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Weed and memory loss

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baileylsd

Bluelighter
Joined
Jul 22, 2003
Messages
381
I've been smoking weed for about 5 years, I normally only used to smoke on weekends but since i started uni i've been hitting it almost everyday.

Now i'm really starting to notice memory problems...

So if its possible to get my memory back how can this be achieved?

Do i stop smoking weed altogether (would be bad as i enjoy getting stoned)

Or can i just cut back my usage say only smoke on weekends or every second week?

Thanks
 
Dude i smoke a little every day and have cut down the 'heavy' cone sessions that I used to have with a mate. I am noticing that your head is much clearer and it is easier to take in information (good cos I am at uni) when I am not smoking heavily.
A little is ok, cos it doesn't give you the savage bongover in the morning.
But I have noticed short term memory problems. I also take pills so it could be because of that, but I find that it is still less of a problem when you don't smoke heavily.
So yeah, everything in moderation!

Hope this helps, take it easy bro!
 
i remember an article in new scientist about 2 years ago that said the long term memory of pot users was not noticably different to non smokers when they stopped smoking for a while.

I've noticed the affects from just a few cones a few days later (I'm only a light user at best).
 
i have never been a big fan of pot in isolation. i dont like feeling incapable and confused.
stimulants are the go.
 
I started using herbal gingko biloba during the winter months. I took it coz my hands get freezing due to poor blood circulation, and this is meant to promote better circulation. The chick at the health food shop said that after a few weeks your memory might improve. It did, you start to think a bit clearer and your memory isn't as cloudy. You could give that a try, can't hurt.
 
nah, u can buy it at health food shops in little pills but its a lil pricey, i found a wholesaler who sells it in bulk as a powder, which you are meant to make into a tea, but it tastes like ass. I just get the powder and put it into empty gel caps, and down a few of them. Ginseng is meant to be good too
 
For some people the memory loss is far more noticable than others, regardless of how much you smoke. I smoke on 3 - 7 days of every week. Thats fairly often, but more often than not, I only have 1 or 2 cones. I've been doing this a little over a year now, and theres a very noticable difference in my overall brain capability (such as memory, vocabulary, concentration, and motivation).

There are a variety of vitamins and herbs that are supposed to help increase your ability to remember and also to concentrate. Strangely enough, I can't remember them all ;)
But if you have a look in any decent vitamins section, and read the blurbs, there are plenty that can be of assistance. I've heard that L-Glutamine is effective in decreasing the downsides of marijuana and other drugs. I've got some, but never actually taken it according to how it says you're supposed to on the bottle :\ So I can't really comment on its effectiveness.

The problem with the wide range of effective vitamins is that they're quite costly, and you could end up spending circa $70 on a couple of bottles that will last you less than a month. Besides, I don't like the idea of downing 3 pills, 3 times a day.

If you are really noticing a decrease in your memory capability, try and limit your smoking to weekends only. I have a mate who quits smoking during his uni terms, and only smokes during the holidays (well, he tries ;)) and I know it sure helps him out. You can try a variety of vitamins to reverse the process, but in the end, I think you'd be better off reducing the amount you smoke :)
 
It is hard for me to be objective in regards to pot and memory as I've been smoking for many years. But it’s also many years since I felt my memory was at a peak.

Growing up I had a very good memory, little affected by my at times erratic focus. I remembered almost every page from every book I read and had no problem quoting conversations word for word, even months or years later.

Then came pot. After the “hangover” period of smoking most days – about a year- where the mind is cloudy the morning after a big night on the choof, I noticed short term memory becoming increasingly bad, reaching it's worst around the 7 year mark. I also noticed a "mid term" memory problem where things were recallable for several days later, but were completely gone after 2 weeks, sometimes with no recollection whatsoever.

Over the many years since, this has become either not as noticeable, or has in some way been neurally compensated for. That doesn't mean that some things aren't still affected by over-indulgence, but a certain self created conscience/ stress, - a result of turning paranoia into a form of positive reminder perhaps - ensures surfacing concerns are normally seen as memory triggers and the important things aren't generally forgotten.

However, dope also suppresses motivation or at least the urge to become motivated. Determination and tenacity (and no doubt a certain amount of manic behavior) seem to overcome this with some people. For many others, either these depressive/demotivating effects or more of a noticeable memory loss are often the reasons given as to why people give up pot in their 30's or 40's.

When I go without mull I definitely feel I remember more, perhaps extra details of an experience etc., but any new experience can also do the same – with or without drugs. In all honesty though, if I was asked if I thought my memory had been semi-permanently affected by cannabis, I would have to say yes. As to how much of this could be attributable to other things; age, genetics, environmental exposures, other drug use etc I could only guess. But I do know that my memory is far from what it once was.


Grief Soother

Speaking both objectively as well as from experience, I’ve found weed can be a great soother of grief. I've seen it help people (often occasional or non smokers) overcome loss of loved ones, facilitating the important acceptance process which can take years to grieve through normally.

Perhaps in support of this, anandamide receptors (targets for THC) have recently been implicated as having a role in normal memory suppression associated with traumatic experience. In light of this then, it seems quite reasonable that THC could both influence short term memory as well as provide a therapeutic or early recovery tool for those experiencing similar emotional upsets.
 
Thanks for the input guys, i've now cut down to only smoking before/after/during an event or going out, i no longer just get stoned to get stoned (if that makes sense) Even after only 2 weeks i feel like my head is clearing, still not the best when it comes to the memory side of things, but enuf to make me wonder where the years have gone.....
 
i used to smoke heaps eveyday, but have since cut back to just 1 or 2 a night, just to chill.
cant say if ive really had any memoryloss problems but then again if i had forgotton something, did i realy know it in the first place?,

ive forgotton what i was going to say next?;)
 
I really only find I have memory loss when actually stoned or when dregging out the next day or something. Usually it only pertains to fairly insignificant things like where I left my phone (or bong) or something. Never felt like I was forgetting say stuff to do with my studies. Or how good weed is =D
 
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