cannabisnews.com: Long-Term MJ Smoking Doesn't Impact Cognition! Long-Term MJ Smoking Doesn't Impact Cognition! Posted by FoM on May 14, 1999 at 07:25:19 PT Norml's Weekly News Update! Source: NORML Baltimore, MD Long-term use of marijuana does not lead to a decline in mental function, according to the results of a large-scale John Hopkins University study. "There is no convincing evidence that [even] heavy long-term marijuana use impairs memory or other cognitive functions," said NORML board member Dr. John P. Morgan of City University of New York (CUNY) Medical School. "During the past 30 years, researchers have found, at most, minor cognitive differences between chronic marijuana users and nonusers, and the results differ substantially from one study to another." The most recent John Hopkins study examined marijuana's effects on cognition on 1,318 participants over a 15 year period. Researchers gave subjects specialized tests, called Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSE), in 1981 and 1982. Subjects took follow-up MMSE tests 12 to 15 years later and scientists measured rates of cognitive decline among marijuana smokers and nonsmokers. Researchers reported "no significant differences in cognitive decline between heavy users, light users, and nonusers of cannabis." They also found "no male-female differences in cognitive decline in relation to cannabis. "These results ... seem to provide strong evidence of the absence of a long-term residual effect of cannabis use on cognition," they concluded. The study is the first to investigate the long term effects of marijuana on cognition in a large epidemiological sample. Researchers did conclude that cognition declines over long time periods in all age groups, but found this decline "closely associated with aging and educational level, [and] ... not ... associated with cannabis use." The study appears in the May 1, 1999, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. For more information, please contact John P. Morgan of CUNY Medical School (212) 650-8255 or Allen St. Pierre (202) 483-8751. To read an abstract of this study online, please visit: http://www.jhsph.edu/Publications/JEPI/may199/may1con.htm Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Janis on September 03, 2001 at 14:44:29 PT: long term use How about people who have been heavy smokers for 30+ years?Pot strength has changed. How about not caring about anything except getting up and smoking? No work - just go out and do what you feel like with no regard to family or friends or anything else that used to matter in life. There may be no change in cognitive brain function but there are plenty of other changes. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Drug-Free Mike on April 19, 2001 at 10:47:45 PT: Marijuana DRUGS ARE BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Pat on May 15, 1999 at 16:02:34 PT THANKS, FoM...:) Hi FoM,I just have time for a quicknote of thanks. Yes, I did get your explanatory, etc.:), letter; thanks. I will give it a try, when I have more "free time" on the computer.Yes FoM, it's real nice to see the boards growing with good news.Thanks for the May Day MMM News updates on the fine web page you created, FoM.Thanks for the addition of Uses of Medical Marihuana, by Dr. Grinspoon, to "my" Pat's Home Page, which you were so nice to create for me. I really appreciate it, FoM.[Now FoM, I must go off line now, and do other stuff. As happened last night, it's quite possible that I won't get back on line, before much later, sometime tomorrow.]Thank you, FoM. Enjoy....Pat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 15, 1999 at 09:51:03 PT I Just Sent You an E-mail Back! Hello Pat!Thanks I'll go read the link now!Cryote is doing a great job!I'm so glad to see the boards growing with good information!Peace, FoM!PS: I put the Uses of Medical Marijuana by Dr. Grinspoon on your page the other night! I just updated the Million Marijuana March News! Check it out when you have time!http://homepages.go.com/~marthag1/million.htmI figure that what I wrote in here might get a few individual letters sent so I don't have to spend too much more time cross referencing! Pat's Home Page [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Pat on May 15, 1999 at 09:15:59 PT HI FoM... ... yes, hello, FoM,thanks for your post. I've been up all night, and I have to try to get some rest, before 12:00 PM.:) ... FoM, about bookmarking particular message URL's or threads.... No, I don't do that, FoM. I'm not sure how you do that, but I think you have to use the "my favorite places" thingie, in MSIE. Since I borrow the computer I use to surf, I have never used the "my favorite places" thingie, yet. IF I can use this, or another, "bookmarking" to keep track of URLs, *while using a floppy disk,* then I might like to do this. However, I am not sure I can do this, FoM. ... Well, FoM, thanks again. Please let me try to get some rest now. [I really have trouble sleeping with my bad hernia, and after the recent loss we all suffered, here....] ... FoM, I'm not sure if you want to see this, but I pasted a short message I left in a thread that cryote started in the http://www.cannabis.com culture board, recently. ...Anyway, FoM, as I wondered around in my room, this past Dark Period, I had time to reflect upon how lucky I am to have met you... and, to have you as a friend. FoM, that this is so, really means alot to me....Thank you, FoM. Best Wishes, Pat.Re: Brewery Workers Sue. Yup, it's a Sick MindsetPosted by Pat on May 14, 1999 at 17:36:20 PT:In Reply to: Brewery Workers Sue. posted by cryote on May 14, 1999 at 09:42:29 PT:that we, so sadly, have here in our country, now. The "thinking" goes something like this, I believe.____________________________________________________________________________________________[Illegal] "drugs" are BAD.-->Anyone who uses "drugs" is BAD.-->[We WILL TEST to find all BAD Persons.]If you are BAD, we will FIRE you.____________________________________________________________________________________________Thanks, cryote. I hope the workers win this case.... [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 14, 1999 at 22:32:40 PT Hello Pat! Hello Pat,I didn't answer your other posts because I got very busy but I read them! I'll bookmark this site and post it for you tomorrow in Political so you can find it. Do you bookmark pages? That's what I do when you or anyone brings mail. Thanks for your comments and it's late so I'll be talking with you again real soon!Keep On Keepin' On the BuMpY road we travel!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Pat on May 14, 1999 at 17:31:17 PT ****BUT...**** ... (but) alcohol use and even a "short term arrest, conviction and imprisonment" will, almost certainly, lead to an increased rate of brain-cell death, and cognition impairment. But hey, war is war, and if we have to destroy the lives of millions of US citizens, then, (our Prez and others say,) it is all worth it. Well, I say it is NOT worth it....Hello, FoM. I left you a note last night, here. I can't find it now, so I guess it is archived. (If you answered me, I'm sorry, but, I missed your answer. Can't remember which thread I last left you a message in, now, FoM, so I'm not sure I can find it in the archived messages....) I just dropped by to say "hi." I gotta go off line now. Oh, my aching bottom. Too much surfing is bad for the old body, I'm afraid. *I see that you've been very busy, today, FoM. Thanks. BTW, that CD ROM you found about cannabis (which you made a post about on the http://www.cannabis.com Politics Board) looks really nice. Now... I wonder when it will show up on the 'net?Well, FoM, I may not get a chance to check back here, before this thread is archived, in case you drop me a line. I will try, however....Thanks, FoM...:) [Oh... my aching back, ouch, ouch, ouch.] [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: