Canadian researchers have discovered that smoking marijuana could improve a person's memory and mood.
A team at the University of Saskatchewan headed by Xia Zhang found that injections of a potent HU210 synthetic substance that mimics the active ingredients in cannabis increases the production of neurons in the hippocampus area of the brain in rats.
The region is associated with learning and memory, as well as anxiety and depression. Zhang and his colleagues believe that these negative emotions are caused by a lack of cell growth in this region of the brain.
Other recent studies showed growth in brain cells in the hippocampus lessened anxiety and depression.
In contrast, other recreational drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, cocaine and heroin suppress growth of new brain cells.
"The implication is that smoking marijuana is a good thing," Zhang said.
The discovery may eventually lead to the next blockbuster antidepressant drug treatment, he said.
"It is possible this might overtake Prozac," he said.
Of course, it has only been proven in rats so far. And HU210 is a purified substance 100 times stronger than the active ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana.
The study will be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation next month.
