Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain (a good thing)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Note that the chemical discussed here is not THC. Marijuana contains a wide and as yet under-examined array of psycho-active chemicals--one reason that taking pharmaceutical THC in pill form is no substitute for medical-marijuana.

On Edit: I changed the reference to hippocampus cells in the headline. I think it was freaking people out...

Marijuana might cause new cell growth in the brain
22:00 13 October 2005 by Kurt Kleiner

A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

In mammals, new nerve cells are constantly being produced in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory, anxiety and depression. Other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, have been shown to suppress this new growth. Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to see what effects a synthetic cannabinoid called HU210 had on rats' brains.

They found that giving rats high doses of HU210 twice a day for 10 days increased the rate of nerve cell formation, or neurogenesis, in the hippocampus by about 40%.

A previous study showed that the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) also increases new cell growth, and the results indicated that it was this cell growth that caused Prozac's anti-anxiety effect. Zhang wondered whether this was also the case for the cannabinoid, and so he tested the rats for behavioural changes.

When the rats who had received the cannabinoid were placed under stress, they showed fewer signs of anxiety and depression than rats who had not had the treatment. When neurogenesis was halted in these rats using X-rays, this effect disappeared, indicating that the new cell growth might be responsible for the behavioural changes.

<snip>

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8155-marijuana-might-cause-new-cell-growth-in-the-brain.html

[debbierlus]

1. I thought you wrote hippopatamus!

Such a stoner!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Unfortunately, I get very hyper under the influence of marijuana nt

[Union Yes]

6. Typical of Sativa strains. A good Indica strain is the exact opposite. A 'stoned' or 'couchlock' buz

Not trying to push a habit on anyone. Just raising awareness.

:hippie:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. I found the article interesting in terms of strains

Some pot makes you feel good and laughy. Some is more introspective and intense.

I assume that if pot were legal there would be varieties of party pot and "watching Eraserhead" pot.

And aphrodisiac strains also... take that, Pharma.

[Union Yes]

9. There are anti-depressant strains, pain killer strains, anti naseau strains, anti anxiety strains..

The science behind MJ has grown in recent decades as we learn more and more about this wonderful plant.

The news coming from the scientific and medical communities gets better on a daily basis.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. Makes me so F angry that marijuana, a PLANT for godssakes, is controlled!

What business is it of anyone to control what you F want to plant? Right wing intrusive a-holes make me sick. Really.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. I could go for some good and laughy strain LOL!

Lots better than liquor, which numbs you. I guess that's why there are so many alcohol addicts - the numbing effect.

[Ignis]

26. "watching Eraserhead" pot

You're smoking paraquat, man! :smoke:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

12. Really? Makes my heart speed up and makes me really uncomfortable

I didn't know that was what caused it. I haven't smoked in like.. ooh a bazillion years. I'd like to try it again.

[WhiteTara]

32. you beat me to the comment

I find VERY different effects between Endica and Sativa. I prefer the effects of Sativa cause I like to keep moving through my day.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Anyone who has noticed the effect, raise your...mouse.

:evilgrin:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

15. I'm getting jealous!!!! nt

[alfredo]

16. I have a trackball. Can I take the ball out and marvel at the sparklies in it?

[Union Yes]

4. Smoking weed does give me the urge to stand in a water hole and graze on water grasses =).

Sorry I couldn't resist.

KNR for the medicinal benefits of the kind bud.

:smoke: :hippie:

Currently growing hippo cells.

[lob1]

5. Excuse me, I have no time for this. There's brain-growin' to be done!

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

8. Rec. Cross post in Health?

Good stuff.

[Brickbat]

10. OH MY GOD, BABY HIPPO!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait, do what now?

[ixion]

11. w00t!!

:smoke:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

17. Oh. My. God. I just read up on sativa vs. indica

I never knew this. How come no one ever told me?

[dixiegrrrrl]

19. They did. You just forgot.

:evilgrin:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. LOL!!! Probably...

:party:

[Blue_In_AK]

18. It helped me through some stressful times, to be sure. n/t

[bertman]

21. I've suspected all along that it made those new cells grow on my waistline, but I had no idea

about the brain cells. Actually, sometimes I thought it made the brain cells shrink.

Or, was that the yellow pill that did that.

Rec.

[thelordofhell]

22. I want one for Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz5YMYKkXcw

Gayla Peevey (born March 8, 1943) is perhaps best known for her song, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (Columbia, 1953). A child star from Ponca City, Oklahoma, she was ten years old when she recorded the novelty song, which had been written by John Rox in 1950.
The Oklahoma City Zoo capitalized upon the popularity of the song in 1953 through a fundraising campaign to "buy a hippo for Gayla" in order to bring a hippo to the zoo. (They had no hippopotamus at the time.) The song raised $3,000. A baby hippo, named Matilda, was procured and flown in to Oklahoma City and presented by Peevey to the zoo.

Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. When released nationally by Columbia Records, the song shot to the top of the charts and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.

A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey's local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.

The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years

[Shallah Kali]

23. This might help PTSD -

this cnn article mentions that as SSRIs increase the size of the hippocamus so they might help PTSD so why not medical marijuana? http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/09/ptsd.brain.kids.memory/

[Roon]

24. Awww, kisses for the baby hippo!!

:o

[Roon]

25. dupe

:o

[asdjrocky]

27. This is a great article, thanks for bringing it.

Just finishing up a harvest of a nice blend and I'm feeling smarting already.

[RyboSlybo]

28. Thanks OP... good read!

There is more info out there and if your a supporter of complete decriminalization like myself here is a good place for info and a great group fighting for marijuana freedom!

http://www.mpp.org/

[Greyhound]

29. Not surprising at all.

This is a remarkable species and it is criminal that we are denied it's benefits.
:kick: & R

[NoodleyAppendage]

30. Neurogenesis of lazy, Oreo fudge eating hippocampal cells. n/t

J

[Greyhound]

31. K&R.