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The debate about whether Marijuana qualifies as a nootropic has been on-going across different cognitive enhancement communities on the web. It is no secret that there is some demographic overlap among those who are interested in nootropics and those who use Marijuana.
But there are also some well-documented effects of Marijuana that may qualify it as a nootropic. The Marijuana plant contains substances known as cannabinoids which interact with cannabinoid receptors in the brain. In fact, the human body naturally produces a cannabinoid which is the neurotransmitter Anandamide.
Cannabinoids are found in the highest concentrations within the leaves and flowers of the Marijuana herb, which are also the most used sections of the plant for making medicine. This supplement is used for a number of purposes, including medicinal reasons.
The most active cannabinoid found in Marijuana, THC, is even used in the FDA-approved prescription medication Dronabinol (Marinol) for the treatment of weight loss or lack of appetite due to AIDS as well as vomiting that is typically caused by cancer chemotherapy. Cannabinoids also seem to be similar in terms of their effect to codeine when used in the treatment of pain.
Mental Function
Mental Function
Brain Health- Promotes brain health & communication
- Supports memory, reasoning & cognition
- oosts focus, mental clarity & attention
Marijuana Effects:
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The main effects caused by Marijuana are primarily due to the presence of THC within the drug. Essentially, this THC (along with a number of the other less active and effective cannabinoids) is able to quickly pass through the blood-brain barrier and enter into the central nervous system.
If the ingredients are inhaled, then the lungs are a highly effective dispersion method for getting the components into your bloodstream. Once in the central nervous system, THC begins to act in a fashion similar to a neurotransmitter. It starts binding to cannabinoid receptors within the brain.
Although still uncertain, what appears to be happening during this entire process is that the THC itself is simply taking the place of another neurotransmitter called Anandamide, which is cannabinoid that is naturally produced in the body.
These chemicals both appear able to stimulate areas of the brain such as the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex. These areas are associated with motor control, emotions, and higher cognitive functions.
Effects can include relaxation, euphoria, altered space-time perception, appetite stimulation, enhancement of senses (visual, auditory, and olfactory), and analgesic effects.
Exogenous cannabinoids have also been demonstrated to catalyze neurogenesis in the hippocampal region of the brain. This means it can actually promote the generation of new neurons in your hippocampus.
All of the information that our brain perceives is processed through the hippocampus and by increasing the number of neurons in this area, you may be able to boost the processing power of this mental system. The result may include increased calculative abilities and enhanced data manipulation or reasoning faculties.
Cannabinoids also seem to temporarily increase communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain which may explain the heightened creativity individuals experience when using Marijuana.
However, the cannabinoids in marijuana can also cause Long-Term Depression which is the opposite of the memory-formation process known as Long-Term Potentiation.
LTP occurs when the connection between two neurons grows stronger and there is an enhancement in the transmission of signals. You may recall the famous saying that “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” Memories and learned abilities are encoded as neuronal connections become more entrenched through the development of stronger chemical synapses.
Marijuana can interfere with this process and actually lead to the opposing reaction which is Long-Term Depression. When this occurs, there is a degradation in the connection between two neurons resulting in less communicative ability.
This may be the result of the decrease in electrical ability observed in the hippocampus when using cannabinoids. The importance here is to determine the right dosage: an excessively large dosage may result in significant memory impairment and decrease in learning capacity.
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Marijuana Benefits:
What are the potential nootropic benefits of using Marijuana? Most of the evidence here is based on anecdotal reports posted by users in the various nootropic communities online.
Unfortunately, there is a lack of clinical investigation into the brain effects of Marijuana.
However, reports of positive benefits include improved mood, lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression, improved focus and fewer distractions, improved reaction times, more creative thought, greater verbal fluency, and better calculative complexity.
These effects are largely dose-dependent and taking higher amounts may lead to the opposite effects including sluggishness, lack of focus, nervousness, and impaired memory formation and recall.
Although Marijuana is a widely used and popular recreational substances, there are also a number of medical benefits and uses. Smoking Marijuana seems to stimulate the appetite of people suffering from AIDS.
It is also able to cause weight gain in HIV-positive patients who are currently taking Indinavir (Crixivan) or Nelfinavir (Viracept), two of the most commonly prescribed medications.
Marijuana has also been shown to be effective for helping with symptoms associated with glaucoma. The smoke from Marijuana does help to reduce the pressure inside the eye. Of course, it also appears to lower the blood flow to the optic nerve, which may not be a benefit.
Marijuana also seems to be effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis when it is either smoked or the cannabinoids taken by mouth. This appears to help control muscle tightness and the shakiness that is often associated with the disease.
There may even be enough evidence now to suggest that Marijuana can help in the treatment of cancer. At the very least it may be able to help reduce some of the symptoms and side effects.
THC and the other cannabinoids are able to inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals as well as killing certain types of cancer cells.
Basically, this effect is achieved by THC (and the others) targeting and activating the cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors within the brain.
Marijuana Dosage:
Since legal marijuana usage is so new in this country, it is difficult to determine a realistic and effective dose.
Additionally, this may depend on whether one is intending to smoke or use THC extracts or even mix these substances with food in actual recipes. A popular option among nootropic users is to utilize a vaporizer to avoid inhaling the smoke.
It would be advisable to stick with a very low dose (0.25 to 0.5 grams) no matter which option is used. You may also not want to use Marijuana when taking other nootropics as it can counteract some of the effects of other cognitive enhancement compounds.
Marijuana Side Effects:
As you might imagine, there are a number of different side effects which have become associated with Marijuana use over the years.
Some of these include dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, dry or red eyes, heart and blood pressure issues, lung issues, impaired mental functioning, headache, dizziness, numbness, panic reactions, hallucinations, flashbacks, depression, and sexual problems.
Of course, a number of these are due to taking very high dosages. You should speak to your doctor before you investigate using cannabinoids.
Marijuana as a Nootropic:
The continued push for the legalization of Marijuana means that it is now legal in more jurisdictions in the USA than it ever has been before. However, legal use of this drug is still limited at best. Marijuana, and the cannabinoids found within, do have some nootropic mechanisms of action.
This drug may improve creative thinking, boost mental clarity, reduce anxiety, and enhance calculative ability in the short-term. That being said, it is also known to impair memory formation and recall abilities, especially in larger doses.
You may not want to use this compound on a daily basis and you should always stick to the smallest possible dose. As research continues into the effects of this drug on the brain, we should learn more about the potential for using Marijuana as a nootropic.
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Article last updated on: March 4th, 2018 by Nootriment
3 Comments
Hopefully the clinical research will come in a swarm when bans are lifted. It could change how we think about psychology entirely.
StClaire, you are almost right about Psychology. As long as Psychology won’t consider an “odd” behaviour or a “disturbed” behaviour as the result of cognitive damage derived from neuron damage (after an emotional stress, a disease, a wrong medicament or a hereditary issue) the shrink is completely good for nothing. To explain my self: If I were a cartoonist I woul draw a big damaged neuron laid on a couch raising its neurotransmitters disorders to a shrink who very likely won’t understand what his/her patient is talking about. Weed and hemp help a lot to this kind of patients. Sorry. From México Tenochtitlan.
To make a credible statement as to the effectiveness of marijuana.
Would have to get the majority of pharmaceuticals manufacturers to make a lucrative business for the research.
In the hostile environment of pharmaceuticals the purpose is 100% driven by profits.
As well the medical community derives it’s compensation.
As long as these two factors are in charge of their own existence
The designer characteristics of patented products netting amassed profits.
Will force the abandonment of alternative treatment in lieu of profits.