Drug Abuse

Question by Sam: How is it that people believe marijuana’s disinhibitory effects are beneficial to the user?
I’m not attempting to discredit marijuana completely, but merely trying to
educate those who seem to strongly believe that the social dis-inhibition that
comes along with regular and heavy marijuana use is somehow
“spiritual” or some ridiculous thing. I feel that it is a VERY misunderstood substance and that something needs to be done to educate the public of the harmful effects as well as the positive effects, so that we can have a more well rounded view of the drug. Firstly, I myself was a moderate to heavy marijuana user from the age of 13 until I stopped
completely at age 17. I am telling you this so that you don’t
discredit my words as coming from someone who has no experience with
the substance. Trust me, I have had PLENTY of experience with it, and
feel it is my duty to educate people about the potentially harmful
effects associated with it’s use. Let me explain why I stick so strongly to
the opinion that the dis-inhibitory effects of marijuana are pretty
much inherently negative and ultimately harmful to the user.

Look at it this way, I consider psilocybin’s (the active ingredient in
magic mushrooms) dis-inhibitory effects to be quite beneficial as THE
PART OF THE BRAIN IT INHIBITS IS THE IRRATIONAL, UNCONSCIOUS AND
REACTIVE PART OF THE BRAIN. You know, the part of the brain that
causes one to act impulsively based on irrational fears and/or beliefs
when one is one feels pressured or stressed to do so. I call it “the
dogma reinforcement brain region” lol.

Marijuana on the other hand has been demonstrated to reduce activity
in the part of the brain responsible for recognizing and inhibiting
socially inappropriate impulses (eg. violent impulses, sexual
impulses, inappropriate anger or hostility, really any socially
inappropriate behavior is mediated by this brain region) i.e. the
orbitofrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that adapts and
molds behavior based on social expectations. It is involved in
morality and standards of behavior. It is also one of the key regions
of the brain believed to be not functioning properly in psychopathy
and related disorders. People who have suffered damage to this part of
the brain show poor decision making skills, impaired judgment, lack
of empathy/lack of concern for others, increased impulsive behavior,
increased swearing, sexual dis-inhibition, as well as an overall jocular attitude.
People with this type of brain damage are said to be suffering from
what is known as a “pseudopsychopathic disorder”. Marijuana doesn’t necessarily
cause damage to this part of the brain, however, in regular to heavy
users, this region receives significantly reduced blood flow whereas areas
responsible for fear and anxiety (the amygdala) show an increase of
cerebral blood flow.

Now, this is in no way, shape or form an attempt to discredit the
medical benefits of marijuana. There is no denying that it is a
medical marvel that could help so many people in so many ways. And
furthermore, I believe that marijuana should be legalized nation-wide.
However, it is easy to get carried away and overlook the harmful
potential of this substance due to the fact that it possesses great
potential as a medical agent. Let us not confuse medication with
recreation or abuse. I myself, prefer to remain neutral on the substance and
let science and study of it’s effects do the talking.

Although I am not sure how credible this one study is, it gives an example of the type of behaviors associated with a compromised orbitofrontal cortex:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14621345

So, getting back to my question, given all the data, how is it that
people still view the dis-inhibitory effects of this plant as
beneficial to the user? Also, have any of you guys noticed the harmful
effects that seem to be so easily dismissed/overlooked? Thanks in
advance.

Best answer:

Answer by Phil’S On Pills
Reading your detail, it seems fair, IMO, to extend your title question to “How is it that people believe marijuana’s disinhibitory effects are beneficial to the user WITHIN SOCIETY?”
IS that fair?
Society is sick, and anyone who uses marijuana as you say they use it, besides being addicted, probably agrees that society is sick.
~
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti
~
But remember, everything in moderation. Harmful effects mostly comes with improper and overuse.

Answer by S.K.
So, is there a question here, or do you merely wish to lecture?

A family member suffers–and I do mean suffers, to a level that’s disabling–from social anxiety disorder. The dis-inhibiting factors of marijuana and alcohol were what enabled her to see that she did not need to live as she had been, without friends or relationships, because within her was the capability to interact with others. Because she used these substances in a limited way, and saw that side of herself, she became open to counseling and to lifelong medication which is helping her live a much more normal life. (She went out with friends both Friday and Saturday nights. This is a huge deal.)

I don’t have issue with someone using it recreationally specifically because it reduces crippling inhibitions–but like anything which alters thought, it’s not the way to go through one’s life.