A recent study conducted in the Netherlands concluded that regular cannabis use in individuals showed increased levels of impulsive behavior. The study, which was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, disputes earlier research which argued that increased impulsivity was only experienced by occasional users. The results of this study points to how regular cannabis use can be a major trigger in regards to addiction. The study also shows similar patterns for those individuals who engage in regular cocaine use as well.
In this study, 61 individuals who were regular cocaine users as well as those who engaged in regular cannabis use were given both drugs and a placebo in controlled situations. In both the drug and placebo trials the participants took part in tests that required them to reflect and make judgments before making an action. The participants in the study were also asked to perform an action then told to stop in the midst of that particular action. Also included in this study of regular cannabis use were assessments of critical thinking skills, divided attention tests as well as the level of abilities concerning executive planning and functioning.
In regards to the first group of tests requiring reflection before performing an action, it was discovered that increased impulsivity resulted in snap decisions and increases in error rates when performing certain actions. With the second set of tests which required participants to stop themselves before performing an action, there were increased time lapses between the thought of stopping an action and the actual act of ceasing that action.
In the regular cannabis use group and the regular cocaine use group, impulsivity increased but manifested themselves in different ways. For instance, those in the regular cannabis use group were slower in regards to both performing tasks and reflecting on actions before cessation of an action, yet there were increases in errors. In the regular cocaine use group, subjects predictably reacted more quickly in both the performing of tasks as well as trying to control impulses. However, there were an increase of errors also shown. In comparison to those who use cannabis on an occasional basis, those who engaged in regular cannabis use had a two to threefold increase in the magnitude of impairment.
Results of this current study regarding regular cannabis use (as well as regular cocaine use) further illustrate the effects of both drugs on crucial pathways in the brain, in particular the pathway between the frontal cortex and the limbic system. The frontal cortex is the primary area where decision making occurs and the limbic system that organizes both emotional responses and memory. From the results of this study, a conclusion may be drawn that regular cannabis use (as well as regular cocaine use) decreases the amount of control in both brain areas.
Yes I think pot is bad it messes up your way of thinking like any drug and think people use it as am excuse to get a medical so they can have the drug I know people if they don’t have there pot they cry and say they got to have it so yes pot can lead to other drugs
I could have told you all that without the study.
Weed cost mental problem!! Now I’m in mental health treatment.
Treat your marijuana use like you do your wine, every so often its nice to partake.. but too much of anything is not healthy, that’s just common sense. Pot doesn’t lead to other drugs, just socially it leads you to worse influences… I’d be able to say alcohol (a drug) led me to marijuana, therefore alcohol is a gateway drug… How much alcohol do you have to drink for your reaction time to slow down? I’m clean now, but lets go back to the prohibition of alcohol and how young adults would secretly drink in dark rooms (speakeasys) and keep it hush hush.. I’ve always been told history repeats itself and I believe we are in a marijuana prohibition, and with enough resistance… the defensive ideologies we’ve developed as a culture will be just another chapter in the next generations history book. For now, being a straight-edge, attractive, white, heterosexual, male is the preferred ideology in this country. Harsh, but true.
Ross had a good point. The ignorance of this site to delete the comment is just the way purely sober people react to new ways of thinking…. no room for growth of knowledge, the room for an expanded perspective. I read a study that said people who regularly use drugs, are usually smarter than those who don’t.. something to smoke on while you delete this comment too. Cheers.
Yep. God forbid an educated ex-stoner puts his two cents in… If you want to be sober and stay sober, learn more about the culture with which marijuana stems and thrives. Running studies on slower reaction times and how those equal addictive impulses should be just common knowledge, this happens with anything that makes us feel good, just a dopamine rush adiction. Also a good point to remember, marijuana is not just a drug, or a controlled substance…its a lifestyle. So if you have a child who is actively smoking, ask why he/she is.. don’t just condemn it without hearing their side, because half the time it is poor parenting that results in drug use (I should know, my real mother was addicted to heroin while I was in the womb…I’m happy I only smoked marijuana in the long run) The beauty of it all, if you straight-edge conservative minded people actually listened to what your addicted child or partner or anyone has to say.. you might prevent hard use and addiction. It is a catch 22… You got to give a little to get a little.
1 Study out of thousands with 2 different drug users?? Not very professional Sober is Sexy..don’t report on 1 short term study that lacks details and credibility ….I support your cause and applaud your efforts ..but please stick to well documented long term professional studies.you don’t help. Addicts who are intelligent stay sober with old fashion style marijuana frenzy style reporting.. ty
From 14 years of pot smoking, I completely agree with this. I was consumed by pot in the end of my 14 years of addiction. Un-escapeable with out the fellowship.