Letter: Do the research on marijuana
How long-term marijuana use effects the human brain is a pivotal question before any legalization can occur nationally. Although alcohol remains legal despite the massive evidence on the dangers associated with long-term use, the fight to make marijuana available, both for its medical properties (especially important in selectively killing cancer cells) and for non-medical/recreational use, is hinged on claims made about marijuana’s effects on the individual user.
The University of Texas recently published research on the long-term effects of marijuana. This research helps dispel the dying myth that marijuana use lowers the IQ and actually provides even more evidence about marijuana’s potential role in fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
This research also revealed the earlier onset of regular marijuana use leads to greater structural and functional connectivity in the brain. (I think high school qualifies as “early onset.”) These results will need to be confirmed with a larger sample study, because this was based on roughly 100 participants, but the preliminary results do seem quite promising.
Marijuana is good food, fuel, fiber, and fun. Free the weed!