Based on the article below in the Scientific American, Marijuana can have an NEGATIVE effect on the developing child; less of a negative effect on middle-aged individuals; BUT a very POSITIVE EFFECT on the mind of seniors. In this research on young, middle-aged and older mice – the use of Marijuana by the older mice actual caused their brains to regrow connection that resulted on improvements on learning and memory tests.
At age 74, Marijuana became legal and I started growing my 3 plants for my personal legal use. Since then I have created 5 personal web sites and an active YouTube Channel (GrandPa Humbke). It seems as if I have never been more active learning new skills, enjoying my life, and looking forward to my 78th birthday. Of course a lot of that is caused by Fanny (my wife), family and friends, but I do believe Marijuana has also had a positive effect, especially on getting a good night’s sleep and the ability to relax.
I do enjoy the cookies and edibles more than smoking!
The SCIENTIC AMERICAN article on May 10, 2017, by Stephani S. reports the following (google to read the full article):
“Picture the stereotypical pot smoker: young, dazed and confused. Marijuana has long been known for its psychoactive effects, which can include cognitive impairment. But new research published in June in Nature Medicine suggests the drug might affect older users very differently than young ones—at least in mice. Instead of impairing learning and memory, as it does in young people, the drug appears to reverse age-related declines in the cognitive performance of elderly mice.”
“Scientists do not know exactly how marijuana affects older adults, in part because they have been focused squarely on younger people, who are thought to be at greatest risk. “Because of the public health concern, research has had a very strong focus on marijuana’s effects in adolescence,” Ware says. But although young people make up the largest group of cannabis users, their rate of use has remained relatively stable over the past decade even as the drug has become increasingly available. Meanwhile use among seniors has skyrocketed as the drug’s stigma has faded. A March study showed that in people aged 50 to 64, marijuana use increased nearly 60 percent between 2006 and 2013. And among adults older than 65, the drug’s use jumped by 250 percent.”