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I first started to really pay attention to the topic of marijuana when I began taking classes here over the summer. In one of my COMM classes we discussed both sides of the story, from legalization to the health effects. It seemed to me like there were no big detriments to ones health if they smoke marijuana. However, a recent study conducted by the Universita degli Studi di Milano in Italy seems to show a correlation between adolescent marijuana usage and diseases such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (Autoimmune).
The experiment began with scientists injecting mice with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for ten days. In mouse years that’s the equivalent to the span of human years 12 to 18. A placebo group of mice was put in place as well. After the initial ten days, the mice were left alone for two months, until they were fully developed adults (Autoimmune).
After this time scientists studied the immune systems of the mice and found that there were large alterations to the immune response in adulthood, described by a clear switch toward a pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic phenotype (Autoimmune).
Researcher Paola Sacerdote concluded that “I hope that the knowledge that early exposure to marijuana is associated with immediate and long-term deleterious effects on the immune system may reach adolescents and their families (Autoimmune).”
I believe this study is important to the future of marijuana studies, but there are still a few things that I find questionable. First of all, I don’t know how many mice were used. The sample size is extremely important when looking at the implications for a the entire world. Secondly, there are many confounding variables not taken into account. They used mice, not people, so we can’t be completely sure about how this will carry over into actual human usage. I like how the study is an actual experiment and information can be proven, but in this study it’s only really proven for mice. Reverse causation is ruled out, but correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation.
This study is important to the future of marijuana studies, but there is only so much that can be done with mice.
Works Cited:
“Autoimmune Diseases Linked to Adolescent Marijuana Use.” Autoimmune Diseases Linked to Adolescent Marijuana Use. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20140901053148.shtml>.
Hmm, I’ve never heard of marijuana having potential effects on the immune system. I’ve always considered marijuana to affect the brain and the nervous system, but this is a whole other beast. I agree with the faults that lie with the mice experiment. I decided to do my own looking into marijuana’s effects on the immune system, and I found some rather surprising theories. A study claims that marijuana may actually support the immune system in people infected with HIV. The experiment, conducted by doctor Patricia Molina, finds that “THC given to male rhesus macaque monkeys before they were infected with simian immunodeficiency virus—the most common primate virus used to study HIV—decreased the subject’s likelihood of death and decreased the amount of the virus in the blood and lymph nodes. Similar results were shown when individual cells were exposed to delta-9-THC before being exposed to SIV. Chronic exposure to delta-9-THC also produced stronger anti-inflammatory immune signals and decreased apoptosis, or intestinal cell death.” Now, much like the problems you found in the trial you referred to, this experiment obviously wasn’t conducted on humans. But it sparks an interesting conversation; Does marijuana help or hurt the immune system? Does THC really help fight HIV? If so, are there any other diseases marijuana/THC can help combat? All are very intriguing questions that certainly deserve some attention from the scientific community.
Works Cited:
http://www.hivplusmag.com/treatment/research-breakthroughs/2014/04/23/one-toke-over-line-can-marijuana-help-stop-hiv
Hmmm, I never heard of marijuana affecting the immune system before. I always considered marijuana to have effects on the brain and nervous system, but this is a whole other beast. I agree with you that although the experiment was well done, we have no idea of the sample size and at the end of the day, mice are not humans. I decided to look into this myself, and found some interesting results. One article actually suggests that marijuana can increase the amount of healthy cells in a person combating HIV. In a study conducted by doctor Patricia Molina, it was found that “THC given to male rhesus macaque monkeys before they were infected with simian immunodeficiency virus—the most common primate virus used to study HIV—decreased the subject’s likelihood of death and decreased the amount of the virus in the blood and lymph nodes”. Now, the doctor acknowledges that these results aren’t definitive and it’s not concrete that it applies to humans. But it does instigate a very interesting conversation. Does marijuana hurt or help the immune system? Can THC really combat HIV? Are there any other diseases marijuana can help fight? All are great questions that certainly deserve some looking into.
Works Cited:
http://www.hivplusmag.com/treatment/research-breakthroughs/2014/04/23/one-toke-over-line-can-marijuana-help-stop-hiv