When it comes to the legalization of marijuana, there are those who oppose it and those who are all for it. Despite my personal opinion that it should not be legalized, I've always believed that with the increasing legalization of marijuana should come public awareness of the effects of marijuana (the good, the bad and the ugly).
This article caught my attention due to the fact that it highlighted one of the positive side effects of smoking marijuana (which challenges my negative beliefs held towards this drug). Researchers from the L.A. Biomedical Research Institute studied 446 patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and found that those who smoked weed were less likely to die than those who "just said no." Only 2.4% of the patients who had THC in their system lost their lives, compared with the 11.5% that had tested negative.
A separate study at Hebrew University in Israel also supported this idea that pot could potentially mitigate brain injuries. Researchers discovered that mice that had survived a major head trauma had higher levels of 2-Arachodonoyl (cannabinoid compound EXTREMELY similar to THC that's produced in the brains of many animals) than mice that didn't. It was theorized that the mice produced 2-Arachodonoyl as a natural response to protect the brain from further injury. They then administered the compound to the mice and found that it did actually reduce brain injuries among the rodents.
It's believed that 2-Arachnodonyl works in three ways: it reduces the buildup of toxic chemical glutamate, decreases the amount of free radicals and the chemical TNF (causes inflammation), and increases blood flow to the brain.
So is pot the new helmet when it comes to TBIs? Although 2.4% versus 11.5% is significant, I believe it still does not make smoking marijuana worthwhile, regardless of the possibility that it can protect your brain. Research on marijuana has only started to become major the past 20 years and a lot of the research conducted on this topic is still not definite due to the fact that it has become a fairly recent issue. The chronic effects are becoming clearer, but some areas definitely need more work. I believe that as more time passes and more research is conducted, it will make the pros/cons of this drug a little more clear.
--Sources--
Article link: http://www.vocativ.com/culture/science/marijuana-health-benefits/
--Additional Information--
In case you're also interested in reading about the effects of marijuana, here is an article link discussing what we know so far through research: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/10/07/what-20-years-of-research-has-taught-us-about-the-chronic-effects-of-marijuana/
This is interesting! I share the same beliefs that it should not be legalized because innately I feel like there are more things that could go wrong than could go right. However this is presenting a case very similar to medical marijuana use in my opinion. Marijuana has benefits when it comes to easing the pain of terminally ill patients just as it looks like it may have benefits of reducing the risk of further brain damage. It sort of just shows to me that in serious, and rare cases, there are good effects to some drugs that when taken recreationally can have detrimental effects as well. Either way, like you said there needs to be a lot more research done.
ReplyDeleteI also share the belief that marijuana should not be legalized and this is a big debate within my family (mostly because my sister likes to be different and have her own opinions). This does challenge my belief that it shouldn't be legalized, but I feel like the cons outweigh the pros. Medical marijuana is a different story in my opinion; it can be acceptable. However, the fact that two different studies showed that brain damage can be reduced by marijuana makes me seriously open my mind to the idea of it being legalized. I hope that future research shows that the positive effects of marijuana outweigh the negative effects since it has already been legalized in some places.
ReplyDelete