health

Poor evidence cannabis improves mental health: study

20 Comments
By Philippe LOPEZ

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 Pretty much everyone I ever smoked with was pretty clear they were into it for the recreational factor

Me too. But nobody on these forums ever says that. They’re all on about how it cures this and that. I just don’t like the disingenuousness of it. If you want to get high, then say that.

Actually, you’re the first person who I’ve seen post that. Kudos.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nothing in particular. However pretty much no proponents of marijuana use say that they just like to get high. Rather, they promote it as some kind of cure-all.

Really? I’ve known very people who used it medicinally. Pretty much everyone I ever smoked with was pretty clear they were into it for the recreational factor.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What's wrong with wanting to get high?

Nothing in particular. However pretty much no proponents of marijuana use say that they just like to get high. Rather, they promote it as some kind of cure-all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Your recent posts show a distinct lack of factual evidence.

I give the requisite amount of evidence to the statement I'm pointing out to be incorrect. In this case:

Cannabis is not a drug.

No argument provided, just a statement. My reply therefore is a statement:

Yes it is.

If anyone would like to further the argument that cannabis isn't a drug, I'd be happy to debate it to the degree that they are willing to. But I'm not going to waste more time pointing out that someone's point is wrong than they used to make the point in the first place.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Don’t take away their high...more like don’t believe they are all concerned about its “medicinal effects.” That’s called bait and switch.

Personally, when I have smoked it, it's for the psychoactive effects, not the medicinal ones. The medicinal effects are just a bonus.

What's wrong with wanting to get high? It's weird people have decided there is something morally wrong with that. I think they're just confused.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Strangerland

Yes it is.

Your recent posts show a distinct lack of factual evidence.

I’m hoping this trend won’t continue?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Predictably, marijuana fans cry foul. Big surprise!

Don’t take away their high...more like don’t believe they are all concerned about its “medicinal effects.” That’s called bait and switch.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Several of my friends had/have family members who suffer from ailments that have been reduced by using the drug for medicinal purposes. It's essential that research continues. In the meantime, everything in moderation.

(obvs depending on the country's laws, natch)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Cannabis ain't got nothin' on chocolate when it comes to improving mental health.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I have heard people say that they enjoy cannabis, and I have heard people say that it helps with some symptoms of chemotherapy, but I have never, ever, before reading this article, heard someone say that cannabis improves mental health. That is like saying that a couple shots of saké improves mental health, is it not?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The 70-year+ confusion over the uses of cannabis can be attributed to the irresponsible refusal of the US government and their satellites acting for political reasons and at the behest of vested commercial interests to promote scientific research into the pharmaceutical properties of the plant.

For serious mental issues like addiction and depression only hallucinogens and other powerful psychoactive agents (NOT weed) will be effective, but again research is half a century behind thanks to the ignorance, indifference and criminal neglect of people in government who should have spared a thought for the mental suffering of so many citizens.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Anecdotal evidence from people and cold hard scientific research are two vastly different arenas. The nay sayers on the one side and the zero safety risk crew on the other are obviously lacking. The more of these studies the better. Probably those with mental health issues, although you may get some short term relief, long term dependence and over use and abuse is not a pretty sight. Tread carefully with all of this stuff. Keep check of yourself and those around you. The reality of things is complexity beyond comprehension.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Saw a very good documentary on TV this summer investigating the very different effects of THC and CBD. THC seems to be the one to produce negative mental states in some people.

In the meantime here is some background.

https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc#drug-testing

Quote:

THC is used to help with conditions such as:

pain

muscle spasticity

glaucoma

insomnia

low appetite

nausea

anxiety

CBD is used to help with other various conditions, such as:

seizures

inflammation

pain

psychosis or mental disorders

inflammatory bowel disease

nausea

migraines

depression

anxiety

6 ( +6 / -0 )

So they used studies that were subsidised by anti "drug" governments over decades to reach this amazing conclusion. But ignore the benifit to other categories of sickness such as MS, cancer treatment side effects.....

Reefer Madness and a world view held in place with religious and political blinkers of course this report is what it is.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This is a study of PREVIOUS studies. Going through the notes of others that made tentative studies and the timeline is over decades.

When new targeted studies are made, with the gold standard in testing, they will find out there was much they didnt know and a lot will be on the good side.

Cannabis does help with pain reduction and with regaining appetite. It also assists with sleep apnea. To treat mental disabilities will require accurate measured dosages of certain compounds in cannabis while leaving out other chemicals. This is what studies over time will determine.

It is not a cure all and it will not be 100% effective on all patients. What it will do is assist a large percentage of people. It is already proven to help with the effect of epilepsy by reducing episodes using the cannabis oil without the THC element.

Much more to learn for those willing to invest in studies.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So.. just ignore the first-hand information from the millions of people that vouch for its medicinal qualities? Ignore the reports of other studies that vouch for the legalization of cannabis?

Also, getting the drugs via the illicit market "carries risk of prosecution as well as unknown product content, quality and safety,"

[snip] and there [is] evidence that people who use cannabis regularly may be at increased risk of developing depression and psychotic symptoms."

Being stigmatized and/or criminalized for choosing to smoke some weed is enough to stress people out over time, too. So are the stresses of one's job, morgtage and the state of our societies that meddle in every aspect of our lives! Millions of people have been made into criminals because of these ridiculous views toward cannabis. What a tremendous waste!

Of course, overuse of anything will have undesired effects (painkillers, for example) but painting cannabis as something that will lead to psychosis in mentally healthy people is absurd! (source: observing hundreds of long-term cannabis enjoyers over a lifetime!) Mentally unhealthy people, on the other hand, will end up in psychosis even without having smoked cannabis. How can these academics possibly believe they have taken all the intangibles into account!?

Now turn that 'high-powered academic perception' toward purely man-made drugs (without funding from big-pharma or other corporations) such as; alcohol, painkillers, deppression and anxiety meds etc etc and tell me how they don't have any side-effects and that they are more worthy to have a place in our societies than something that grows naturally! FFS!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Yes it is.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Cannabis is not a drug.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

No drug improves mental health.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

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