How does marijuana impact the health and the brain?

Cannabis and health

How does cannabis effect the bodies hormones? Jamaican and Costa Rican studies detected no difference in hormone levels between marijuana user's and nonusers(13 ).

Does cannabis cause brain damage? One study that claimed to show brain damage, was the Heath/Tulane study in 1974. A report from Dr Heath had concluded that Rhesus monkeys, that smoked the equivalent of 30 joints a day, began to atrophy and die after 90 days. In reality the monkeys were strapped to a chair, had gas masks strapped over the face not allowing fresh air to enter. So the Monkeys were choking, on Carbon monoxide, they received the equivalent to being lock in a garage fill with car exhaust for 5-15 minutes a day(14 ).

Its been alleged that cannabis is tied to mental illness such has schizophrenia addressing this researchers said "Altogether, these findings, in addition to those of previous studies, indicate that cannabis-induced psychosis may not be a valid diagnosis but an early marker of schizophrenia." and continued "Rather, the degree of hereditary predisposition in individuals who receive treatment of cannabis-induced psychosis closely mirrors that in those who develop schizophrenia with no history of cannabis induced psychosis. The results agree with those of other studies that show that cannabis predominantly causes psychotic symptoms in those persons who are predisposed to develop psychosis or show signs of psychosis in the absence of cannabis use."(15 ).

Also consider, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAHM) report showed the Canadian cannabis smokers have been aging over the past decades (16 ). What has this aging of cannabis smokers done to Canadian mental health? Nothing as far as developing Schizophrenia is concerned. Schizophrenia been in the decrease for the most part over the past few decades(17 ).

What about potency is cannabis more potent? Nope, the average potency is two or three percent. Only one year does the average percent of THC in cannabis exceed 3 percent aside from that year potency has hovered between 2 and 3 percent(18 ).