what THC can do negatively, but it's all about risk/reward assessment and deciding what is best for our own wellbeing.

Everyone is different, and has a different path to walk. When needed medically, I don't care about any long term effects because if medicine is NEEDED, than its long term effects will ALWAYS be FAR FAR SAFER than pharmaceutical poisons IMHO.

However, from a recreational standpoint, the ball is in your own court.... only you can choose what you put into your body, be it weed, booze, E, LSD, anabolics, whatever.... and you choose the dose and frequency. My own personal view point is that moderation is the way to go with everything, and always have breaks if you can to cleanse and detox all the pathways in the body.

If I start to get negative effects, I take action and make adjustments. It's the people who become complacent and lack mindfulness that get into problems, as it's so easy to become habituated and dependent/addicted to those reward pathways.

I'm so happy i'm not addicted to gambling, alcohol, tobacco, coffee, soda pop, fast food, tv, and a plethora of other destructive habits. Pick your poison (if it can even be called that)... I think cannabis is better/safer than all of those.

Just on

Thank you! I like that there are a few people here who can join in on the discussion, even if there aren't many.

I agree that moderation is key for most things. It's just a matter of finding out what level of moderation is enough. It reminds me of people who have been gaining weight, and then decide to moderate their sugar intake by cutting out soda, and then complain about not losing weight, when in fact, they aren't moderating enough to drop below their maintenance calorie budget.

This brings up the golden rule of scientific method:

CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION. Just because two phenomena are observed in the same cohort, does not mean that one caused the other, or that they are directly related.

If you do a correlational study that finds cannabis users have reduced size in certain brain regions compared to others, this may be evidence that people with neurodegenerative brain diseases, acquired brain injuries etc are self medicating with cannabis and overrepresented in such studies (and this is only one possible explanation!).

I'll also point out that CBD is a cannabinoid known to stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis, that is the growth of new nerve tissue in the part of the brain known as the hippocampus. The same tissue is found to atrophy and lose density in the brains of people who have experienced long term stress/anxiety/depression. In this case, cannabis can in fact cause this part of your brain to regain damaged mass! Quite the contrary to damaging parts of the brain!

This is very true. If they could prove that it is not causation, that would be nice, though, because a lot of times, correlation does indicate some form of causation. It very well might not, but I have a hard time believing getting enough thc in your system to get a strong buzz, has no effect on the brain. Also, if CBD is promoting neurogenesis, it's apparently not enough to counter the smaller brain volume, otherwise it wouldn't show up in Cannabis users.

 

[Alexis]

Speaking from my own personal experience (relative to my own constitution and mind), I believe it is possible to underestimate the POWER of cannabis by a heavy user.

I am not and have never been nearly as heavy a user as yourself Biohacker in recent times. (I mean your recent usage). Even when I was allergy free and a full time pot head bong/joint smoker, I typically kept my consumption of weed to around 7 grams a week.
I didnt see the point in me goimg above that. I enjoyed it fully. Not all day long,, but several times per day. For me to go higher seemed pointless. Tolerance just shoots up, and less was more. It seemed clearly that the people who smoked a lot more were'nt getting as much mileage or enjoyment out of their herb as I was.

When I got my Verdamper vaporizer at beginning of 2009, I religiously vaped three 0.4 gram loads per day, for 11 days in a row. So 1.2 grams per day.
I practically had to force myself to do it. I am sure my cannabis tolerance is lower due to my illness. It was all chemical weed as well. I had a whitie everyday after getting in bed gone midnight following the final load. It was all good, but I was so canned. I was suffering badly with allergies to the chemical ferts as well.

After 11 days in a row, I had ro go for a sort of psychological assessment to see if there were any approriate services for me. The guy basically thought I was a bit crazy. I could barely speak due to the chemicals effect on my vocal chords.

But, I sat in that waiting room, and I honestly felt as DAMAGED as I ever did from any other drug binge I ever went on. I used to go to illegal rave festivals and take stupid amounts of ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms and ketamine. Until my brain was never the same again, no thought for tomorrow at all! Im not at all proud of my youthful insanity.

That 11 days 1.2 (perhaps a bit more) grams vaped, I felt as messed up physicallt,and mentally as any of my psychedellic binges, which literally damaged my brain.

I am sure I have a lowish tolerance for cannabis, certainly compared to yourself Biohacker.
I stopped taking all other drugs except weed in April 2005 when I became unwell. Im sure I would not have stopped otherwise. I only used weed until November 18th 2011, when I took my first LSD trip in 6 1/2 years. It was mind blowingly potent. Like original 60's LSD strength, 250 micrograms.

I took 72 trips over 13 separate occasions up until July 2012. I took up to 17 in 48 hours. I can really handle LSD and seem completely normal to others on the most intense hallucinogenic ride. People would not even believe I was tripping. I was always this way though.

I genuinely feel that, if you took all my allergies and physical problems away, it would honestly be EASIER for me to take 5 very strong trips every day, without tolerance rising, than to vape 1.2 to 1.5 grams of weed in a strong vape.
And I really mean that. This is just my own body and mind and personal aptitude of course, but let that stand as a testiment, not just to the power of cannabis, but the power of VAPORIZING cannabis.

Not to be underestimated. So without question DOSE is crucial.
I really dont know HOW you even do it, Biohacker!
But that is just me of course, we are all different, but the weed culture does lead people to greatly underestimate thw power of weed.

I have always been a much more moderate user. So my own feelings that cannabis is not so harmful for me to be overly concerned with, is based on my own lower tolearace and moderate usage.

 

[herbivore21]

Also, if CBD is promoting neurogenesis, it's apparently not enough to counter the smaller brain volume, otherwise it wouldn't show up in Cannabis users.

Bro, look at this image of the hippocampus compared to the overall volume of the brain:

I think that we can all appreciate that even profound hippocampal neurogenesis is not likely to make a brain that was otherwise comparatively small in overall volume large enough to be considered normal sized again.

Also, many daily cannabis users in many places NEVER consume any measurable CBD. Remember, most of the varieties out there, especially in prohibitionland do not contain any measurable CBD because cultivators have selected for the chemovars that get them 'high'! For this reason, we can expect that a large subsection of regular cannabis users do not regularly consume CBD and will not experience hippocampal neurogenesis.

Also, as I said in my post above, the overall smaller brain size could be emblematic of other pre-existing brain conditions, or may happen subsequently during a study like the one cited above as a result of the progression of preexisting neurodevelopmental/neurodegenerative disease (many of which are vastly underdiagnosed in most populations, also screening in the study cited in the OP only considered impairments that may lead to different structure, volume and functioning of the brain, not high-functioning or relatively unimpaired people with such conditions - these are also the more commonly underdiagnosed variants of these conditions in many cases, who nonetheless can be expected to have different looking brains in various ways according to the respective condition) and so we must not conflate that study's findings with the view that cannabis use definitely makes your brain smaller than it originally was. I apologise, the above is a monstrous sentence

What I am saying is that there are many relevant variables that need to be fully teased apart before we can make further sense of this correlation. The silent premise in the claim that 'Correlation does not equal causation is this' - Correlation does not necessarily equal causation. It is true that two things that happen together may have some causal relationship, but you can only be sure of this when the influences of all other variables are eliminated.

As for CBD causing hippocampal neurogenesis, I've shared that scholarly study elsewhere on FC long ago. Please search for it as I do not have time right now because I'm currently busy working on my own scientific research no rest for the wicked!

 

[biohacker]

Alexis, really it's not that much when you think about it, 1/2gram in morning, 1/2 gram early afternoon 1/2 gram dinner, and 1/2 gram evening. A 1/2 gram isn't much IMO, and can basically be two .25 hits,.... perhaps it's because I have massive 7.5+Litre swimmers lungs? Apparently my lung volume is so massive I needed to have TWO chest x-rays because they wouldn't fit on one slide. I have always been an athlete since I was 20 years old, and I also attribute it to my bong usage in university! lol. I know some people are lightweights, but you really have to consider genetics, body composition, etc. For instance, my girl at 5'8 125lbs never used cannabis ever until she was like 33 i think, and she can't vape above 160c, micro doses, and can get lit really easily. I'm 6'3, 185-195 range, single digit body fat, and a very long 20 year history of on/off usage, the last 10 chronic. Because of stress, shift work, etc. I really depended on cannabis to be able to survive, since there was no way I could thrive. This resulted in an increase in tolerance, however it's more the VAS that was my issue.

I became (and still am) addicted to vaporizers and toys related. I have the financial freedom to basically do whatever I want since i'm not married and don't have kids, although it came at a price of my health (both physical but especially mental)....i literally destroyed my brain from long term chronic stress and sleep deprivation. I love vaporizer technology, but you need to feed those toys, and when you have access to the most amazing cannabis strains that can be mailed to my door, it's easy to play.

This is my current issue as well....I want to buy the Herbo Ti, Solo 2, Twax Flowerpot, Hexnail, etc but in order to appreciate and test/play with those devices, you need to feed them. What's the fun in just one or two little sessions, only to have to stop and just stare at your toys? lol I know you are in a completely different position, but you put much time into researching vapes, etc. Some people would ask us how it's possible to spend so much time on FC.... it's all how you look at things and the person's particular situation and circumstances.

With that said, I think it's narrow minded to just look at dosage on a weight scale. 2 grams of shit weed per day vs 2 grams of high thc hydroponic? What about your own personal tolerance level? I know people ( @lwien - may actually be interested in this thread, and a good contributor due to his age and history, as well as he's a runner), he uses micro dosing only in the evening and will go into full withdrawal without. So to HIS brain, .1g/night may be the same as 2g to MY brain.

How long do you hold your hits? What about nutrition and omega's? Set and setting? There are SO many variables, you just can't go based on a weight scale. And then there are edibles.... those can blow your tolerance through the roof....been there. So when that happens, you can vape as much as you want and it doesn't really matter.

I look forward to getting back to a more healthy relationship, but i'm pretty certain if my withdrawal is this easy now, and I regain the ability to sleep somewhat decently, I won't be too concerned about my excessive usage again, unless I get bad side effects (tells me to cut back or take a break again) or have financial issues.

It's so weird though Alexis, our experiences are opposite as you didn't imbibe in as much weed as me, however i've basically never really touched any other drugs in my life, and from your experience, i'm happy I became dependent on weed instead of all the chemical drugs. I was smart enough to avoid them, although fell prey to alcohol until my late 20's, but had zero issues quitting it. I simply cannot become an alcoholic even if I tried, but cannabis on the other hand..... probably because I also know how damaging alcohol is to your health, but confident that cannabis is relatively mild.

Furthermore, vaporizing vs smoking is a huge difference....my first half of cannabis use (10 years on off) was all bong combustion,...it was awful, i'd have a chronic nagging cough constantly, horrible eye bags, and it just was so unhealthy. Vaping on the other hand, zero lung issues (some hacks for the first week or so but now perfect), eye bags are getting way better (probably from more REM and not going to bed high), but I feel sometimes that vaping gets way more cannabinoids to the dome, and could negatively affect the brain differently than smoking it.

Just more food for thought for discussion..and apologies as I just barfed this out from my head and did zero proofreading lol

 

[EverythingsHazy]

Bro, look at this image of the hippocampus compared to the overall volume of the brain:

I think that we can all appreciate that even profound hippocampal neurogenesis is not likely to make a brain that was otherwise comparatively small in overall volume large enough to be considered normal sized again.

This is true, but it should be able to make up for the hippocampus volume decrease.

Also, many daily cannabis users in many places NEVER consume any measurable CBD. Remember, most of the varieties out there, especially in prohibitionland do not contain any measurable CBD because cultivators have selected for the chemovars that get them 'high'! For this reason, we can expect that a large subsection of regular cannabis users do not regularly consume CBD and will not experience hippocampal neurogenesis.

It's a shame, because such ridiculous THC percentages aren't even needed if you aren't abusing Cannabis to the point of building an insane tolerance.