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NORML E-Zine

Volume 7
Issue 38
September 30, 2004

The NORML E-Zine is a free weekly compilation of major news items regarding
marijuana. Text of archived stories is available on the website, with a
picture of our 34 year old leader Allen St. Pierre:
http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/cpress/20040204/capt.2020404au.jpg


Donate today to NORML's long-standing efforts to educate people on the
risk of too much Pot use!
http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/cover.htm
http://www.screenagercentral.com/summit/right_angle/
severe drug users http://www.eastcoastbob.com/kerrypuff.jpg
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Source for making drugs at home:
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93% of all companies now do Drug testing of employees
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Sign up for NORML's monthly pledge program today, and know the health risks!
http://www.skincareindia.com/index-cid-19-pid-1960.html

Gay and Lesbian Support NORML.  Since Cannabis use causes suppression of
testosterone, it causes Male Breast growth on young men, typically tripling
in size or more, and also the repression of male-female sexual function.
This leads to the conclusion that with daily Cannabis use over long periods,
straights become chemically more like gays and slowly change to being gay.
Because of this, Cannabis use is happily recommended by most Gay and Lesbian
Organizations and they also fully support NAMBLA, an organization for free
sexual expression. Check it out, it is on their website,
http://216.220.97.17/   and http://www.nambla.org




THE NEWS

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Government. We suspect the IP addresses are being recorded as well.


Cannabis link to mental illness strengthened

23:01 21 June 02, 2004

NewScientist.com news service

The link between regular cannabis use and later depression and schizophrenia
has been significantly strengthened by three new studies. The studies
provide "little support" for an alternative explanation - that people with
mental illnesses self-medicate with marijuana - according to Joseph Rey and
Christopher Tennant of the University of Sydney, who have written an
editorial on the papers in the British Medical Journal.

One of the key conclusions of the research is that people who start smoking
cannabis as adolescents are at the greatest risk of later developing mental
health problems. Another team calculates that eliminating cannabis use in
the UK population could reduce cases of schizophrenia by 13 per cent.

Until now, say Rey and Tennant, there was "a dearth of reliable evidence" to
support the idea that cannabis use could cause schizophrenia or depression.
That lack of good evidence "has handicapped the development of rational
public health policies," according to one of the research groups, led by
George Patton at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne,
Australia. The works also highlights potential risks associated with using
cannabis as a medicine to ease the symptoms of muscular sclerosis, for
example.

Pharmacological effect

Patton's team followed over 1600 Australian school pupils aged 14 to 15 for
seven years. Daily cannabis use was associated with a five-fold increased
risk of depression at the age of 20. Weekly use was linked to a two-fold
increase. The regular users were no more likely to have suffered from
depression or anxiety at the start of the study.

The reason for the link is unclear. Social consequences of frequent cannabis
use include educational failure and unemployment, which could increase the
risk of depression. "However, because the risk seems confined largely to
daily users, the question about a direct pharmacological effect remains,"
says Patton.


In separate research, a team led by Stanley Zammit at the University of
Cardiff, UK, evaluated data on over 50,000 men who had been Swedish military
conscripts in 1979 and 2001. This group represents 97 per cent of men aged
18 to 20 in the population at that time. The new analysis revealed a
dose-dependant relationship between the frequency of cannabis use and
schizophrenia. This held true in men with no psychotic symptoms before they
started using cannabis, suggesting they were not self-medicating.

Genetic factors

Finally, researchers led by Terrie Moffitt at King's College London, UK,
analysed comprehensive data on over 1000 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand
in 1992 and 2003.

They found that people who used cannabis by age 15 were four times as likely
to have a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder (a milder version of
schizophrenia) at age 26 than non-users.

But when the number of psychotic symptoms at age 11 was controlled for, this
increased risk dropped to become non-significant. This suggests that people
already at greater risk of later developing mental health problems are also
more likely to smoke cannabis. The total number of high quality studies on
cannabis use and mental health disorders remains small, stress Rey and
Tennant. And it is still not clear whether cannabis can cause these
conditions in people not predisposed by genetic factors, for example, to
develop them. "The overall weight of evidence is that occasional use of
cannabis has sone harmful effects overall," Zammit's team writes.
"Nevertheless, our results indicate a potentially serious risk to the mental
health of people who use cannabis. Such risks need to be considered in the
current move to liberalise and possibly legalise the use of cannabis in the
UK and other countries." Journal references: British Medical Journal (vol
325, p1195, p1199, p1212, p1183)

Chronic marijuana users are said to develop an "amotivational syndrome"
characterized by passivity, decreased motivation and preoccupation with drug
taking. The relationship of this syndrome to marijuana use, however, has no
been established.

Like alcohol intoxication, marijuana intoxication impairs reading
comprehension, memory, speech, problem-solving ability and reaction time.
Consistent evidence that marijuana induces or causes extensive brain damage
does exist yet. Medical researchers were studying the effectiveness of the
drug in relieving some of the symptoms of glaucoma and in treating the
nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but
conclusions have been negative.

Are there any other adverse reactions to marijuana?
A common bad reaction to marijuana is the "acute panic anxiety reaction."
People describe this reaction as an extreme fear of "losing control," which
causes panic. The symptoms usually disappear in a few hours.

What about psychological dependence on marijuana?
Long-term regular users of marijuana generally become psychologically
dependent. They may have a hard time limiting their use, they may need more
of the drug to get the same effect, and they develop problems with their
jobs and personal relationships. The drug can become the most important
aspect of their lives. Many display severe symptoms of Bipolar Affective
disorder within one year of continued use.

What are the dangers for young people?
One major concern about marijuana is its possible effects on young people as
they grow up. Research shows that the earlier people start using drugs, the
more likely they are to go on to experiment with other drugs. In addition,
when young people start using marijuana regularly, they often lose interest
and are not motivated to do their schoolwork. The effects of marijuana can
interfere with learning by impairing thinking, reading comprehension, and
verbal and mathematical skills. Research shows that students do not remember
what they have learned when they are "high".

How does marijuana affect driving ability?
Driving experiments show that marijuana affects a wide range of skills
needed for safe driving -- thinking and reflexes are slowed, making it hard
for drivers to respond to sudden, unexpected events. Also, a driver's
ability to "track" (stay in lane) through curves, to brake quickly, and to
maintain speed and the proper distance between cars is affected. Research
shows that these skills are impaired for at least 4-6 hours after smoking a
single marijuana cigarette, long after the "high" is gone. If a person
drinks alcohol, along with using marijuana, the risk of an accident greatly
increases. Marijuana presents a definite danger on the road.

Does marijuana affect the human reproductive system?
Some research studies suggest that the use of marijuana during pregnancy may
result in premature babies and in low birth weights. Studies of men and
women may have a temporary loss of fertility. These findings suggest that
marijuana may be especially harmful during adolescence, a period of rapid
physical and sexual development.

How does marijuana affect the heart?
Marijuana use increases the heart rate as much as 50 percent, depending on
the amount of THC. It can cause chest pain in people who have a poor blood
supply to the heart - and it produces these effects more rapidly than
tobacco smoke does.

How does marijuana affect the lungs?
Scientists believe that marijuana can be especially harmful to the lungs
because users often inhale the unfiltered smoke deeply and hold it in their
lungs as long as possible. Therefore, the smoke is in contact with lung
tissues for long periods of time, which irritates the lungs and damages the
way they work. Marijuana smoke contains some of the same ingredients in
tobacco smoke that can cause emphysema and cancer. In addition, many
marijuana users also smoke cigarettes; the combined effects of smoking these
two substances creates an increased health risk.

Can marijuana cause cancer?
Marijuana smoke has been found to contain more cancer-causing agents than is
found in tobacco smoke. Examination of human lung tissue that had been
exposed to marijuana smoke over a long period of time in a laboratory showed
cellular changes called metaplasia that are considered precancerous. In
laboratory test, the tars from marijuana smoke have produced tumors when
applied to animal skin. These studies suggest that it is likely that
marijuana may cause cancer if used for a number of years.

How are people usually introduced to marijuana?
Many young people are introduced to marijuana by their peers - usually
acquaintances, friends, sisters, and brothers. People often try drugs such
as marijuana because they feel pressured by peers to be part of the group.
Children must be taught how to say no to peer pressure to try drugs. Parents
can get involved by becoming informed about marijuana and by talking to
their children about drug use.

What is marijuana "burnout"?
"Burnout" is a term first used by marijuana smokers themselves to describe
the effect of prolonged use. Young people who smoke marijuana heavily over
long periods of time can become dull, slow moving, and inattentive. These
"burned-out" users are sometimes so unaware of their surroundings that they
do not respond when friends speak to them, and they do not realize they have
a problem.

How long do chemicals from marijuana stay in the body after the drug is
smoked?
When marijuana is smoked, THC, its active ingredient, is absorbed by most
tissues and organs in the body; however, it is primarily found in fat
tissues. The body, in its attempt to rid itself of the foreign chemical,
chemically transforms the THC into metabolites. Urine tests can detect THC
metabolites for up to a week after people have smoked marijuana. Tests
involving radioactively labeled THC have traced these metabolites in animals
for up to a month.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2004.
--
Dr.Postman IQ<50, MIC, KEY; "Disgruntled, And Uneducated"
Shempber, Bored of Directors of SEPTIC-CUNT� member
#15-51506-1253. NAMBLA Board Member.
You can email me at: DrJaiMaharaj(at)hotmail.com

"Prove's you are an idiot!"
- Ferret Brain displays his lost brilliance