144 - Marijuana, Alcohol and the Brain
By Robert Constas, M.D.
During his recent trip to the United States, the Pope advised not to legalize marijuana. His concern is shared by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The Pope and the Academy are aware that alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana. Alcohol removes the control over the emotional brain and exaggerates whatever emotion is prominent in the emotional brain.
Compared to alcohol the effect of marijuana is much more subtle. Recent research shows that long-term regular use of marijuana can lower the intelligent quotient by 8 to 10%. This can decrease academic functioning especially in adolescents because their brains are still developing. Marijuana and alcohol affect the adolescent brain more than the brain of adults.
Chronic and frequent use of marijuana leads to diminished motivation to study, to achieve, to improve and to look for a job. This is called the amotivational syndrome. It can make a person lazy.
These problems can be summarized in what I call the SLC Syndrome. Regular use of marijuana can make a person Stupid, Lazy and Crazy. This is said with the qualifiers stated above. This is more of a problem with adolescents than with adults because of the increased susceptibility of the adolescent brain to be damaged by toxic substances.
I warn parents who smoke marijuana in the home that children who inhale the smoke of marijuana can be affected. This is especially true with children because the brains of children are even more susceptible to damage by toxic substances than the brains of teenagers.
There is now much controversy about adult use of marijuana. People often say that their use of marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. You may wonder about the medical use for marijuana. There are hundreds of endocannabinoids made by the brain itself. The major problem seems to be with THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the chemical that produces the SLC syndrome. There was a recent television program about marijuana that showed the benefits for treating an uncontrolled seizure disorder. This was a cannabinoid called CBD, cannabadiol.
It is important for parents to know some of this technical data, because you can be sure that teenagers are looking up information on the internet and will argue that legal alcohol is more harmful than marijuana. They say marijuana should be legal also. Marijuana can lower their intelligence quotient.
CBD so far does not seem to produce the SLC syndrome. Chronic pain can be alleviated by some cannabinoids. The endocannabinoids made in the brain itself work to modulate the action of neurotransmitters, thus helping the brain to function better. However, that is not the case with THC. THC is the marijuana chemical that people really want to use most of all. Much research needs to be done, but this is very difficult to do because the Food and Drug Agency refuses to allow it at this time. It is possible that cannabinoids other than CBD may be found that have therapeutic uses without the harmful effects of THC.
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use has grave implications. Once the complete legalization takes effect marijuana {including THC} will be available widely and adults who are bored with life may start using it. Then teenagers will start using it, being supplied by adult friends or buying it illegally. Their academic progress will slow as they have less intelligence and motivation to study. We may find that creative thinking and technological innovation decrease, and the United States would fall behind in academic and innovative areas.
In my professional opinion, I am with the Pope on this one: Do not legalize Marijuana. Do not use Marijuana. Do not let your children use it. Keep your brain healthy, you will need it for your entire life.
______________________________________
Dr. Robert Constas, M.D. is a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist. He is also a Board Member of TSG Foundation and TSG Spiritual University. - TSG Spiritual University provides home study meditation courses and in-depth esoteric education for students worldwide. Complete catalog is available online. Contact us for information on how to begin and what courses to take.
- Esoteric health and wellness are explained in detail in the following books by Torkom Saraydarian:
New Dimensions in Healing and Esoteric Science of Healing. These books are invaluable resources for leading a healthy and joyful life.
- TSG Foundation provides resources for spiritual health and expansion of consciousness using the Teachings of the Ageless Wisdom.
During his recent trip to the United States, the Pope advised not to legalize marijuana. His concern is shared by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The Pope and the Academy are aware that alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana. Alcohol removes the control over the emotional brain and exaggerates whatever emotion is prominent in the emotional brain.
Compared to alcohol the effect of marijuana is much more subtle. Recent research shows that long-term regular use of marijuana can lower the intelligent quotient by 8 to 10%. This can decrease academic functioning especially in adolescents because their brains are still developing. Marijuana and alcohol affect the adolescent brain more than the brain of adults.
Chronic and frequent use of marijuana leads to diminished motivation to study, to achieve, to improve and to look for a job. This is called the amotivational syndrome. It can make a person lazy.
These problems can be summarized in what I call the SLC Syndrome. Regular use of marijuana can make a person Stupid, Lazy and Crazy. This is said with the qualifiers stated above. This is more of a problem with adolescents than with adults because of the increased susceptibility of the adolescent brain to be damaged by toxic substances.
I warn parents who smoke marijuana in the home that children who inhale the smoke of marijuana can be affected. This is especially true with children because the brains of children are even more susceptible to damage by toxic substances than the brains of teenagers.
There is now much controversy about adult use of marijuana. People often say that their use of marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. You may wonder about the medical use for marijuana. There are hundreds of endocannabinoids made by the brain itself. The major problem seems to be with THC, tetrahydrocannabinol. This is the chemical that produces the SLC syndrome. There was a recent television program about marijuana that showed the benefits for treating an uncontrolled seizure disorder. This was a cannabinoid called CBD, cannabadiol.
It is important for parents to know some of this technical data, because you can be sure that teenagers are looking up information on the internet and will argue that legal alcohol is more harmful than marijuana. They say marijuana should be legal also. Marijuana can lower their intelligence quotient.
CBD so far does not seem to produce the SLC syndrome. Chronic pain can be alleviated by some cannabinoids. The endocannabinoids made in the brain itself work to modulate the action of neurotransmitters, thus helping the brain to function better. However, that is not the case with THC. THC is the marijuana chemical that people really want to use most of all. Much research needs to be done, but this is very difficult to do because the Food and Drug Agency refuses to allow it at this time. It is possible that cannabinoids other than CBD may be found that have therapeutic uses without the harmful effects of THC.
The legalization of marijuana for recreational use has grave implications. Once the complete legalization takes effect marijuana {including THC} will be available widely and adults who are bored with life may start using it. Then teenagers will start using it, being supplied by adult friends or buying it illegally. Their academic progress will slow as they have less intelligence and motivation to study. We may find that creative thinking and technological innovation decrease, and the United States would fall behind in academic and innovative areas.
In my professional opinion, I am with the Pope on this one: Do not legalize Marijuana. Do not use Marijuana. Do not let your children use it. Keep your brain healthy, you will need it for your entire life.
______________________________________
Dr. Robert Constas, M.D. is a Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist. He is also a Board Member of TSG Foundation and TSG Spiritual University. - TSG Spiritual University provides home study meditation courses and in-depth esoteric education for students worldwide. Complete catalog is available online. Contact us for information on how to begin and what courses to take.
- Esoteric health and wellness are explained in detail in the following books by Torkom Saraydarian:
New Dimensions in Healing and Esoteric Science of Healing. These books are invaluable resources for leading a healthy and joyful life.
- TSG Foundation provides resources for spiritual health and expansion of consciousness using the Teachings of the Ageless Wisdom.
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