Pubdate: Sun, 19 Jun 2005
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Province
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

POT MESSES WITH TEEN'S BRAIN: STUDY

LONDON -- Young people who occasionally smoke cannabis over long
periods are more likely to turn to more addictive drugs like heroin,
suggests a new study.

While it has been assumed that the brain is almost fully formed by the
time children reach their teens, there is evidence that the brain
continues to develop until 25.

Experiments on rats by Yasmin Hurd, a professor at the Karolinska
Institute in Sweden, show that chronic, periodic use of cannabis can
interfere with brain development.

If confirmed, the findings suggest that children and young adults who
use the drug over long periods would be more prone to anxiety and more
dependent on anxiety-reducing drugs.

"The developing brain is definitely more sensitive,'' Hurd
says.

"Many people think that all cannabis does is to give you a calm,
relaxed feeling and no long-term effects.

"Cannabis may be less addictive than, for example, cocaine or heroin,
but it is still a drug.''

Robin Murray, a professor at London's Institute of Psychiatry,
agreed.

"Clearly it needs to be replicated, but there is already evidence
that, in animals, cannabis and amphetamine show cross-tolerance.

"So that rodents given THC, the active ingredient of cannabis, show
greater effects when given amphetamine.

"This suggests that it may be easier to come to grief when you try
heavy drugs if you have already sensitized your brain receptors with
cannabis. We need more basic and clinical research into the long-term
effects.''

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