Back in the 1960s smoking marijuana was favorable. There was something of a cultural wave going on. Most of the folks that smoked cigarettes pot back then eventually grew from it and went on to have families and revel in a normal life in American society. Just 10% of those over the age of 25 ever became passionate, most just stopped. Yes, some went on to try stronger drugs like LSD, Heroin, or tried dropping acid, which is why some consider pot a ‘gateway’ drug. The 1960s were a crazy time.
Those who stayed in the party scene often quik 5000 graduated to cocaine as their recreational drug of choice, which was beginning get popular in the usa in the mid-70s and into the 80s. Then there was the “war on drugs” which is raging on today (cite 1).
Back in the 1960s the younger users, those who started in their mid to late teens had higher rates of addiction about 15-17%. Today, we realize it is because their teenagers brain was still forming, and the continued use of THC from all those afternoons ‘ditching school’ eventually affected their brain development. In essence, the THC had re-wired their brain, thus, they became dependent.
Today’s Pot is Stronger and more Cause for Alarm
THC is the ingredient in pot that gets you high. Trust us when we tell you; today’s hybrid pot is far more concentrated than yester year’s pot. In fact, one of the reasons pot is being legalized happens because all the folks that tried it back in the 1960s didn’t find it all that dangerous. Many have cultivated up and are now politically active, some even policymakers. We’ve now had President’s admit to smoking it. Needless to say, there is a lot of history when it comes to pot (cite: 2).
We often hear proponents of pot legalization say; alcohol is far more habit forming and it’s really wiped out far more people, particularly when you aspect in all the alcohol-related auto fatalities. This will additionally apply to course, can’t claim with the statistics. Proponents also say we can legalize it and tax it, and solve all our problems. Well, not exactly.
This may appear to be a general fair assessment in the minds of those who tried it or smoked cigarettes it frequently in the 1960s, but things are much different now. If we were just talking about the old pot, it’s relatively harmless compared to some of the new stuff available in states which have legalized its use.
This new pot has extremely high numbers of THC. For instance, most of the pot that was smoked cigarettes in the 1960s was relatively lower in THC, with potent of the day around 6% compared to some of today’s extreme hybrid pot clocking in at nearly 30%.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is a Neurotoxin
Tetrahydrocannabinol is a crystalline compound, a chemical that is the main ingredient of cannabis. The body naturally makes cannabinoid chemicals, so the brain’s cannabinoid receptors customer base the tetrahydrocannabinol. The cannabinoid receptors are only in aspects of our mind that are related with coordination, pleasure, memory, time perception, and thinking. This is why the THC gets you high.
Marketers of today’s hybrid pot advertise the percentage of THC capability as a positive, because it gets you higher faster, and for longer. That might be okay with you if your only goal is to get high, but if you’d prefer your brain, it’s a long-term net negative.
How Bad Is Pot Use on Mental Health?
Pot use has been associated with severe mental health issues and psychiatric disorders. The research is comprehensive and pretty certain. Among some of the problems include depression, anxiety, reliance (addiction), psychosis, schizophrenia, dementia, and early-onset Alzheimer’s. Most of these studies are statistical in nature, and mind you, a lot of the research was done by studying those who were smoking the older stuff; not the new high-concentrated hybrid pot which is extremely heavy-handed in THC.
For those who smoke the high-concentrated pot daily, their risks are 500% greater for developing mental health problems. Risks for developing psychosis or schizophrenia are then increased again by as much if you carry certain gene history. Worried yet? And, not to frighten anyone, but this is serious stuff. If you are smoking pot on a daily basis and using the high-potency stuff, you need to stop before you destroy the human brain completely.
What are the Side effects of Smoking High-Potency Pot?
There are many cognitive and brain-related side effects of high-potency pot use. Some are briefly desired by those seeking to get high. Some are viewed unfortunate side-effects by users but are somehow justified as worth it, merely for the pleasure of indulging and experiencing and enjoying the temporary high. Let’s discuss these adverse side effects, will we?
During use and throughout the intoxication duration you will have short-term memory disadvantages. You can expect challenges in maintaining attention or making decisions. You will have clumsy coordination, increased heart rate, and a little bit of paranoia. After you are no longer inebriated and sometimes during intoxication your capacity to learn will be reduced. You will experience problems with your sleep and your coordination will be less than optimal.