Marijuana: To Smoke, or Not to Smoke Aric Quist Research Paper

Marijuana has long been a hot topic drug with people protesting on both sides of the argument. Some hold up banners saying that marijuana is a gateway drug that will invariably lead someone on to harder drugs, and others hold fast that marijuana does not have any long term effects or harmful damages on a persons body, and therefore should be legalized. There is no right or wrong answer, and each side of the fence may be right or wrong depending on the laws and the research at that current time. Lets first examine the side of the argument stating that marijuana should stay illegal, and is just as bad as any other drug. One study found that marijuana smokers have been shown to have deficits in executive functioning and frontal dysfunction (Gruber, Silveri, Dahlgren, Yurgelun-Todd, 2011). Because of these deficits in their brain functioning, this study found that marijuana smokers are then forced to use compensatory strategies. The study also stated that those who smoke marijuana displayed poorer task performance and has a reduced activation in their prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal regions of their brain. The prefrontal cortex does not fully develop until age 23 or 25, and this is the part of the brain that controls executive functions and decision making (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). This points to the fact that smoking marijuana in adolescence can lead to poorer decision making, and research has shown that marijuana use in adolescence also leads to short-term memory problems, and an increased likelihood of continuing use and abuse in later life (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). These brain alterations and changes in functioning may point to harmful effects caused due to smoking marijuana; especially in adolescence. Excessive marijuana use during adolescence has also been shown to cause distorted thinking and can alter their ability to hone in on important things and ignore the unimportant

things (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). It can also lead to impairment in recognizing dangerous situations and in their ability to prioritize important actions and activities. Studies have also demonstrated that those who smoke marijuana by age 17 were 2.1 to 5.2 times more likely to use or abuse other drugs or to become alcohol or drug dependent compared to those who have never smoked marijuana (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Studies have also found that people who smoke marijuana report using alcohol more days out of the month than people who do not smoke marijuana (Gruber, Silveri, Dahlgren, YurgelunTodd, 2011). This does not point to a causal relationship or that marijuana causes one to drink more alcohol, but it may allude to other underlying problems. For example, substance abuse or marijuana smoking commonly occurs in the context with other problems; it may be family conflict, past child abuse, financial problems, depression, aggression, or countless others. If an individual is smoking marijuana in order to help control negative feelings around one or more of these conflicting issues, then they may also be self-medicating with alcohol in order to keep those negative emotions out of their mind, and to help them feel better about whatever problems they are dealing with. Another problem that may be associated with smoking marijuana, but is not a causal relationship, is the findings around panic attacks and panic disorders. Studies have found that those with lifetime use of marijuana were seen to have an increased chance of meeting the criteria for having panic attacks (Zvolensky, Cougle, Johnson, Bonn-Miller, Bernstein, 2010). This same study showed that adolescents who use marijuana were at increased odds of developing panic attacks and panic disorders in adulthood (Zvolensky, et al., 2010). These studies demonstrate that marijuana use may be associated with panic attacks and disorders, but smoking marijuana does not cause the smoker to develop panic attacks. It also begs the question

of if people who already have panic attacks, or are genetically vulnerable to developing panic disorders, smoke marijuana to self-medicate or to help control their feelings of anxiety and panic. Or, perhaps smoking marijuana may turn on the panic attack genes of a person who is genetically vulnerable to having a panic disorder. It is the aged old question of the chicken or the egg, whether the panic attacks came first and were exaggerated by the marijuana, or if smoking marijuana triggers the panic attacks. There is no way of knowing which, but it is a question to consider when talking about marijuana. Another problem that may be associated with marijuana use is that chronic exposure to marijuana during adolescence may disturb myelination of the cells in their brains during important stages of neurodevelopment (Gruber, Silveri, Dahlgren, Yurgelun-Todd, 2011). A study on rodents demonstrated that heavy alcohol and marijuana intake affected the hippocampus and frontal lobes (Hanson, Cummins, Tapert & Brown, 2011). What is even more concerning is that the juvenile brain is especially sensitive to brain damage and alteration compared with the adult brain (Hanson, et al., 2011). Studies have also shown that adolescents who use marijuana have been associated with abnormal cerebellar volumes. This means that adolescent brain functioning may be affected and changed by using marijuana, and they may especially be affecting their spatial working memory, verbal encoding, and reports have found deficits in verbal and nonverbal memory, language, executive functioning, and processing speed (Hanson, et al., 2011). One study found that those who smoked marijuana chronically during adolescence were found that six years later 80% to 100% of the sample still used marijuana and other drugs, and 65% of them still used marijuana 10 years later (Hanson, Cummins, Tapert & Brown, 2011). This points to the fact that marijuana may have some addictive qualities. In a study where they

gave the California Verbal Learning Test they found that chronic users of marijuana and alcohol showed the most pronounced difference in long delay free recall compared with a control group or the sample containing abstainers or infrequent users of marijuana (Hanson, et al., 2011). This demonstrates that marijuana and alcohol use may have negative impacts on learning, memory, attention, and may contribute to poorer academic achievement, poor occupational performance, and lower high school and college graduation rates and lower socio economic status. While this study shows a correlation, it does not imply causation. Other factors may be confounding the results, but the correlations found need further examination. Other studies have found that our brains have natural receptor cites that are specifically reactive to THC, which is found in marijuana (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). These receptor cites are shown to regulate sensory experiences with emotions, they control learning, memory, motor coordination, and some automatic bodily functions. This means that the immediate physical effects that the THC in the marijuana has on the brain includes physical relaxation, sedation, some pain control, increased appetite, and small to moderate loss in muscular coordination, and impairments in tracking ability (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). These physical effects definitely point to the fact that if marijuana is legalized limits should be put in place to prevent harm; for example a person cannot operate a motor vehicle if they have had over a certain amount of marijuana; the same as with alcohol. Studies have also shown that within a few minutes of smoking marijuana the user becomes slightly confused and mentally separated from the environment and they may feel drowsy, a feeling of being aloof, and have difficulty concentrating (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Marijuana has also shown to cause major distortions in the perception of time, color, and sound

and a feeling of de-personification which points again to limiting activities that a person who is high should engage in; for example driving a car. There is much research demonstrating possible brain changes and correlational side effects that may come from smoking marijuana; but there is another side of the argument that states that marijuana should be legalized and can have many potential benefits. For example, marijuana has been shown to affect parts of the amygdala; which is the part of the brain that judges the emotional significance of objects and ideas (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). When a person smokes marijuana it activates the amygdala and makes whatever the person is encountering seem extremely interesting and makes even mundane objects seem exciting. This can be an asset and a great help for someone who may have depression, anhedonia, or is having problems finding pleasure in their life, Unlike other drugs who may cause permanent damage to long and short term memory, studies have demonstrated that when marijuana use is discontinued short-term memory is almost fully restored and marijuana leaves no long term damage to the users memory (Inaba & Cohen, 2011). Other positive benefits seen from marijuana can include being used as a muscle relaxant, a painkiller, an appetite stimulant, to calm anxiety, relieve cough, and to treat symptoms of withdrawal from opiates and alcohol. There are also many proven medical uses for marijuana including positive outcomes demonstrated for those undergoing chemotherapy or cancer treatment. It has been shown to help with nausea, increased appetite and sustained body weight (Levinthal, 2012). While there is research on both sides of the argument, showing both negative and positive aspects that come from marijuana use, most research demonstrates that marijuana, much like

alcohol and other drugs, shows to do the most damage to adolescents. If marijuana were to be legalized, I personally think that restrictions should be put on it much like alcohol. For example, one must be 21 in order to purchase it and use it legally, and if someone has smoked it one cannot legally operate a motor vehicle or enter other situations that may become dangerous when under the influence of marijuana.

References Gruber, S., Silveri, M., Dahlrgren, M., Yurgelun-Todd, D., (2011). Why so impulsive? White matter alterations are associated with impulsivity in chronic marijuana smokers. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol 19(3), p. 231-242. Hanson, K., Cummins, K., Tapert, S., Brown, S., (2011). Changes in neuropsychological functioning over 10 years following adolescent substance abuse treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, vol 25(1), p. 127-142. Inaba, D., Cohen, W., (2011). Uppers Downers All-Arounders. Oregon: CNS Productions. Levinthal, C., (2012). Drugs, Behavior, & Modern Society. Massachusetts: Pearson. Zvolensky, M., Cougle, J., Johnson, K., Bonn-Miller, M., Bernstein, A., (2010). Marijuana use and panic psychopathology among a representative sample of adults. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol 18(2), p. 129-134.