Marijuana makes blood rush to the head

    * 21:00 07 February 2005
    * NewScientist.com news service
    * Katharine Davis

Smoking marijuana can affect blood flow in the brain so much that it takes over a month to return to normal. And for heavy smokers, the effects could last much longer, a new study suggests.

Regular marijuana use can harm memory and the ability to make decisions, according to Jean Cadet at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, Maryland, US. To find out why, he monitored the flow of blood through the brains of 54 marijuana smokers, among whom the heaviest user smoked 50 joints every day.

People who smoked cannabis had higher blood flow through their brains than non-users. Yet there was also greater resistance to the blood flow, suggesting that cannabis changes the blood vessels in the brain in a way which hinders oxygen in reaching the tissue effectively. In an attempt to compensate, extra blood is sent to that part of the brain, increasing resistance but probably failing to get enough oxygen through the vessels, Cadet suggests.

Cadet and his colleagues used an extremely sensitive non-invasive technique called transcranial Doppler sonography to "see" the blood flow through individual arteries from the head's surface.

After a month without cannabis - during which the volunteers agreed to remain in a clinic, with no access to marijuana - Cadet repeated the sonography. The resistance to blood flow of light and moderate users - who usually smoked an average of 11 and 44 joints per week, respectively - was starting to return to normal.

Neuropsychological problems

But there was no improvement observed in the heavy users, who smoked an average of 131 joints per week. "We were surprised because we'd expected that as marijuana cleared the system things would improve," says Cadet. He now wants to see if there is a link between the changes in the brain's blood flow and the extent of neuropsychological problems.

To eliminate the effect of tobacco in the joints, Cadet compared his results to those obtained from smokers, who showed normal blood flow. But, says William Notcutt of James Paget Hospital in Norfolk, UK, the longer-term effect on the brain may not have been caused by the same substance that produces the high.

"Somebody smoking 50 joints per day is getting a huge number of carcinogens from the marijuana plant," he notes. "We know the cardiovascular effect [of cannabis] is very complex and multi-factorial so it's not as simple as with other drugs. The group that needs to be studied now is people that use high quality medicinal extracts."

He adds that the results may also be different for people that only smoke marijuana occasionally, and so are exposed to lower doses of the toxic substances.

Journal reference: Neurology (vol 64, p 488)

the KEY problem here, which ALL should consider, is if the Drug (pot in this case) controls YOU, instead of YOU controlling the DRUG.

This is true of all power plants. Yes. Once again pot, shrooms, etc. are power plants, if you take them strictly for fun, that's when the "etheric" damages may appear. You must master them as opposed to being mastered by them. Smoke 15 joints a day chances are you will learn little about your own mind or the world, smoke one a week while in the right frame of mind, after a deep meditation, with class A incense burning in the background and  with a clear purpose you will probably see some interesting stuff moving around in your head!

I have dabbled with a bit of hash many moons ago. Gotta a good buzz, but said and did the same dumbass shit when "normal" figured I'd save me the bucks. When I did it, it was "just cuz" no spiritual reason. I am very ignorant on most everything else.

Speaking of psychiatrists, for those who haven't read it , I suggest reading Holographic Universe. There is a section primarily on LSD.  I guess I come away figuring, if you do take it for just cus, then you only get the buz, or if you do sense something greater but don't have a "spiritual basis" to place it on, it is probably too freaking and far out there, that you possibly start the path to paranoia or bakedville. If you take it for "spiritual" reasons, there may be greater or quicker realizations, but you still have to take them in/ work them out, Aya doesn't dispute this that's why he says it doesn't provide the enlightenment.

However I think that if you are secure in who you are and your knowledge...advance to a certain point, then it may be nothing happens. In the book(holog. Univ.) it talks about giving a little old holy man in the Himalayas 915 mcg LSD per the mans request (200mcg was the norm for his research) ...not a lick happened to the man.

I don't understand it all. Take it, don't take it, happy trails to you...I'll walk my way regardless.

This voice made sure I went to Brazil 2 years ago, and as a direct result of that, I've had many life enhancing experiences:

- On one of my ayahuasca journeys I had an incredible direct experience of the godforce. So when David Icke wrote "Infinite Love is the only truth, everything else is an illusion" I knew EXACTLY what he meant.

When Stuart Wilde (Infinite Self) writes "I'll never forget the day I had my first experience up the other end of the near-death tube, where I actually perceived the God Force. This isn't thinking about the God Force, or a faint feeling- this is actually seeing it. The enormity of that energy is indescribable. It's exquisite beyond words. The love and compassion-there is no way to quantify and comprehend that amount of love. But what that experience did for me was to instantly throw out about 75 percent of the stuff that I believed. At the time I had my first experience of the Light, I'd been working on myself for many years, so  I had already liberated my psychology and philosophy a tremendous amount. Yet standing in the light of the God Force, I felt embarrassed-a lot of my philosophy was pathetic compared to a view of the real thing." Again I can now relate to those words with every fibre of my being. It's no longer an intellectual concept or a faint feeling or something that sounds agreeable, but something I've had direct experience of, and to me that was one of the most important events of my life so far. Everything changed from that day onwards.

- Also by going to Brazil I've made some amazing friends all over the world who I love dearly and I know they feel the same about me. They've become a very important part of my journey.

- As a result of going to Brazil I was then invited to spend a few days with Stuart Wilde, who is without a doubt the single most important influence on my life and spiritual learning. The short time I spent with Stuart was just an incredible experience and is something I'll cherish for the rest of my existence.

- Then on my return to Brazil last July I spent a week with a truly amazing and inspiring shaman, and like with Stuart, just being in that guys presence raised my vibration considerably. This guy was just love personified. I'll be seeing him again in a few months because he's coming to Europe for a few weeks in April. I can't wait

- On my first trip to Brazil I also met Zoe7 (He was the same guy that gave David Icke ayahuasca) who was responsible for putting me on to the cass material which ultimately led to me finding Montalk and Noble Realms where I'm continuing to learn and form what I consider to be some very important friendships.

And I could probably list at least a dozen more events that have had a profound effect on my life, as a result of that first trip to Brazil with Heart of the Initiate.

I guess the point of saying all this is that I think it's very important to trust that inner spiritual voice and so long as you're doing that then there's no way you can fail to walk a path of heart and integrity. To get caught up in the whole integrity issue is a huge ego trap and probably very deadly (as Stuart would say). Do you think the infinite worries about it's integrity? teehee

So my advice is follow that inner voice and don't ever let anyone else piss on your parade. If your inner voice tells you to stay away from plant teachers then stay away, they're not meant to be a part of everyone's path. But if that inner voice tells you to go to Brazil and take ayahuasca then don't let anyone bullshit you into ignoring that voice. Ayahuasca isn't going to tarnish your soul or make you lose integrity, or hold you back in any way. It's a teacher, a tool for learning and above all it's an amazing healer (both physical and spiritual). It's not McEnlightenment, it's not a shortcut to anywhere and it's definitely not a trap.

Andy

Psychiatrists were once my biggest obstacle when a relative was labelled schizophrenic, and again when I was advocating respect and a voice for the patient in psychiatric care, as a mental health advocate. So yes, I now see your point very well.

Thanks for clarifying...

V

Because the subject of psychedelics came up. & it is a drug thread, & that is what psychiatrists do push drugs for TPTB, Ely lily etc.

When I used to be a mental health advocate, the largest number of people sectioned or coming in with this psychosis were young teenagers who would freak out smoking a new hybrid plant locally known as "skunk" and hydroponically grown god knows where, and laced with large amounts of other chemicals. The marketplace for Cannabis is dangerous territory, unless you are inclined to take a risk and grown your own.

When I went home to South Africa, I was tickled to note that cannabis is used as a poultice for arthritic limbs. Lots of grannies stashing it at home for pain releif and the odd cuppa. Never smoked by the older generation, just the youth mainly.

V

good words Maydovus, hows the maryjane dilemna going? ill admit i took 2 puffs yesteday but it was because i busted my ass skateboarding and had to get stitches....

(oh geez im giving myself excuses... STOP!)

and ermolai and aya, could both of your egos take a rest, and agree to disagree?
(yes, thats a provoking taunt)

Hey mate

Yeah ive now come to a peace of mind knowing the reasons as to why I have to stop smoking the weed, thanks greatly to you and others in this thread! Thank you everyone!!!
So now im on a mission to clear my mind, body and soul and to clear my path of weeds and everything else in the way and have a clear focus of where im going. Also now the arguments to have one or not are coming to the side of the reason not to have one so if i can keep this frame of mind, im laughin!

p.s. Thats why i gave up skateboarding, for one now im getting too old and secondly ive busted my tale bone and wrists so many times that couldnt take another fall on em. Hope the wounds heal mate!

p.p.s ditto on the last comment mate!

They are the people who developed the Lobotomy & the trans orbital leucotomy, ( destruction of the frontal lobes ). & the same people who make prozac & Zoloft. Wonder drugs that many people, including young kids have committed suicide on.

They are the people who have had 15% of their practicioners admit to having had sex with the patients. They are the proffession with the highest suicide rate in the world. Alternative therapists do not have a similiar suicide rate.

They are also the people who said quote; a child who has sex with an adult does not neccessesarily suffer from the experience. Ecstasy was developed to help the person reach their baser emotions so they can reach the therapist. They are the people who advocate ritalin & other mind altering drugs for school children to zombify them so they are more controllable.

Wonderful folks.

I have found the marijuana has a similar effect without the colours. Maybe its OK to get you through a difficult patch, but continued use just slows you down I think, both physically and psychically. It can also create a psychological dependency, with the net effect of dulling the emotional centre. Sometimes we are afraid to feel, and all the people I know who smoke are running away from feelings of one sort or another.

If we sucuumb to this urge to zone out, we bypass the emotional centre and lose some invaluable opportunities for growth and strengthening of our magnetic centres, which is what I understand to be central to growing the soul.

This thread reminds me of a C session on this very subject. From experience, I tend to agree with their take on the use of psychadelics. Melatonin seems to be the only substance of this nature that works in tune with our 3d biological make-up. Maybe there are others,I don't know. I have just noted with interest, that I have been very irregular in my use of it. This thread has reminded me that perhaps this "forgetfulness" may be serving some 4d STS, so back to the Melatonin tonight!

V

Here is the C session referred to:

Ermolai ... thank you for the above link.  As I read French fairly fluently, as perhaps others on NR, it's helpful to see the reference.  Although without actually reading the article, it's hard to get a fix on the author.  At first blush, it appears to be a website devoted exposing the NWO ... from various angles.

The magazines can be ordered online. The author speaks about a lot of different subjects linking spirituality and conspiracy. He's the one who exposed the conspiracy around Tibet, as posted on another thread. His writings all feel very true and coherent to me -- and I say this as an hardcore skeptic who always tries to find the holes and illusions.

Anti-psychiatry was the first door.

For me integrity has to do with the soul and stopping to send our divine energy toward the illusion so that we can finally use it for positive purposes. Having trust that as long as we are true to our heart, and seeking the truth, then the universe will help us. Drugs tear away our subtle bodies, telepathically fill our minds with confusion (including useless "spiritual knowledge") and thus prevent us to be centered, know ourselves and accomplish our destiny, which is all what matters in the end. Without integrity you cannot connect to the divine source.

I'm unsure what you mean by this... My mother has always instinctively rebelled against cults so it was not really an issue for me. Personnaly I have spent years shutting up about what I knew and letting people float in their illusion, because I didn't want to impose myself on others. Now I put more importance in telling what I know is true, and acting accordingly, than on being accepted / loved / respected. And I know saying this makes me look like a fundamentalist (especially in a world where "relative truth" and "let's all get together" is the new religion) but nonetheless I keep on questionning myself all the time.

Thanks that's very well said and without my inflammatory approach