Q&A: Does Marijuana Really Cause Brain Shrinkage?

QUESTION:

Hi mary!  Can you tell me more about this study?  I was under the impression that weed was a harmless plant but this is worrying.  I smoke daily for my MS and would rather my brain not shrink!!  I don't smoke to get high and never have.  Ive seen conflicting info.... ppl saying it is/isn't true.  Help!

Anonymous



ANSWER:

Ah, yes.  That study.  If you read beyond the headlines (which many people don't), you'll see that the study is far from conclusive.  To quote the LA Times:

"...the authors of the study acknowledge that they cannot discern whether a pot smoker's smaller orbital frontal cortex is the cause or the result of chronic marijuana use."

Yeah.  Basically, we don't know if the shrunken brains were shrunken before cannabis use.  There's a real possibility that a pre-existing reduction in gray matter could make a person more prone to abuse cannabis, not the other way around.  Unfortunately, we just don't understand the relationship at this time.

Nailing down a singular cause of ANY brain malady is nearly impossible due to all the variables in a person's life.  Does the subject use other substances?  Did they experience childhood trauma?  Lead toxicity?  Head injury?  Drug exposure in the womb?  As with most studies of this kind, the results raise more questions than answers.

As for cannabis being a "harmless plant," not so fast.  Marijuana contains the powerful drug THC, which can have unpleasant side effects in large amounts or in naive users.  Plenty of plants and herbs can kill you, so the idea that natural = safe is deeply flawed.  Still, marijuana has never killed anyone directly, making it safer than the vast majority of drugs including aspirin (which kills about 1,000 people annually).  It's all about weighing the risks and benefits.  If pot helps control your MS, I'd say it's definitely the lesser of two evils. 

Also, try not to worry so much!  Stress can trigger flare-ups of autoimmune diseases like MS.

Sincerely,

Mary Microgram

ALKS-5461: A Novel Antidepressant

Opiates have long been known to alleviate anxiety and depression with one small caveat:  the risk of life-ruining addiction.  One theory of depression is that it's caused by a dysfunctional endorphin system.  Now that theory is being put to good use.  Enter ALKS-5461, the latest antidepressant in the pipeline.  ALKS-5461 contains buprenorphine--a component of the addiction drug Suboxone--and samidorphan, an opioid blocker.

Buprenorphine stimulates the mu opioid receptor--you know, the one that produces insane euphoria and drug-seeking behavior--while blocking the kappa receptor.  Drugs that agonize the kappa opioid receptor like salvia are known to trigger dysphoria and feelings of intense fear, so it makes sense that blocking this nasty receptor would alleviate those feelings for some people.  Meanwhile, samidorphan blocks buprenorphine's effect on the mu receptor, thus removing its addictive potential.

The drug was so effective in clinical trials that it was granted fast-track designation by the FDA.  Despite its potential, ALKS-5461 is not a cure and could carry side effects of its own.  It is intended as a second-line (or third-line) treatment for patients whose depression is not helped by mainstream medications.  And if you're looking for a cheap high, look elsewhere.  This is not a "fun" drug by a long shot.  However, those of us with treatment-resistant depression should rejoice at the possibility of a new treatment option on the horizon.

ALKS-5461 is expected to hit the market in 2016.         

Crack Babies: A Tale From the Drug Wars

During the mid-1980s, reports of a new killer drug called "crack" took the public by storm.  In the beginning, crack was purely an inner city problem affecting a minority of low-income residents in LA, Chicago and other major cities.  By the time the media was finished, every child from Orange County to the hills of Appalachia knew about the $5 rock that could get you sky high.

Perhaps nothing tugged at our heartstrings more than crack babies.  Even the staunchest legalization proponents agreed that these babies were victims of something they did not sign up for.  These poor, underweight souls would shake violently and were expected to suffer extreme intellectual setbacks in the future.  In fact, an entire generation was dubbed "the generation lost to crack".

This 10-minute report puts the nail in the coffin of the crack baby myth.  Prepare to un-learn everything you thought you knew about "hard drugs".  

The crack baby scare is yet another example of lawmakers using "save the children" scare tactics to justify trampling the rights of consenting adult citizens.  It's Reefer Madness, '80s style. 

If you get nothing else from this report, remember this:  whether it's marijuana, crack or bath salts, the media cannot be trusted to tell the truth about drugs.    

Q&A: Helping Vs. Enabling

Question:  My son is in jail for repercussions of his opiate abuse. any suggestions on how I can help him when he gets out?  I personally Don't like the word 'enable'.  what's a mother to do?

~ Anonymous

Answer:  Let me begin by saying I'm not an addiction specialist, so please continue to seek advice from a professional in that arena.   

Addiction is a family disease.  Consider entering a rehab program for loved ones of addicts, such as the Betty Ford Center.  If that's not possible, try to attend some form of counseling regularly, preferably with an addiction-literate psychologist or counselor.  Talk therapy can help you form a more functional relationship with your son while providing emotional support for you.   

It's a very fine line between helping and enabling, especially for a parent.  The goal is to love him without loving him to death.  Here's a short list of Do's and Don'ts to get you started:

DO
Listen and be there physically when he needs to talk.  "Listen" is the key word.  Avoid judgmental statements or unsolicited advice.  Sometimes people just need to vent and feel heard.  Physical affection is good too.  A gentle embrace or pat on the back goes a long way. 

DON'T
Invade his privacy, make accusations or force your ideals/opinions on him.  He's an adult who must make his own decisions and deal with their consequences.  (Within reason, of course.  If he violates any of your major boundaries, you must follow through with swift consequences each time.  Only you can decide what those are). 

DO
Be positive about his recovery and encourage healthy hobbies.  Support him in whatever rehabilitation program he chooses, even if it's just outpatient meetings or online support groups.

DON'T
Provide financial help of any kind while he's still using.  Again, he's an adult who should be supporting himself financially, though it might take a while to get on his feet after prison.  Addicts have no motivation to stay sober if they're living comfortably on someone else's dime.  It has to be his decision to get clean, but you can influence it by removing the luxuries of the lifestyle.
 
DO
Focus on your own health and happiness.  Make time for relaxing activities that don't involve your son.  You can't let his disease rob you of your life.  This is one of the hardest aspects of loving an addict, but remember:  you can't help anyone else if you're not healthy yourself.   

DON'T
Lose hope if he relapses.  Relapse is a normal part of recovery for most addicts.  Just make sure he's educated on harm reduction practices to decrease his chances of dying.  (For instance: taking the same dose of drugs as before can lead to overdose after a period of abstinence).  Erowid.org is a great place to start. 

Hope that helps!  Best of luck to you and your son.


~ Mary Microgram

5 Herbal Highs That Actually Work

Plant drugs, also known as entheogens, have been used since the dawn of man to alter consciousness.  One major misconception is that plant drugs are somehow "weak" or "bunk" compared to synthetics.  The opposite belief--that plant drugs are "natural" and therefore "safe"--is equally flawed.

In truth, plant drugs can be powerful allies or toxic foes.  Or totally bunk.  You just have to know which ones are worth the effort.   Here's a list of herbal highs that definitely work:

Coca (Classification:  Stimulant)

     Erythroxylum, better known as the coca plant, is a tasty treat with a high nutritional content and numerous medicinal properties.  It also happens to be the source of a little drug known as cocaine.  In its natural state, the coca leaf provides a gentle energy burst similar to that of caffeine (only without the jitters and crash).  By comparison, it's less potent than yerba mate, espresso or any of the energy drinks in your grocer's freezer, yet it's a tightly controlled Schedule II substance.  Despite its dubious legal status, coca can be purchased online easily.  It may be consumed as a tea or chewed in a "quid" with a pinch of baking soda for its psychoactive effects. 

Kava (Classification:  Sedative)

     Kava is an exotic entheogen popular in Fiji and other Pacific islands.  It produces a state of intoxication somewhat similar to alcohol and is highly sedating at higher doses.  This makes it useful for anxiety, insomnia and other conditions involving over-stimulation of the mind.  There have been instances of severe liver damage with a few specific brands of kava.  While those appear to be isolated cases, there is some evidence that kava can be hard on the liver in general.  It's best to avoid it if you drink frequently, take acetaminophen regularly or have liver disease. 

Kratom (Classification:  Opiate)

     While not a true opiate, Mitragyna speciosa (a.k.a. kratom) is a leaf that works on opioid receptors in the brain to produce similar effects.  In low doses it acts as a stimulant while higher doses produce a sedative effect.  Kratom comes in many strains and forms, such as White-Vein Sumatra and Red-Vein Indo.  Its effects can be compared to codeine or hydrocodone in potency and duration.  Like other opiates, kratom can be physically addictive when overused. 

Salvia (Classification:  Hallucinogen)

     For anyone doubting the power of plant drugs, I have two words: salvia divinorum.  Youtube is teeming with freakout videos of people under its mighty influence.  Whether it's an enjoyable experience is up for debate.  When smoked in its whole leaf state, it produces powerful short-lasting visual hallucinations.  Many of the "freakouts" result from the more potent extracts (20x, 40x, 80x, etc).  Salvia can also be used orally like chewing tobacco for a milder experience. 

San Pedro cactus (Classification: Hallucinogen)

     Like its illegal cousin peyote, the San Pedro cactus contains mescaline, a powerful phenethylamine.  Its effects include powerful closed-eye visuals, physical stimulation and feelings of empathy/euphoria.  The main drawback is the preparation process, which can be time-consuming depending on which method you choose.  Also:  the taste and texture are gag-inducing, with a bitter/slimy quality akin to...well, nothing you've tasted before.  Nausea is a common side effect regardless of how it's prepared.  With effects lasting between 10 and 14 hours, San Pedro gives more bang for your buck than many other herbal highs.  It has several psychedelic cousins, including Peruvian Torch and Cardon Grande. 

Dirty Pictures (Shulgin Documentary)

Below is a link to Dirty Pictures, the new Ann & Sasha Shulgin documentary.  Please support these lovely people by donating or buying the DVD.  

http://www.novamov.com/video/z7afhb7j612al

Walmart: The Walmart of Meth

World's Dumbest Criminals will have to fight PeopleofWalmart.com for this one....

It's a chilly Sunday afternoon.  Like so many other Bible Belt dwellers, 45-year-old Wal-Mart shopper Alisha Halfmoon is milling through the aisles of her favorite hangout when she begins taking products from the shelves and building a makeshift meth lab...inside the fucking store.

According to KJRH:

"She's been arrested before for the manufacture of methamphetamine. While speaking with some of the firefighters on the scene she made statements that that's what she was doing that she was attempting to obtain these chemicals and was in the process of trying to manufacture methamphetamine. However she said that she was not very good at it," said police officer David Shelby.

You can say that again.

If this isn't proof positive that meth causes brain damage, nothing is.   Mary would run around Wal-Mart stark-ass naked with cowbells tied to her nipples before she would attempt to set up a meth lab in a public venue.  Not only is it illegal, it's downright tacky.  Was this lady raised in a BARN or something?! 

Oh.

Reference:

KJRH.com: Woman Arrested After Trying to Make Meth Inside S. Tulsa Walmart

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/tpd-respond-to-meth-lab-inside-s.-tulsa-walmart

Dope Jams: Sippin' On Some Syrup

"Sippin' On Some Syrup" by 3 6 Mafia.  From the album, When the Smoke Clears (2000).

Just Say Know Gets Practical

If you follow this blog, you already know the importance of harm reduction.  But where can you find affordable testing kits, scales and other harm reduction equipment?

Introducing Mary's Shop of Horrors:  an online store designed with smart psychonauts in mind.  We have everything you need for safer use, including clean syringes, vaporizers, digital scales, detox kits and more.  Browse products, check customer reviews and make purchases all from the comfort of your home.  We accept all major credit cards and payments from your checking account.  If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund in most cases.  What's not to love?

We also carry general accessories like herb grinders, glass screens, pipes and papers.  Our store is located to the right of this post.

Happy shopping!

♥,
Mary Microgram

Synthetic Drugs Act Hits House of Reps

Looks like Christmas is coming early for gangsters, dope pushers and cartels this year.  

H.R. 1254—also known as the Synthetic Drugs Act of 2011—is set to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives sometime in the coming weeks.  The bill would ban a long list of chemicals from the cannabinoid, stimulant and psychedelic classes.  Like recent bills of its kind, the Synthetic Drugs Act will place currently-legal chemicals in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act alongside heroin, crack and other “hard” drugs.   

Nevermind that there’s literally ZERO medical research to determine whether these drugs meet the Schedule I criteria of “dangerous and addictive with no medical value”.  I mean, who cares if they're not addictive, have caused virtually no deaths and could one day be found to cure some deadly disease?  They’re evil, and they must be stopped.  Think of the children.   (Fun fact:  most of these substances would be completely unknown if not for drug prohibition, which makes safer alternatives illegal, scarce and notoriously impure).

A few of the more well-known substances covered by the bill include JWH-122, 2C-E, ethylone and 2C-I.  There are many others. 

You can track the progress of the bill here. 

Book Review: No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth

Click to buy "No Speed Limit"

No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth takes a somewhat controversial stance on what is currently known as America's #1 drug epidemic--methamphetamine.   While it doesn't glorify or promote meth use (far from it), the author goes to great lengths to debunk some commonly held myths that are generally accepted as fact by laywomen like you and me.  The result is a captivating, frightening and emotional story whose ending has yet to be written. 

The book opens with the author doing something both brave and stupid:  indulging in meth—a drug he’d long since given up after a not-so-successful run several decades ago.  The result is the startling realization that today’s meth is far more potent and “scary” than that of the ‘70s and ‘80s. 

From there, we’re taken through a high-speed history of meth, from the discovery of ephedrine in the 19^th century to the meth labs of today.  Perhaps the most disturbing factoid is that meth and other amphetamines are THE most widely-prescribed class of drugs in the history of American pharmacology.  As stated on page 92, “By 1958, the legal production of amphetamine pills had reached an astonishing 3.5 billion, enough to supply every person in America with twenty standard doses."  Yikes.  We also see the role meth played in World War II, fueling brutality on all sides in Hitler’s army, the Japanese kamikaze missions and the American effort. 

This book covers a lot of ground, debunking meth myths while introducing us to the human toll of meth use in America.  While its format is somewhat chaotic, each section offers enough information to satisfy the reader’s curiosity while leaving something to the imagination. 

RATING:  **** of *****

Laugh Attack: Spuiten & Slikken

Spuiten & Slikken is a Dutch TV show in which the host tries a different drug every week and reports the results.  It's sort of like America's Funniest Home Videos, complete with the sitcom-esque laughter in the background.  It's refreshing to see how other cultures view drug use and puts into perspective how militant the U.S.'s attitudes really are.  Sure, we have Intervention and Celebrity Rehab, but those shows aren't exactly lol-worthy now are they? 

Not sure why he's painted black in this one, but I LOL'd.  This is the "Speed" episode by the way :) Hit the CC button for subtitles.   

NAACP Calls for an End to the Drug War

Times they are a-changin'...at a snail's pace it seems.

You won't hear it from mainstream news, but last week the NAACP made a 180-degree turn regarding its views on the drug war.

From the Miami Herald:


Said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous in a written statement, “These flawed drug policies that have been mostly enforced in African-American communities must be stopped and replaced with evidence-based practices that address the root causes of drug use and abuse in America.” 

While this may seem like a no-brainer, the NAACP is arguably the nation's most conservative Civil Rights organization, making their paradigm-shift a pretty big deal.  If you aren't convinced of the drug war/racism link, consider this:  Even though blacks make up only 1/3rd of all crack users, more than 80 percent of those sentenced for crack-related crimes are black.  Despite this inconvenient truth, our president, who at one point denounced the War on Drugs and was widely supported by Black voters (and happens to be Black himself), is furthering the system put in place by our one of our nation's most corrupt leaders (Richard Nixon) in 1970. 

As more people wake up to the fact that the drug war is not only a massive failure but a suppressive, one-sided attack on humanity, expect the level of anti-drug propaganda to increase along with it. 

To quote Obama in 2004: "The War on Drugs is a complete failure." 

 Takes one to know one.

Amy Winehouse Dead at 27

Amy Winehouse in her younger days

R&B/pop songstress Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday, July 23rd.  While the cause of death has not yet been determined, drugs and/or alcohol are suspected to have played a role.  Her most recent tour in Belgrade was cut short due to her intoxication and inability to perform.  Winehouse has publicly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction since her rise to stardom in 2007 with her hit song, "Rehab," from the album Back to Black.

With her untimely death, Winehouse joins other musicians including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain in the "27 Club": artists who died at the tragically young age of 27 due to drug overdose.   

Just last month, Mary featured Winehouse in her "Faces of Meth: Celebrity Edition" piece, which listed stars who have battled amphetamine addiction.  Despite the lighthearted tone, there is nothing funny about drug addiction.  Whether you enjoyed her music or not, please take this situation for what it is: an opportunity to evaluate your own habits and learn about safer drug use.  Or better yet, stop using altogether.

Amy will be deeply missed by friends, family and fans around the world.

Dope Jams: "Purple Pills"

"Purple Pills" by D-12.  From their 2001 album, Devil's Night.

The Controlled Substances Act: A Visual Guide

Click here to embiggen

Here's an interesting visual aide featuring all the drugs in the Controlled Substances Act.  Taken from Sasha Shulgin's latest Facebook post (yes, the Sasha Shulgin).  

Marijuana Decriminalization in Miami Beach

In the midst of a pill mill media frenzy, Florida could be getting some good news on the drug front—marijuana decriminalization.

According to the Miami New Times, a Miami Beach pot legalization group known as Sensible Florida collected 9,000 signatures for a measure that would let smokers off with a $100 fine instead of jail time.  That’s double the number of sigs needed to get the measure on the ballot.  While this is not Florida’s first attempt at decriminalization, it is the first to draw high-profile celebrity support and aggressive local campaigning.  (Among its public supporters are Alfred Spellman and Billy Corben, director and producer of the hit documentary Cocaine Cowboys). 

While full-on legalization is the ultimate goal, any change involving more sensible drug laws is a step in the right direction.  A change we can breathe in. 

UPDATE:  The Miami Beach City Commission has refused to place the issue on the November ballot, citing the law's possible "unconstitutionality".  If at least 4,300 of the signatures are verified, a citywide vote could take place to pass or fail the new law.  The question is, when? 

Bath Salts Banned States

     1.  "My state recently banned bath salts.  What exactly is a "bath salt" and which drugs are included in the ban?"

     Bath salt is a catch-all term referring to a group of synthetic compounds with similar pharmacological effects.  The very definition of "bath salt" varies from state-to-state, making the laws difficult to interpret.  For the sake of this review, we'll define "bath salts" as follows:

*Mephedrone//MDPV//3-FMC//4-FMC ("flephedrone")//BK-PMMA ("methedrone")//methylone//butylone. 


2.  "What happens to a drug, and its users, after a ban?"

Banned chemicals go into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act along with hard drugs like heroin and crack.  It then becomes illegal to possess, sell or manufacture said drug for any reason.  Anyone caught doing so will be treated as if it was heroin or crack--often facing heavy fines, hard time or other forms of indentured servitude.


3.  "Which states have already enacted bath salt bans?"

~STATES WITH ACTIVE BANS~

WA:  Mephedrone, MDPV

OR:  All except 3-FMC

ID:  ALL

UT:  ALL

WY:  ALL

NM:  ALL

ND:  mephedrone, MDPV

KS:  ALL

OK:  All except butylone

AR:  All except butylone

LA:  All except butylone

MS:  mephedrone, MDPV

AL:  All except butylone

GA:  mephedrone, MDPV, 4-FMC, BK-PMMA, methylone

FL:  mephedrone, MDPV, 3-FMC, BK-PMMA, methylone

KY:  mephedrone, MDPV, methylone

WI:  mephedrone, MDPV

WV:  mephedrone, MDPV

VA:  mephedrone, MDPV

NJ:  All except butylone

PA:  All except butylone 
IL:  MDPV (All cathinones?)

4  Are more bans on the way? 

Yes.  See below.

~STATE BANS AWAITING ENACTMENT~ 

IN, TN, NC, TX

***Absence from this list does not imply that a substance is legal.  Check your local and state laws before purchasing bath salt drugs.  

In addition to state laws, several Federal bills have been proposed to make bath salts illegal at the national level.  You can track the status of each bill below: 

H.R. 1254--Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 

s. 605--Dangerous Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011

H.R. 1571--Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011

s. 839--Combating Designer Drugs Act of 2011

s. 409--Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011

I will attempt to update this list as I hear of new bans.  If I've left anything out, please contact me and I'll correct it ASAP.  And remember:  ignorance of the law is no defense for breaking it!  Not in a court of law, anyway.  Staying informed is the key to freedom in a police state such as this. 

Be Safe Kiddos,

Mary Microgram

Skin-Rotting Substance Found in U.S. Cocaine

If you think the Russians--with their flesh-eating krokodil--have a monopoly on drug-induced skin diseases, think again.  We have yet another gangrenous scandal to report, this time involving cocaine.

According to Science Daily, cocaine users have been coming down with a strange skin condition known as purpura, or purpling of the skin.  The disease is thought to be caused by levamisole--a substance added to cocaine by drug dealers as a bulking agent.

Once used to treat cancer, levamisole is rarely prescribed to humans today due to the risk for serious side effects (see rotting ear above).  Its main use is in veterinary medicine, where it is administered to livestock as an anti-worming agent.

Science Daily reports that levamisole was detected in about 30 percent of cocaine samples confiscated in 2008 and a whopping 70 percent in 2009.  For all you statistical geniuses out there, that's a huge increase.  Phenomenal really.  This unfortunate situation hits even closer to home than the horrific krokodil story and is poised to affect thousands, if not millions, of Americans.

Call me a preachy Patty, but it has to be said:  gruesome complications like these could be completely sidestepped by ending the drug war.  While the strange skin condition is caused by levamisole (NOT cocaine), mainstream media will likely blame it on cocaine itself, finding yet another excuse to spew forth vile propaganda.  Until governments and health agencies take back control of street drugs, people will continue to suffer needlessly as a result of drug impurities, abstinence-only drug education and other state-inflicted issues. It's time we stand up and demand smarter drug policies in America.

Obama, won't you lend us your ear?



References:
Science Daily: Contaminated Cocaine Triggers Decaying, Dying Skin

Rare Drug Profile: Jenkem

Scientific Name:  Feces, urine (methane).

Effects:  Auditory/visual hallucinations.

Description:  Jenkem is a hallucinogenic substance made from fermented human excrement.  The active compound is methane gas, which produces symptoms like dizziness and hallucinations when inhaled.  While Jenkem is a real phenomenon among poor Zambian children, reports of an American jenkem epidemic have been debunked as a hoax. 

Methods of Ingestion:  Inhalation.

Side Effects/Risks:  Fecal/oral contamination, hypoxia.

Sample Trip Report:  "It lasts about an hour.  With glue, I just hear voices in my head.  But with Jenkem, I see visions.  I see my mother who is dead and I forget about the problems in my life." (BBC News) 

References:

BBC News: World: Africa Children High on Sewage