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guinea pigs for this experiment. Scientists expect the answer to
be yes.
Affects behavioural mood and memory functions. Decreases cerebral
blood flow while smoking.
Of students failing or leaving school, 1/25 were not pot
users, 3/5 of students regularly smoking pot failed.
Flight simulator and pilors after 1 cigarette...each pilot
did significantly worse with one pilot missing the runway.
Significantly, all pilots thought they were doing very well.
The single greatest risk factor for cocaine abuse is
marijuana use before age 15.
1. Loss of interest, apathy, desire to work
2. Fatigue, loss of energy/tiredness
3. Depression/attacks of rage when provoked
4. Slovenliness in habits and appearance
For chronic users, clearly has been shown that memory tests and
auditory and visual retention tests were poorly done even after 6
weeks of sobriety.
In a study of alcohol/pot related accidents, suggested pot may be
responsible for more accidents than alcohol (due to impaired
judgement etc)
In a number of cases, heavy use 4-5x a week up to 15 cigarettes
per cay caused amnesia for the first 7-8 days of sobriety.
Amnesia was not recognized by the user.
Sheba=PCP added. Smells like embalming fluid
Few drops of vinegar in urine will give negative marijuana test
Drug screen 50-75 level CANNOT BE PASSIVE. No false positives. It
is like a fingerprint. In a job screen should always do a
confirmation titer if a screen is positive.
421 chemicals. 65 are different cannabinols which are
psychoactive (delta-nine most) Others include non-cannabinols
such as toxins, carcinogens (such as tar, just like the tar on the
road) and inactive or potentiating agents
Alcohol takes 6-8 hours to get out of body
THC is fat-soluble, and 50% will be in the body 1-2 weeks later.
May take up to 4 months to get all out. Heavy use for 6-12 months
will give positive drug screen 4-6 weeks later.
A chronic pot user is raraly sober. Subclinical
intoxication. 2-3 times a week sufficient for this. Level
released from fat as acute level drops. Stored in all fat and
also in the basic building cells of the body.
Damage is DOSE RELATED. Depends on frequency and on
concentration. The more mature the person the less permanent
damage. Symptoms are insidious and subtle and can parallel
adolescent adjustment symptoms. THC exaggerates these symptoms,
makes them more profound and often permanent. Saturation in the
brain causes memory impairment, concentration impairment and
motivation impairment. Can be a major personality change. As the
brain level decreased THC moves from other body fat to the brain
to keep the brain saturated. Can actually prevent the cognitive
changes needed for an adolescent to change to an adult, leaving
him/her with poor social judgement, poor attention span, confusion
and anxiety and loss of train of thought. Occasionally produces
hyperactive/aggressive/agitated person instead of apathy. This
damage can occur in MONTHS rather than years. ALL USERS
TO THEIR POTENTIAL ABILITY. Regression to immaturity can occur
and can be irreversible. A teenager can develop, for example, a
mental age of 11 and thus not be able to complete school work
causing a dropout from school.
Pot more potent than in past years, age of onset much earlier
and thus the profile of a marijuana user is changing.
a) much higher suicidal ideation and depression
b) 1/3 show borderline schizophrenia traits with disorganized
thought patterns.
c) Paranoia increasing
d) Lots of similarities to a senile adult. Difference in time
perception (10 minutes seems like 1 hour). Erratic junk foods.
Poor judgement. Cannot self-correct. Much like Altzheimer's
e) As use continues with subacute intoxication, decreasing
cognitive ability, decline in emotional life, much increase in
stubbornness. More fatigue, decreased ability to do complex
tasks, no self-insight, no idea of time and dates, impaired short-
term meory and occasionally long-term as well. With Moderate dose
get profound gross impairment of motor skills. (See how much like
brain-damaged adult?) With high dose can get hallucinations.
Feel that THC may be the cause of massive adolescent psychiatric
problems. MUCH PROOF HERE and much refusal of the user to take
this information seriously...still relying on the information from
the 1960s that THC was not harmful. User does not wish to look
the data straight in the eyes.
Major driving impairments..."behavioural toxicity". The
stoned person does not perceive the dangers. He can briefly hide
the influence and pay attention but easily loses focus. Coming
down from a high may be the worst for motor skills. Occasionally
get a triggered unexpected after-high.
39% more likely to have a driving accident if smoke THC and
drive. Reckless driving, failure to yield, failure to stop.
How to tell if the memory/behavior is THC? STOP for two
months and see if symptoms go away.
1. First stage is exposure.
2. Second stage...the person learns the mood swing, starts to use
it as a drug and seek it and plan for its use = second stage of
3. Third stage..user becomes preoccupied with the mood swing.
Develops tolerance. May use 3-4 x per day up to 15 per day = much
increased tolerance. Develops a preoccupied with chemical
dependence life style.
4. In the fourth stage the addict is using the drug to be NORMAL.
Uses first in the AM, last at night, using it just to function.
*Stages three and four...the patient usually cannot stop on his
own but needs a formal treatment program.