Tag Archives: brain damage

Drug Policy, Editorial

Marijuana is An Assault On The Human Species

A commentary by Roger Morgan

For anyone under age 25 or 30, marijuana causes permanent brain damage and loss of IQ because their brains aren’t fully developed. The younger they are, the worse the damage. Marijuana causes psychotic breaks leading to gruesome acts of violence, mental illness, addiction, suicides and myriad health problems. Marijuana is a fat soluble toxin that remains in the body for weeks and months. It causes DNA damage that can cause physical and mental abnormalities in the next four generations. Continue reading Marijuana is An Assault On The Human Species →

California

Marijuana Can Cause Permanent Brain Damage

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Skunk Alert: Marijuana Can Cause Permanent Brain Damage

Part 8 of a 9 part series

The damage is caused by physically altering the brain before it reaches full maturity at or about age 25. Marijuana reduces the amount of white and grey matter by as much as 80%, and shrinks the hippocampus, the learning, cognition and memory center of the brain causing a loss of 6 to 8 points of IQ by age 38, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). The damage is age and dose related. The younger one starts and the more they use the greater the toxic effect on the brain. Quitting later doesn’t reverse the damage. Adolescent marijuana use diminishes academic achievement, leads to more dropouts, less life satisfaction and fewer opportunities for higher paying jobs. Parents should be aware that there is a huge difference between an adolescent and a mature brain. Brain damage during adolescence can have life-long adverse consequences.

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Skunk is the name for today’s high potency marijuana. 

See the previous post in the series: Marijuana is NOT Medicine. See the next post in the series: Marijuana is NOT Safer than Alcohol

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Marijuana is Worse than Tobacco

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Skunk Alert: Marijuana is Worse than Tobacco

Part 1 of a 9 part series

The long term effects of smoking tobacco lead to illnesses that claim 480,000 lives a year, so the harms of tobacco cannot be minimized. However, for all of the reasons cited above regarding brain damage and loss of IQ, impaired memory and motivation, mental illness, driver safely, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, and myriad health problems, the short term harms are far worse and still have lasting impacts, like tobacco. What is worse, more teens are smoking marijuana today than tobacco, and in many cases concealing it by using e-cigarettes which don’t emit smoke or an odor. Random or suspicion-based drug testing can be used for early identification of a problem, and as a deterrent. Hair analysis in particular, with a 90-day window of detection, is highly recommended, albeit urine and saliva should be used as well. The intent is not to catch and punish, but to protect and keep kids in the system, safe and drug-free.Skunk About to Spray.svg.hi

Skunk is the name for today’s high potency marijuana.

See next post in the series: Marijuana Doubles the Risk of Traffic Deaths