tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post2372631826237714704..comments2023-08-08T00:53:58.434-07:00Comments on Garth Kroeker: MarijuanaGKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14714377295981745087noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-53648229486563288912011-07-20T13:01:19.534-07:002011-07-20T13:01:19.534-07:00Thanks for the comment. I wonder if the converse ...Thanks for the comment. I wonder if the converse could be true also, i.e. that cannabis could reduce addictive/compulsive/harmful exercise use?GKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714377295981745087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-29616740067766353892011-07-19T21:02:30.384-07:002011-07-19T21:02:30.384-07:00Exercise reduces Cannabis use
http://www.ncbi.nlm...Exercise reduces Cannabis use<br /><br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21408154Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-36760088993490032072010-02-06T21:49:11.475-08:002010-02-06T21:49:11.475-08:00Interesting. I'll have to check that out. So...Interesting. I'll have to check that out. Sometimes therapeutically beneficial effects can come from unexpected places. However, I would want to start this investigation from a position of skepticism. Also, unless there are long-term studies in humans (over 6 months), antipsychotic effects cannot be clearly assured, as immediate effects could be part of simple sedation, leading eventually to tolerance and a higher risk of psychosis later on, despite an apparently positive early effect (i.e. similar to benzodiazepine or alcohol effects on anxiety). <br /> <br />With regards to "with almost anything, depending on what entity one picks to evaluate, the results will vary substantially", I suppose that's true. Yet I believe that there is a preponderance of truth about things which a comprehensive view of evidence brings. And it should be our goal to seek, and expect, such a comprehensive view. Otherwise, we can become cynical, and start to believe any point of view can be supported just by selecting some part of the data, therefore we can't make a definitive statement about anything, etc. <br /><br />A non-comprehensive understanding or presentation of evidence tends to cause biased persuasion or manipulation. For example, I have no doubt that many a cigarette manufacturer attempted to present data showing the health benefits of smoking in previous generations. Yet I think we can all realize today that such data was extremely manipulative (even if not dishonest, as there are certainly some positive psychopharmacological effects of nicotine despite the overwhelmingly deleterious long-term effects).GKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714377295981745087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-75923677123580077242010-02-06T17:50:28.209-08:002010-02-06T17:50:28.209-08:00I came across a science news hour on TV and they w...I came across a science news hour on TV and they were presenting information about psychotic symptoms and Cannabis. They covered a lot of things but one thing that stuck out was... depending on the cannabinoids in the cannabis (ie: CBD v.s. THC) the effects may be protective v.s deleterious (respectively). <br /><br />I did some poking on OVID/Pubmed. And found some interesting results--- although not all of them are replicable. <br /><br />And-- I selected the studies that DID show some beneficial results of CBD... because there are many that show no effect/little effect. <br /><br /><br />Search terms:<br /> * cbd<br /> * schizophrenia<br /><br />-----------------------------<br />Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug.<br />http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3/ovidweb.cgi?&S=OLKEFPPOAHDDBJKINCELMBJCLMJBAA00&Abstract=S.sh.14|9|1<br /><br />Cannabidiol: from an inactive cannabinoid to a drug with wide spectrum of action. [Review] [121 refs] <br />http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3/ovidweb.cgi?&S=OLKEFPPOAHDDBJKINCELMBJCLMJBAA00&Abstract=S.sh.14|3|1<br /><br />Effects of cannabidiol on schizophrenia-like symptoms in people who use cannabis.<br />http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3/ovidweb.cgi?&S=OLKEFPPOAHDDBJKINCELMBJCLMJBAA00&Abstract=S.sh.14|5|1<br />----------------------------------------<br /><br />On the TV show-- the narrators also pointed out that most street Cannabis is domesticated to possess high THC and low CBD. (This is because they seem to be mutually inclusive--ie: if the plant has high CBD it can't have equally high THC.) <br /><br />Anyway I just thought to attend to the fact that as with almost anything, depending on what entity one picks to evaluate, the results will vary substantially.<br /><br />And an overall cost/benefit analysis is needed in the end.<br /><br />Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-17482252431862595242009-10-31T22:48:44.894-07:002009-10-31T22:48:44.894-07:00I don't find that there is a lot of literature...I don't find that there is a lot of literature out there on interactions. <br /><br />Another reader inquired about marijuana use in treating anxiety, depression, and cocaine/heroin dependence. <br /><br />I do not find that there is strong research evidence to support this practice. But there is support from some individuals' testimonial accounts. <br /><br />Some of the publications released by overtly pro-marijuana groups appear to make strong positive claims with little evidence-based support (beyond testimonial accounts), and with minimal statements about risk, despite a fairly strong research literature about risk. <br /><br />As I scan through the studies that have been done, I see some mixed results. Many of the studies suggest a negative influence of marijuana use on other addictive problems. But I found one study suggesting that marijuana use may improve cocaine abstinence in cocaine-dependent individuals who also have ADHD. Clearly, there are careful studies that need to be done to clarify this issue further. <br /><br />So it may be that marijuana could have a useful role for some individuals, including those with a wide variety of different problems. <br /><br />For other individuals they may continue to have quite serious problems while using marijuana regularly--and perhaps the marijuana is an exacerbating factor--yet they may insist that they are better off due to their marijuana use. <br /><br />My reading of the evidence is mixed, and largely leads to a recommendation of being very cautious, as I have already described in my above post. <br /><br />If more and better evidence comes my way, I would be interested in updating my post once again. <br /><br />There are bound to be individuals who have strong opinions, on either side of this issue. And another angle of the issue is that it is a human rights matter: I think the civil liberties side of marijuana is very important, yet this may be quite a different matter than assessing the health impact of marijuana use. People trying to campaign for lenient marijuana laws, etc. or those advocating for people who believe strongly that marijuana helps them, may make strong positive health claims to bolster their case. Those campaigning for strict marijuana laws may exaggerate negative health claims. An unbiased reading of the evidence may be lost in the middle.GKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714377295981745087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6886575137375451769.post-19441191550922530632009-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:002009-04-04T15:15:00.000-07:00I'm curious - is there any literature on the inter...I'm curious - is there any literature on the interactions (positive/negative) between psychotropic meds and marijuana?Rachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11897760883997811787noreply@blogger.com