WILL THE REAL DOPES IN THIS MARIJUANA-USE STUDY PLEASE STAND UP?

How Much Marijuana Does A Research Volunteer Need To Smoke To Demonstrate
That Dope Is Bad For Your Brains? Apparently, Up To 350 Joints A Week.

In a study financed by the U.S. government, scientists measured blood flow
in the brains of volunteers who smoked different amounts of weed. So-called
"light users" smoked from two to 15 joints a week; moderate users toked 17
to 70 joints per week; and heavy users puffed away at from 78 to 350 joints
per week.

The researchers found regular pot use narrows blood vessels and restricts
oxygen and other nutrients from getting to the brain, possibly explaining
why dope seems to impair memory. Furthermore, heavy dope-users still had
restricted blood flow a full month after they stopped smoking up.

"This study unequivocally shows that marijuana has adverse effects on the
brain," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, which commissioned the research. "You really do not want to
jeopardize the circulation [of blood] in the brain."

But the scientists found that "light users," who smoked seven to 11 joints
a week, showed no lasting ill-effects from their habit. Their blood flow
returned to normal within a month of quitting.

In an interview, Dr. Volkow acknowledged that those who experienced the
more serious effects did smoke "huge, huge, huge doses." And even some of
the so-called "light-users" smoked up on a daily basis. But she insisted
the study is realistic. "There are people who are taking these unbelievably
huge quantities of drugs."

Still, it's hard to take a study seriously when the participants have to
almost chain-smoke joints in order to produce negative clinical results.
This is one study the occasional pot smoker can safely forget about. Those
who took part in the study certainly won't be able to remember it.