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Marijuana – The Science Behind the Smoke

Marijuana – The Science Behind the Smoke

Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized “medical marijuana” and 8 states have legalized recreational cannabis use. Does this mean that marijuana is harmless? That it is safe? That it is not addictive? What does the science actually reveal?

  • Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States and worldwide.
  • Cannabis is addictive and the younger one starts using it, the greater the likelihood of addiction.
    • One out of eleven adults (9%) who try cannabis become addicted.
    • One out of six adolescents (17%) who try cannabis become addicted (Hall, 2009; Volkowet al., 2014).

Cannabis has changed over the years and is much more potent today than just a few decades ago, thus increasing the risk of addiction, as well as mental health problems. In 1992, the average potency of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis seized by the U.S. Federal government was 3%, but by 2016 the potency had increased to 11%, an almost fourfold increase! This increase in potency correlates with increased number of hospital admissions for cannabis-use disorders.

Cannabis contains more than 460 active chemicals and more than 100 unique cannabinoids. These are the compounds that interact with the brain’s cannabinoid receptors.

Cannabis (including “medical marijuana” in dispensaries) is not standardized in dose, potency, or chemical constituency, which means you don’t know what you’re getting from one marijuana sample to the next.

So, what does the published research demonstrate?

  • Most studies (70%) done on cannabis are deemed to have “high-risk of bias” due to methodological flaws and author biases.
  • Only 57% had appropriate participant blinding and only 24% had appropriate blinding of outcome assessors (this means preventing the participants and assessors from knowing who was getting real cannabis and who was getting placebo.)
  • Most research was done on oral cannabinoids, which contained only one or two of the more than 100 active compounds; only two studies involved actual cannabis (smoked in one study, vaporized in another.)
  • Thus, all the hype suggesting safety of cannabis is just that, hype and not science.

Of the studies that were well done, the researchers concluded that there was moderate evidence of medical benefit from cannabis for chronic pain and muscle spasticity. There was poor-quality evidence for the treatment of nausea/vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome.

This means that the medical benefits are narrow and much more evidence is needed. However, since many states have legalized medical marijuana, it has led to the perception amongst young people that marijuana is not harmful.

The graph below shows how attitudes among high school students have changed from 1975 to 2013:

Another issue that perpetuates the false idea that marijuana is harmless is that it is “natural,” but natural doesn’t always mean harmless!  Consider tobacco, poison ivy, poison mushrooms, or foxglove (a plant from which the cardiac medicine digoxin is derived, in which a small overdose of it will stop the heart). All of these are natural products, but are poisonous or toxic. No, natural doesn’t always mean harmless.

Perception about marijuana is critically important and we must educate young people about the health damaging effects of it, just as we have done regarding tobacco.

Surveys show that 45% of U.S. high school seniors have used marijuana, 23% use currently, and 6% use daily (Johnston et al., 2016). The more marijuana is used the more damage it does to the brain. In a dose-dependent manner, adolescent cannabis use is associated with worse performance in school, work, thinking, increased psychiatric disorders, and worsened substance use outcomes (Pope et al., 2003; Fergusson et al., 2015, Jager& Ramsey, 2008; Meier et al., 2012; Randolph et al., 2013; Camchonget al., 2016, Fergusson et al., 2002; Patton et al., 2002; Moore et al., 2007, Patton et al., 2007.Volkowet al., 2014, 2016; Levine et al., 2017).

Cannabis use in adolescence is associated with increased incidence and worsened course of psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders (Hayatbakhshet al., 2007; Moore et al., 2007; Gage 2016).

Several studies have documented that adolescents who smoke marijuana have a loss of IQ points, more than a standard deviation, that is never fully recovered after stopping marijuana use (Pope 2003, Gruber 2011, Meier 2012).

The bottom line is that marijuana is a neuro-active substance that has multiple damaging effects on the brain. It reduces IQ, increases mental illness, and increases the risk of multiple health problems. Furthermore, there is essentially no research on the more than 400 chemical compounds contained within cannabis.

We must move away from myth to truth and educate our young people on the dangers of this substance.

Remember, humans can pass laws to make marijuana legal, but we can never pass laws to make it healthy! Mature people are those who choose to operate in harmony with design law—the laws upon which life and health are built—so even when society makes something legal, if it is unhealthy, the mature won’t damage their bodies with it.

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The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

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Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

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We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

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God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

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Testimony 74

Thank you so much for opening my eyes. I’ve been through a lot of ministries that just didn’t show the love of God that I felt he was. You have helped me to begin the process of true healing. I thought I was “too far gone,” now I know there’s hope in Jesus, because he loves us beyond what we can comprehend. Thank you again for all you do. I truly appreciate it and pray more people find you (physical at your studio and through this website).

Dalio M.

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA