i reckon there must be a lot of hyperventilateing going on .

Interesting...

First off, to answer the question directed to me by massagetrade:

Canabinoid receptors are actually activated by canibinoids...(i.e.
cannibinoids created naturally by your body, naturally occurring
canibinoids in the cannabis sativa plant, and newer synthetic
compounds.) If memory serves me correct, these are linked to pleasure
systems within the body, but you may want to look it up to be sure-
sorry, it's been a while since I studied up on it .

And more science to add food for thought:

Smoking pot has no long-term side-effects that have been determined. It
is not PHYSICALLY addictive (keep in mind, McDonald's Cheeseburgers are
as emotionally addictive as marijuana), and the short-term side effects
of cognitive impairment are due to a coating of the synapses. This
coating slows down synapse "firing", which can cause short-term memory
loss, loss perception (like peripheral vision), and a narrowing of
focus-coupled with the "positive high" that is the result of the binding
of THC to the cannibinoid receptor in your brain. (Keep in mind, I may
have some of the details a little wrong, but I'm accurate enough for the
purposes of this forum post).

The coating of the synapses actually goes away after a short duration;
so while long-term excessive use can impair mental activity due to lack
of use of certain, established neural pathways, "responsible" or
periodic use will help to avoid these dangers.

Or the non-medical/scientific response: If you are responsible, and
don't turn your "glass of wine a day" into a case of alcoholism, there
is even less danger and damage to your body than any other substance out
there. It's healthier than eating cheeseburgers-literally.

aplause aplause

Maijauna is highly addictive.

From: http://www.marijuanaaddiction.info/

Marijuana addiction is a phenomenon experienced by more than 150,000
individuals each year who enter treatment for their proclaimed addiction
to marijuana. Marijuana addiction is characterized as compulsive, often
uncontrollable marijuana craving, seeking, and use, even when the
individual knows that marijuana use is not in his best interest.
Marijuana addiction could be defined as chronically making the firm
decision not to use marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to
experiencing overwhelming compulsive urges to use marijuana despite the
firm decision not to. This contradiction is characteristic of an
addiction problem.

Symptoms of Marijuana Addiction:

Marijuana tolerance:
Either need for markedly increased amounts of marijuana to achieve
intoxication, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the
same amount of marijuana.
Greater use of marijuana than intended:
Marijuana taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was
intended.
Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control marijuana use.
A great deal of time spent in using marijuana
Marijuana use causing a reduction in social, occupational or
recreational activities.

Continued marijuana use despite knowing it will cause significant
problems.

Marijuana is both emotionally and mentally addictive. Once an individual
becomes addicted to marijuana it develops into part of who they believe
themselves to be. Avoiding their friends who do not use, the addict will
gravitate to others that do. Marijuana is a topic that is always on
their mind, whether it be thinking about the next time they will be able
to get high or where their going to get their next sack. When someone is
addicted to marijuana eventually their friends and the people close to
them only know how they act when their stoned because they no longer do
anything without first smoking. Their constant abuse is due to the
misconception that marijuana is what they need to solve their problems.
Sometimes addicts will take their stash with them wherever they go, just
in case an opportunity arises and they are able to take a couple hits.
They may even go through several dealers in order to make sure they
always have a constant supply of marijuana.

The cost of marijuana addiction to the individual who allows their
addiction to escalate may suffer health and social consequences, memory
and learning problems, problems at work or even result in losing a job
because of high absenteeism. Those who isolate themselves from friends
and family often put a heavy strain on relationships with loved ones.
There is a vicious cycle to marijuana addiction in which these problems
are often used as a rational to smoke even more pot. Marijuana addiction
is a no-win situation that many unintentionally fall into (the drug that
is causing the problem becomes the solution to the problem it caused).

Addiction to marijuana is severe due to its affect on the user's brain.
Scientists now know many facts about marijuana's effect on the body and
how delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active chemical in
Marijuana, acts in the human brain. When marijuana is smoked, THC
travels quickly through the body and into the brain where it unites with
specific receptors on nerve cells. Areas of the brain with the most
receptors affected by THC are parts of the brain that control pleasure,
thought, memory, sensory, concentration, time perception, and
coordination. It's these areas of the brain that are most likely to be
affected when an individual faces marijuana addiction.

If you feel that your marijuana use is out of your control and
interfering with your personal goals and happiness and you would like to
stop but can't seek help from addiction treatment professional.

Interesting that your counter-argument is a pasted copy of a brochure.
*sigh* Most people never bother to READ the studies these companies
mis-quote, so allow me to give you an insight into junk-science, and its
many uses in propoganda.

Marijuana addiction is a phenomenon experienced by more than 150,000
individuals each year who enter treatment for their proclaimed addiction
to marijuana. Marijuana addiction is characterized as compulsive, often
uncontrollable marijuana craving, seeking, and use, even when the
individual knows that marijuana use is not in his best interest. [Please
note they do not mention the TYPE of addiction, as conclusive scientific
studies have shown that PHYSICALLY marijuana is as addictive as
chocolate. That means, while pleasing to various senses, there is no
physical craving responses tied to marijuana use. Of course, there are
choc-a-holics out there, and you don't need to go further than your
local McDonalds to see the effects of EMOTIONAL addiction. This is
completely different from the PHYSICAL addiction of nicotine and
alcohol-both legal.]

Marijuana addiction could be defined as chronically making the firm
decision not to use marijuana followed shortly by a relapse due to
experiencing overwhelming compulsive urges to use marijuana despite the
firm decision not to. This contradiction is characteristic of an
addiction problem. [I laughed twice when I read this. The first time
when I read it, and again now. The key word in this paragraph is
"could". See, psychologist have a hard time defining words like
"addiction" in the first place. Additionally, you have to consider they
are defining an addiction that has the same exact symptoms of HABIT.]


Symptoms of Marijuana Addiction:

Marijuana tolerance:
Either need for markedly increased amounts of marijuana to achieve
intoxication, or markedly diminished effect with continued use of the
same amount of marijuana. [So, in other words, you either need more or
less of it. Yeah, this is conclusive of what?]

Greater use of marijuana than intended:
Marijuana taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was
intended. [Yeah, I Dated a girl once longer than I intended too.]
Unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control marijuana use. [Yup, also
had a weight problem too.]

A great deal of time spent in using marijuana
Marijuana use causing a reduction in social, occupational or
recreational activities. [This is true, they did a study on this. What
was interesting about this study is that a SIGNIFICANT number of users
stopped for no apparent reason. I guess, there MIGHT be other factors
for social change besides marijuana-but not according to this
paragraph.]

Continued marijuana use despite knowing it will cause significant
problems. [Hmmm, again, I one time had a relationship that I KNEW was a
bad idea, but for some reason...]

Marijuana is both emotionally and mentally addictive [There ya go,
emotionally and mentally. Like cheeseburgers, good books, video games,
and relationships] . Once an individual
becomes addicted to marijuana it develops into part of who they believe
themselves to be [Yeah, not for the large number of people that stop
after college. By the way, this is ALSO in said study]. Avoiding their
friends who do not use, the addict will
gravitate to others that do [hmmm, you mean people will gravitate to
other that share similar interests? This is SHOCKING phenomena].
Marijuana is a topic that is always on their mind, whether it be
thinking about the next time they will be able to get high or where
their going to get their next sack [*sigh* This statement just isn't
verifiable at all. This is the kind of data that in scientific studies
require DATA to say, but is not necessary in a propogandamercial].

When someone is addicted to marijuana eventually their friends and the
people close to them only know how they act when their stoned because
they no longer do anything without first smoking. Their constant abuse
is due to the misconception that marijuana is what they need to solve
their problems.Sometimes addicts will take their stash with them
wherever they go, just in case an opportunity arises and they are able
to take a couple hits. They may even go through several dealers in order
to make sure they always have a constant supply of marijuana.
[It's true, when someone becomes a habitual user, this can be a typical
pattern of behavior. Of course, this is also part of HABIT, and does not
demonstrate a harmful pattern of behavior, other than flouting the law.
Which, no who drives has ever done ]

The cost of marijuana addiction to the individual who allows their
addiction to escalate may suffer health and social consequences, memory
and learning problems, problems at work or even result in losing a job
because of high absenteeism. Those who isolate themselves from friends
and family often put a heavy strain on relationships with loved ones.
[Umm, another little bit of logical/scientific truth. One interesting
correlation is that many types of people may be predisposed to certain
types of behavior, which may also include marijuana use. See, without a
physical addiction, drugs do not cause personality changes. Does ANYONE
realize how difficult it is to change a PERSONALITY? This is the very
thing that defines us, and while we may go through an emotional
roller-coaster in our lives, our personalities don't change. If a person
is lazy and irresponsible, they will exhibit these behavioral patterns.
With our without marijuana use.]

There is a vicious cycle to marijuana addiction in which these problems
are often used as a rational to smoke even more pot. Marijuana addiction
is a no-win situation that many unintentionally fall into (the drug that
is causing the problem becomes the solution to the problem it caused).
[Again, personal responsibility gets THROWN OUT THE WINDOW with these
irresponsible and inaccurate statements. You don't unintentionally smoke
marijuana and get addicted. It's not like developing a nail-biting
habit, and I have NEVER heard of someone smoking 1 joint and then doing
ANYTHING to score another dime-bag. People have coping mechanisms, and
using Pot to "calm down" is just as bad as reaching for a drink when you
had a bad day. However, the alcoholic fights PHYSICAL addiction, as
opposed to the THC habit that is the hallmark of a "pot-head".

Addiction to marijuana is severe due to its affect on the user's brain.
Scientists now know many facts about marijuana's effect on the body and
how delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active chemical in
Marijuana, acts in the human brain. When marijuana is smoked, THC
travels quickly through the body and into the brain where it unites with
specific receptors on nerve cells. Areas of the brain with the most
receptors affected by THC are parts of the brain that control pleasure,
thought, memory, sensory, concentration, time perception, and
coordination. It's these areas of the brain that are most likely to be
affected when an individual faces marijuana addiction. [Notice how it
doesn't mention anything about HOW this is damaging to your body. That
is because the receptor that it binds to is DESIGNED to accept
cannibanoids like THC, unlike any other substance that we put into our
bodies. All other substances either inhibit or accelerate chemical
reactions in your body, chemically unbalancing your system to have their
effects. THC on the other hand naturally binds to its own personal
receptor in your body, which is why there are no physical detriments to
your body as a result of use.]

If you feel that your marijuana use is out of your control and
interfering with your personal goals and happiness and you would like to
stop but can't seek help from addiction treatment professional. [ I
couldn't agree more.]

Bottom line is if you want the real deal, read the ACTUAL studies,
because printed propaganda only serves biased, disinformation. Learn to
recognize Junk-science, because what people don't realize is that this
is the result. We now have a grossly uninformed population controlling
legislation of a substance, that while needing to be controlled, is now
actually scheduled as a substance with 0 medical benefits-in spite of
numerous scientific studies to the contrary.

Regardless of whether it is addictive or not, one ought to be able to
make his or her own moral choice about whether to use it. This is why I
am a libertarian politcally. I totally do not believe anyone should use
marijuana. But, you can't legislate that belief. I also don't think you
should drink rat poison or smoke or watch Gilmore Girls. But if you want
to do those things, you are legally allowed to. Thus, you should be
legally allowed to smoke marijuana. You should make your choice based on
personal ethics and logical reasoning, not legislation.

Drug legislation in the United States is solely for the purposes of
establishing black market. Black markets are extremely profitable to
governments owning them, whereas legalized marijuana is much much less
profitable (compare the taxes on cigarettes to the price of the
cigarette itself).

Anyway, I am studying neuroscience in school and marijuana is
biophysically addictive. So, if you think I'm not lying to you, then you
should take that as the final word on the matter.

Not to use jargon to confuse, when you say biophysically addictive, you
are just talking about the physical mechanics of behavior and
emotion-which does not correlate with straight physical addiction.

Or if I'm mistaken, please explain?

no, i am talking about neural receptor increase. marijuana stimulates
the c-AMP cycle in short term memory formualtion and you grow extra
little buds on the neurons that find marijuana pleasing, so then later
you find it more pleasing... etc.

Right, you find the effects more pleasing, so you find it pleasing to
have more.

This is different from alcohol dependence, in very fundamental ways. For
example, a dramatic change of diet will cause similar symptoms of
withdrawal as abruptly stopping marijuana use. However, neither results
in death, except possibly in the most extreme of circumstances (arguably
situations with other mitigating circumstances).

Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but stimulation of the c-AMP cycle ties
into the Dopaminergic System, which is tied to psychological rather than
physical addiction. (If I'm being innacurate, let me know. Honestly it's
been years since I studied this stuff .)

you're right. short term memory is linked with psychology much more
heavily than physiology.

A strict naturalist is going to tell you that psychology and physiology
are the same (both governed completely by genetics)

my religious beliefs make me feel otherwise, and I think this is
confirmed by the obvious differences in addiction to alcohol vs.
addiction to cocaine or marijuana (or TV)

I couldn't agree more. I think the most progress has been made when you
use bio-psychology, that way you are addressing the whole system. You
don't go to a tire guy to fix your engine when your gas gauge is
empty .

But excellent point to bring up----

OH MY GOD. BUSH IS ON AMERICAN IDOL TALKING ABOUT CHARITY! I CAN'T
BELIEVE THAT THIS FARCE OF A LEADER IS WASTING HIS TIME ON AMERICAN
FRIGGIN IDOL WHEN HE SHOULD BE LEADING A WAR HE STARTED!

*ahem* sorry about that. I was so shocked that he was wasting what
should be his valuable time to make an appearance on an overrated TV
show.

Anyhoo, yeah, great points. There is a lot to be said for relating how
what we think of as purely esoteric functions (emotional, personality,
etc.) actually have physical analogues.

yeah, well...they DID just raise 70 million dollars...

In all that analysis, which is very informative....was it created by
god?

*insert scratching head with puzzled expression here*

LOL, ummm,


Ok, Lulu first: Yeah, but was that really the best use of his time? Do
you feel better that he made the appearance, or would you feel better
knowing that he was working on the war-issue. Is 70 billion worth even
one American Soldier?

And Jesse, last but not least: The short answer? Yes, in the Bible,
which is theoretically the word of God, he gave us every seed bearing
plant to use. Last time I checked a bag of reggie's, they were FULL of
seeds

*sighs* i know this is going to sound horrible...but 70 mil could feed
a whole lot of folks.

Side note in the Idol context...

Is he allowed to eat, sleep, use the bathroom?

And does that bring good to any others?

70 mill can feed a whole lot of people, and as long as that is what it
goes towards, then more power to the creators, organisers of Idol.

As to the amount spent on the ummm W..word..yep could have been put to
greater use, perhaps.

God also created misquitos, gnats, dung beetles, poison ivy, and
thistles

Jess,

I believe your questions depends on numerous prior questions about the
belief in God, special creation, and all the minute details therein.

Assumming that you believe in God and that he did create things, then
you could argue that absolutely all things are byproducts of that
creation. Until the last decade, no life force that we are aware of had
the ability to create plant species on its own. Now we can with genetic
engineering. Since marijuana existed before genetic engineering, this
must mean that nothing but God could have created it, supposing that he
created anything at all.

I feel that this question hits at another point however. I think people
are trying to justify the use of marijuana because it was created by
God. The Bible, for example, would not permit this. Even in the first
few chapters of the Bible, when God creates the fruit that Adam and Eve
are not supposed to eat, we have an example of something which God
directly created but which man is not supposed to consume.

If you feel that the stories of Genesis are myths, then consider the
example of brown recluse spiders. Not even modern genetic engineering
can approach the creation of a spider, so these (if created) had to have
been products of God. If you eat one, you will die very quickly from the
poison in its abdomen.

In either case we have examples of God-created things that are not to be
consumed by humans. Thus, in the case of marijuana you must provide a
rationale for why it ought to be used if you are in favor of using it.
If not, you ought to provide a rational for why it should not be used.
In either case, you can't merely fall back on the argument "God made it,
therefore I can use it if I want to."

elyspears thankyou...

I do not have a following of the god concept, and without wandering too
far down that road, as there are heaps of other threads for that, I was
just returning to the OP of this thread...

I didn't see how any of the chemical, physiological, emotion, tangible
information gave me any more insight into the possibility that it was
created by a divine being..

is all I was commenting on...it still relates back to a book..for what I
can see.

yeah, i totally understand


man i hope i look as good as you when I'm 43.