Setting the Record Straight on Long Term Marijuana Use

In case you've heard about how bad long term marijuana use is I'd like to set the record straight.

First, it's legal, although regulated in some states.

The 21st century has been a cannabis renaissance where the medical community has been rediscovering (the Chinese used it for medicinal purposes 5,000 years ago) the benefits of cannabis use for a couple of decades after intense research. 

However, research on long term use of cannabis has been sporadic, but I did find a recent study in Australia where patients were prescribed medicinal cannabis for long periods of time. 

The study started off with monitoring patients for a year and concluded it helped with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and pain improved over time for those with corresponding health conditions. Plans for longer studies are underway. 

I also found a 20-year cannabis study of over 1000 adults.

The study was published in Molecular Psychiatry. In summary using cannabis may cause changes in the body's epigenome. 

The epigenome functions like a set of switches, activating or deactivating genes to change how our bodies function.

Thus far the results have been inconclusive but, according to epidemiologist Drew Nannini, "This research has provided novel insights into the association between marijuana use and epigenetic factors." In other words, they're unsure what effect cannabis has on our genes. A longer study might be more informative.

I could tell researchers a few things about long term use of marijuana. 

I started smoking it in 1966, my sophomore year in high school. I've smoked it ever since. That's 63 years and qualifies me as "experienced" according to Jimi Hendrix's famous song Are You Experienced?

"But first, are you experienced?

Or have you ever been experienced?

Well, I have"

I imagine researchers would have a heyday with me following what I've done all of these years, and the role that devil weed played in my travels and regular life. Family members are convinced I have THC coursing through my veins. Who knows? I am rather healthy for a 74-year-old...all things considered. 

I went to Vietnam and Cambodia when I was 18 years old serving as an Army demolition expert in the 31st Eng. Battalion in 1970. I toked up with my comrades every chance I got. Everybody did in my unit except for the Lifers who preferred whiskey and beer. We were all trying to escape our grim reality.

I worked at a Ford Stamping plant in Ohio as an Automation-Tender and Welder. I couldn't wait to get off work and smoke some killer weed that I always got in upstate Michigan. I worked in a factory loading boxcars on the night shift and greeted the new day with a bowl of worthy ganja. 

I got married and we had three children. I went to college and became a professional journalist - both editor and publisher - who smoked a fat hootie every opportunity I got. I had to lead a secret life during my newspaper days because marijuana was illegal and only bad people smoked it, but it was okay when my fellow Rotarians got drunk in our weekly get together.

If there are supposed to be bad long-term effects according to some, I've yet to see them. My PTSD today is tolerable because of pot. As is my chronic back pain thanks to one of the herb's many superpowers. Think Terpenes.

As it Stands, meanwhile I'm thinking about starting a group of oldies but loadies with a minimum of 50 years of being "experienced!"