855-763-6488Researchers have officially confirmed that when people use marijuana, certain malfunctions occur within the cannabinoid brain receptors – resulting in a clearer picture of how to treat people with marijuana addictions. They also collected evidence that the damage to brain receptors may be reversible if the marijuana use is ended.
The research, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health together with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, shows how a person’s ability to experience pleasure, to focus on a task, to understand the passage of time and to remember or have coordinated movements is affected by marijuana. The active chemical found in marijuana, THC, adheres to cannabinoid receptors at the brain level and impairs these functions, in addition to cannabinoid receptors found elsewhere in the systems related to digestion, breathing and cardiovascular health.
During the study, researchers looked at biological processes of 30 marijuana users for a month, using PET scanning and injections that allowed a view of how the marijuana was affecting their bodies.
When the half of the participants stopped using marijuana, they were examined again, according to a recent study report. Results showed that the receptor activity in the brain had jumped significantly without the marijuana usage, in comparison with receptor activity when the research started. Researchers summarized that marijuana causes reduced activity of certain receptors responsible for body processes and functions, but that with a cessation of marijuana use, this activity can return.
Further implications from the study include the importance of using PET imaging for studying several types of human illness.
In an alarming trend, people looking for a marijuana-like experience with a seemingly lower risk are turning to K2, a synthetic blend of herbs that is smoked, snorted or eaten in several forms. Experts warn that K2 can have serious or lethal side effects and may be stronger in effect than marijuana or other drugs. It’s also difficult to detect the synthetic narcotic in drug tests, leading to higher numbers of use in the U.S.
K2, also called Spice, is legal in some states and is sold at boutique smoke shops. The substance is often referred to as a type of manmade marijuana, and is increasing in popularity across the U.S. It can be purchased online, in boutique shops or convenience stores – often alongside products like incense. The active ingredient in K2 is THC, a compound with psychoactive properties like marijuana. Despite misleading packaging, many users have become seriously ill and some have needed professional and medical assistance to stop using the substance.
