Marijuana As 'Safe Drug' Is Scientifically Inaccurate
Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - 09:40
in Psychology & Sociology
Marijuana went from being a gateway drug or a dangerous hallucinogen (a la "Reefer Madness") to being a 'safe drug' more recently, which is just as inaccurate, according to a new review. The researchers reviewed over 120 studies that looked at different aspects of the relationship between cannabis and the adolescent brain, including the biology of the brain, chemical reaction that occurs in the brain when the drug is used, the influence of genetics and environmental factors, in addition to studies into the "gateway drug" phenomenon. The nature of the teenage brain makes users of cannabis amongst this population particularly at risk of developing addictive behaviors and suffering other long-term negative effects, they note. read more