In these days and times, it is extraordinarily unpopular
to say anything negative about marijuana, even though smoking pot does irrefutably damage the lungs and can impede brain growth in young people.
A brand new study, cited below, shows an unexpected risk from pot: marijuana use is associated with a high risk for acute ischemic stroke (18%).
We live in weird times where, in people's minds, their opinions apparently trump hard science, so there are those who will protest vehemently against this study. They will cry out about conspiracies and say that they don’t “believe” in science. (Which means they should immediately discard their cellphones, their automobiles, their refrigerators and their bottles of aspirin!)
Any substance that has such a dramatic effect on a person's brain is bound to have side effects. One of my former students and friends, who is a brilliant young neurologist, took part in this study. It found quite conclusively that smoking OR ingesting cannabis increases a person's likelihood of stroke by 18%. In layman’s terms, this is because cannabis makes certain blood vessels in the brain spasm.
These neurologists are young and hip. They don't live in a bubble, and they certainly didn’t set out with a bias against pot.
This study does not refute some of the scientifically documented positive medical benefits that people may receive from cannabis; it stands alone. Do not mistake this article for one railing against the use of marijuana; today nearly everyone knows people who smoke pot regularly. Those who smoke or ingest cannabis, however, need to be fully informed of the potential risks, so that they can make their choices wisely.
Sadly, I think a lot of pot-smokers will stick their fingers in their ears and hum loudly rather than pay attention. Regardless, here are some of the facts:
A brand new study, cited below, shows an unexpected risk from pot: marijuana use is associated with a high risk for acute ischemic stroke (18%).
We live in weird times where, in people's minds, their opinions apparently trump hard science, so there are those who will protest vehemently against this study. They will cry out about conspiracies and say that they don’t “believe” in science. (Which means they should immediately discard their cellphones, their automobiles, their refrigerators and their bottles of aspirin!)
Any substance that has such a dramatic effect on a person's brain is bound to have side effects. One of my former students and friends, who is a brilliant young neurologist, took part in this study. It found quite conclusively that smoking OR ingesting cannabis increases a person's likelihood of stroke by 18%. In layman’s terms, this is because cannabis makes certain blood vessels in the brain spasm.
These neurologists are young and hip. They don't live in a bubble, and they certainly didn’t set out with a bias against pot.
This study does not refute some of the scientifically documented positive medical benefits that people may receive from cannabis; it stands alone. Do not mistake this article for one railing against the use of marijuana; today nearly everyone knows people who smoke pot regularly. Those who smoke or ingest cannabis, however, need to be fully informed of the potential risks, so that they can make their choices wisely.
Sadly, I think a lot of pot-smokers will stick their fingers in their ears and hum loudly rather than pay attention. Regardless, here are some of the facts:
•Marijuana use increases the likelihood of AIS (acute ischemic stroke), adjusting for other stroke risk factors.
•Marijuana use predicts symptomatic cerebral vasospasm, a proposed mechanism of AIS
•Risk of marijuana-associated AIS increases with concurrent
use of tobacco ± cocaine.
http://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X%2816%2930066-1/abstract
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.