Marijuana Use Doubles Risk Of Stroke

[Redfairen]

Source: Medical News Today

The most popular illegal drug, marijuana, has been found to double the risk of stroke among young adults, according to findings revealed at The American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013.

The study, carried out in New Zealand, identified that marijuana smokers were more than twice as likely than healthy adults to have suffered an ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Lead investigator of the study, P. Alan Barber, Ph.D., M.D., said:

"This is the first case-controlled study to show a possible link to the increased risk of stroke from cannabis. Cannabis has been thought by the public to be a relatively safe, although illegal substance. This study shows this might not be the case; it may lead to stroke."

Read more: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255992.php

[EC]

1. Maybe it's from the

fatty foods eaten while high, the monchies? strokes are caused by clogged arteries aren't they? I don't think it's the pot itself.

Well, forget this, I just read it...half of subjects also smoked cigs...

[sakabatou]

11. I don't think pot does it either

I'd like a study to see if it's true.

[DonViejo]

59. "This is the first case-controlled study to show a POSSIBLE...

link to the increased risk of stroke from cannabis. Cannabis has been thought by the public to be a relatively safe, although illegal substance. This study shows this might not be the case; it may lead to stroke."

Gotta wonder if they'll be doing a study to determine the possibility of ganja smokers breaking out in hysterical laughter...or their developing pot-bellies from eating too many munchies.

[EC]

74. This study does no such thing

it shows exactly what has already been proven about cigerettes...only one pot smoker didn't smoke cigs...so this study is plan bull crap.

[2on2u]

106. They'll need to repeat this at least 5 years after the death of the twinkie. n/t

[bemildred]

2. Right ...

Lies, damn lies, and statistics.

[maxsolomon]

46. Control group was 160 stroke victims

8.1% tested postive for weed. that's 13 people. 12 of them also smoke tobacco.

conclusive, indeed.

[bemildred]

47. Complete horseshit, misuse of math, and such idiocy is common as dirt. nt

[TroglodyteScholar]

109. ^^^This.

Shameful "research" with a clear agenda.

[bemildred]

110. Thank you. It is propaganda, and nothing else.

It annoys the hell out of me when they misuse statistics as some sort of magical hand-waving for political purposes, the modern equivalent of : "God says so". It amounts to little more than dissembling and gossip. The health care industry is just riddled with it, and it has much to do with the low quality of our health care system, public services, and governance.

[arcane1]

64. That's what I was wondering. If 91.9% didn't smoke weed, how is weed increasing the risk?

Granted, I'm not very knowledgeable about statistics

[Moosepoop]

71. Not even that many.

Control group was 160 stroke victims.

The researchers assessed urine samples of a total of 150 ischemic stroke and 10 TIA patients aged 18-55. Close to 16 percent of the participants in the study had positive drug screens - most of whom also smoked cigarettes.

8.1 percent of those who came up positive in the urine samples smoked cannabis. There was no difference in age or stroke mechanism between those who smoked marijuana and those who didn't.

So, if I'm reading this right, "almost 16%" of the 160 people had positive drug screens, and 8.1% of those positive screens were for pot.

This "study" is beyond worthless.

[maxsolomon]

75. I contemplated that sentence.

16% of 160 is 25. 8.1% of 25 is 2. That # made it seem like that had to be a misstatement.

[Moosepoop]

80. It's probably not a misstatement

so much as an attempt at obfuscation. I would not be surprised if only two of the 160 stroke patients actually tested positive for pot, and one of them was a tobacco smoker besides.

Even if ALL of the 160 people tested pot positive, the assertion by the lead researcher that it was the pot causing the strokes while ignoring the high prevalence of tobacco smoking and the use of alcohol and other drugs as well tells me that this "study" was done for the purpose of reaching an already decided upon conclusion. The data didn't fit the narrative, so the narration of the data has been massaged to make it seem as though it does, making the whole thing completely worthless.

Either this was really, really bad reporting of the results of a scientific study, or the results have been publicly announced this way for a reason. My hunch is the latter.

[Gormy Cuss]

81. The OP link is confusing. Better link to the study at webmd

The study sample was 160 stroke victims in the participant group and 160 healthy adults in the comparison group.
The participant sample had twice the rate of cannabis detected as the comparison group.

The results after the drug screens: Twenty-five (more than 15 percent) of the stroke patients had positive cannabis screens and were also more likely to be male (84 percent) and tobacco smokers (88 percent). Of the control urine samples, thirteen (8 percent) were positive for marijuana.

http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20130206/smoking-pot-may-raise-stroke-risk-in-young-adults

As noted in the above link, this is not conclusive evidence but it does add to the body of observations that pot may elevate stroke risk.

[Moosepoop]

92. Thank you for the link.

The fact that they weren't able to account for tobacco use in the control group, or discern the amount/frequency/length of tobacco use in the stroke patients still makes this study largely worthless, IMO. Even people involved in the study downplayed its significance.

Something else in the WebMD article makes me question relying on any conclusions from the study: There were 160 hospitalized patients in each group -- the stroke victim group, and the control group. They tested each group of 160 for marijuana and came up with twice the number of positives in the stroke group as in the control group. OK.

The control group consisted of people who were admitted for other, unknown internal medicine issues. How many of these admissions were planned ahead -- say, for surgery or treatment of various conditions? People who know in advance that they are going to be admitted into a hospital and will be having urine and/or blood testing done may be more likely to abstain from partaking in illegal substances, thus lowering the number of positive tests in that group. Stroke patients, on the other hand, did not plan on ending up in the hospital at all, and would more accurately reflect the true number of users.

There are just too many "off" things about this study for it be taken very seriously.

[Gormy Cuss]

94. Note that it was a comparison group, not a control group.

That's one of the reasons the authors need to use softer language like may cause more strokes. Comparison groups are sometimes necessary because there's practical way and/or ethical way to randomly assign the study sample and observe the outcomes. In a proper experimental design with a participant and control group, these results would have much more weight.

The comparison group seems to be a reasonable one given the details in that article. I haven't seen the full study report though.

[lsewpershad]

90. Who paidfor the study

Just asking?

[kooljerk666]

100. Big Pharma, who else....makers of TBI/Stoke drugs that do nothing....nt

[AAO]

49. Been tokin' daily for 41 years (started at 17)

I notice no difference except that my good qualities (as defined by most progressive and reasoned individuals) have taken over my decision making. The bad qualities we all have in varying amounts must be denied preeminence in our though processing. I will always make the "right" decision, given the truthful facts. Therein, lies the rub!

[bemildred]

91. Yep. We've been running the experiment here now for 40-50 years.

If it was going to do something, we'd know by now. This stuff in the OP is pathetic, pathetic science, pathetic in every way.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. from the link:

"This study is the strongest piece of evidence that associates cannabis with stroke. The evidence is almost conclusive, except for the fact that only one of the cannabis users didn't smoke tobacco as well."

[sakabatou]

13. And that's why the link is BS.

[think]

4. "Barber believes that it is cannabis and not the tobacco that is causing the increased risk"

[onehandle]

5. Inhaling concentrated particulate matter into your lungs is unhealthy. Period. nt

[Moonwalk]

18. That's my question. How about those who consume marijuana in food or drink?

...As this was apparently a study only of smokers, it really shouldn't be saying marijuana use doubles chance of stroke. It really should be saying: smoking marijuana can double chance of strokes.

And while we're at it, how much were these subjects smoking?

I certainly think the study is valid--marijuana probably does put a person at risk from stroke--however, there's a big difference between daily, recreational users (just as with tobacco or alcohol) and a cancer patient who takes the occasional hit to deal with chemotherapy nausea. I'm think we need more details on this study before we can judge if marijuana is, across the board, likely to cause strokes or if it's just those who smoke it regularly who are in danger.

[me b zola]

22. And that would be another problem with this study

Is the study conflating cannabis with inhaling? Many of us vape, eat cannabis, or juice it.

[onehandle]

36. It specifically says smoking.

'Vaping' is still inhaling particulate matter. No doctor is going to say that's 'safe.'

[me b zola]

41. But vaping does completely alter the physiological effects n/t

[onehandle]

45. I would imagine that it's safer than inhaling burning matter. nt

[bitchkitty]

88. Wrong.

It's not smoke, it's vapor - like steam. When you blow it out, it doesn't linger in the air, it dissipates and it leaves no smell.

[onehandle]

93. mat·ter [mat-er] noun

'Physical or corporeal substance in general, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, especially as distinguished from incorporeal substance, as spirit or mind, or from qualities, actions, and the like.'

[bitchkitty]

113. Concede your point.

But vaping is not dangerous, and it doesn't cause stroke. Neither does smoking marijuana, for that matter.

These studies are all bullshit. When they have a REAL double blind study, then I'll take note. Until then, they can put out all the bullshit studies in the world, I'll stay with the non-toxic herbal remedy that has saved my life, thank you.

[Starboard Tack]

53. Like diesel fumes. nt.

[patrice]

6. So eat hemp & get outside, don't be a couch potato.

[MissNostalgia]

17. If only

I would like to try edibles for my anxiety.

[NICO9000]

24. Be very careful

Eating pot is a lot more powerful than smoking it as you get a body and mind high from edibles. If you try them, make sure you ask what the dosage is for a "newbie" like yourself. It also takes at least an hour before you start to feel it, so beware. The world is full of millions of people who once ate more pot brownies than they needed to because of the delay.

[yesphan]

39. Here's a prime

example of that.

http://www.maniacworld.com/jim-ignatowski-tries-the-brownies.html

[patrice]

48. Actually, I was referring to the non-psychotropic strain of Hemp commonly called Industrial

Hemp.

It is high quality low-fat, low carbon-footprint, CHEAP protein

[kestrel91316]

52. You might be referring to the seeds, because hemp the leafy plant is a negligible protein source.

[patrice]

61. Well, there are hemp powders, which don't have the texture of the seeds at all. I do buy

the seeds themselves, usually without shells on them, hulled, I guess, is what that's called. That's my preferred hemp product.

I have also bought hemp powders, flavored and not flavored, which can be mixed in drinks or put in practically anything. There are also hemp breads. I have to admit that I didn't read the labels closely enough to determine whether the hemp content was seed or leaf, but now that you mention it, since one of its greatest assets is its protein profile, maybe that IS, like other nuts and seeds which are valuable for their proteins, the hemp seed.

[Kolesar]

72. There is still a bit of snowboarding season left! ... eom

[Floyd_Gondolli]

7. The study brought to you by Phizer and Anheiser Busch

who implore you, for the love of God, to do THEIR DRUGS.

[me b zola]

23. You win the thread

[Deep13]

8. So, even if it becomes legal, I can't try it.

My Dad died from a stroke relatively young.

Well that sucks. Of course if I ever get cancer, it will be instant pot head time.

[Kurska]

101. Please look at the rest of the thread, this study was garbage

Only one of their "pot smokers" didn't also smoke cigarettes, which is far more likely to have caused the increase in strokes than pot.

[phleshdef]

9. And according to other studies, thats the exact same risk multiplier caused by alcohol.

Legalize it.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. "No it doesn't! I've smoked for 50 years and never had a stroke!"

brought to you from the Sample of One Institute for Legalization by Any Means Necessary, and
The But Alcohol is Far Worse Caucus.

[alcibiades_mystery]

40. ROFL...I'm a Legalize It guy, but you're so right

I usually cringe at the responses to any scientific study here - they tend to go according to your template, or, occasionally, simply engage in ad hominem. Just once I'd like to see a detailed critique of a study's methodology, or something like that.

[ret5hd]

56. So you would like DU to only be populated with statistics majors...

(at least as far as commenting on studies goes)?

[LanternWaste]

85. There's a large difference of degrees between statistic majors and idiots.

There's a large difference of degrees between statistic majors and simple idiots.

[valerief]

12. Stroke risk doubles after drinking alcohol.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/stroke-risk-doubles-drinking-alcohol/story?id=11170865
July 15, 2010

What's good for the goose...

[NYC Liberal]

14. Legalize it and let people decide for themselves.

Seems to me pot is one of the only substances where the rationale for making it a criminal offense to possess it is that it might be unhealthful. Nobody proposes making the eating of McDonald's a federal crime because it'll clog up your arteries and cause all kinds of health problems.

Marijuana has some health risks. BFD. Show me a consumable substance that doesn't have at least one study showing a "risk" for some kind of health problem. I'm sure there's one showing lettuce causes restless leg syndrome, or something.

[MynameisBlarney]

15. From the little bit I've read on this

study, is that the link of strokes to marijuana is very very tenuous.

[moonlady0623]

16. Infuriating

horseshit

[patrice]

50. Yep, it's the usual lowest-common-denominator regression to an assumed average.

IOW, they pretend that no one ever learns and adapts functionally to cannabis (or anything else that is not politically correct).

[Orrex]

19. Without addressing any of the dubious claims of the article...

It's always fun to watch DU leap into action any time someone suggests that marijuana is anything less than a 100% pure good.

[bluedigger]

27. I know!

Totally fucks with the "potheads are complacent" paradigm.

[tridim]

31. I've never heard anyone claim it's "100% pure good"

We're upset about the continuation of Reefer Madness. It's a big lie.

[Orrex]

43. I've never heard anyone claim it's "100% pure good" either.

Though, for the record, I've seldom heard any of its advocates admit any possible negatives about it, either.

[RedstDem]

51. well, your hearing it now

it is 100% goodness.......

even beats fairy dust!

[Orrex]

54. Hell, I'm sold

That's all I needed to hear!

[tridim]

62. Does fairy dust shrink brain tumors?

Cannabis does... It doesn't cure cancer, but it does shrink tumors. Sorry Harry Anslinger Jr.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/06/marijuana-fights-cancer-and-helps-manage-side-effects-researchers-find.html

Do you have a point?

[Scootaloo]

104. Oh please

It cures cancer! it builds houses! It powers your car! It'll walk your dog AND give you a handjob!

if I had a nickel for every cockamemie, hare-brained claim made by pot proponents, I would be a very wealthy person. It's like a whole cottage industry of making other cottage industries out of marijuana, in order to pretend that the point of legalizing it is to make paper and save the rainforests. Anything and everything other than recreational highs!

It's a rubber substitute! It cures acne! it makes a lovely decorative hedge fence! You can use it to give your schnauzer hair extensions!

It's like the plant is Jesus and all these people are fresh converts.

Fuck that. The point of legalization is to not get arrested while perusing a high. That's more than enough reason for it, too. Don't need to sanctify the shit.

[tridim]

108. I've never heard anyone claim it cures cancer.. That is just as bad as Reefer Madness.

It does shrink tumors however, as documented in peer reviewed studies. You know, actual science. Do you understand the implications of this scientific fact? IT SHRINKS TUMORS.

It's a plant with thousands of uses, but apparently you just don't care. You know what? That 'tude is a big part of why it's still illegal. Thanks for nothing.

Obviously the point of legalization is freedom. You'd understand that if you really read what people say about cannabis.

[Scootaloo]

112. No, as a matter of fact I really don't care

because the billion other uses of the plant with a billion-and-one uses are largely irrelevant to the cause of legalization. There is not a single motherfucker out there who is thinking, "Oh boy, if pot is legal, I can finally grow my own twine!" Y'know what I mean?

In fact, harping on endlessly about all those uses aside from the one that people are most interested in ends up doing more harm than good because that's what perpetuates the idea that getting high is "bad." If even the advocates treat it like a taboo topic and are instead talking about making cannabis-based insulation? C'mon.

I'm aware that the plant has lots of uses. Most plants do. Most of what you can do with weed can be done with motherfucking okra, too (though there's a tradeoff; can't smoke okra, and buds don't thicken your gumbo) But really the question of legality isn't about pressing your own hempseed oil and making paper. It's about the plant's primary use; recreational highs.

And just as you grow tomatoes because you like eating a tomato, you should be free to grow weed because you want to smoke it. You don't need a billion other excuses - and that's just what they are, excuses - to advocate this. If you're just going to punk out and pretend that you're pro-legalization because you're really interested in what Pfizer can squeeze out of it, then you might as well sit it out.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. This is particularly laughable:

"The evidence is almost conclusive, except for the fact that only one of the cannabis users didn't smoke tobacco as well."
And the part where they admit that all of them also drank and used unspecified 'other drugs'. So this is a study of tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking users of multiple drugs. Oh, and they also smoked pot!

Like some guy who eats a tiny salad and 2 pounds of chili, blames the salad for his indigestion.

[Johnny2X2X]

20. Yeah but...

It triples the liklihood of Fritos.

[geardaddy]

26. I'd like to be a part of that study.

[maxsolomon]

21. This proves we must consider this addictive narcotic to be as dangerous as Heroin

Oh, that's right, we already do!

[NICO9000]

25. Sounds like hogwash to me

Has there ever been a documented case of this after all these centuries of pot smoking on the planet?

Crickets...

[tridim]

28. "Marijuana smokers were more than twice as likely than ~healthy~ adults..."

What the fuck are they comparing here? Apples to bongo drums?

Smoking cannabis does NOT make you unhealthy adult. Period.

[Democracyinkind]

29. LoL.

In a few years they'll notice the correlation to tobacco studies...

Idiots.

[leftyohiolib]

32. meh- -legalize it already

[Bluenorthwest]

33. "These patients usually had no other vascular risk factors apart from tobacco, alcohol and

other drugs."
So apart from three established risk factors they all but one shared, they had no risk factors. None, aside from cigarettes and alcohol and 'other drugs'...

Also:
"The evidence is almost conclusive, except for the fact that only one of the cannabis users didn't smoke tobacco as well."

Almost, except....they were all smokers of tobacco. According to my doctors, tobacco is a huge risk factor, enormous. One also mentioned that drinking doubles the risk of stroke. So apart from the enormous risk factors they had, they had no risk factors. Odd form of doublespeak being employed makes me think they were out to find a conclusion and found it. Almost, except and apart from....

[Capt13]

42. Was this a Repulican sponsored study???

[independentpiney]

34. I love this part:

"These patients usually had no other vascular risk factors apart from tobacco, alcohol and other drug usage. Questioning stroke and control patients about cannabis use is likely to obtain unreliable responses."

Since we know already that tobacco, alcohol and many other drugs greatly increase stroke risk , how is this study of any value?

[tridim]

63. The "study" is of great value to those who get rich from Cannabis prohibition.

[nobodyspecial]

79. No kidding

Tobacco and alcohol are proven stroke risk factors.

[mike_c]

35. ok....

"These patients usually had no other vascular risk factors apart from tobacco, alcohol and other drug usage."

[Moral Compass]

38. Another BS study to confuse the issue

Guarantee the methodology is flawed.

And, is this yet another study trying to argue that this incredibly benign substance shouldn't be made legal because someone could increase their chance of stroke?

Really? Then alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, dip/snuff should all be made illegal immediately. Bet that stats on those are even more impressive than just doubling.

What utter nonsense.

[olddad56]

44. I think this study is bullshit

[mitchtv]

55. these "studies" are released like clockwork

every so often, this one is sillier than most

[Ezlivin]

57. They don't call it "White Widow" for nothing

I just get stoked when I smoke.

[Smilo]

58. Oooooooooh be afraid, be very afraid

who paid for this study the Pharmaceutical industry.

[AngryAmish]

60. I call texas sharpshooter on this one

[Chakaconcarne]

65. What complete Crap!

So they don't know whether it was tobacco or marijuana that tended toward stroke. That's a shit poor conclusion they've made....and how does the American Stroke Association even allow it on the floor??? Am I missing something?

[RoccoR5955]

66. Lousy study is false.

I know of many folks who have started smoking weed AFTER a stroke, and didn't have another stroke.
I can name at least a half dozen that I know myself.
Yeah, it wasn't a "case-controlled study," but just my observations.

[randome]

67. Who would have thought that putting smoke into your lungs might affect your health?

[Comrade Grumpy]

68. Even if this unsubstantiated claim were true, so what?

Should marijuana remain illegal because of the risk of stroke?

Should other possbile stroke-inducing activities be made illegal?

Should no one ever do anything that carries with it some risk of something?

[Puzzledtraveller]

69. Bath salts and potpourri quadruple the risk of homicidal behavior and cannibalistic tendencies.

[Exultant Democracy]

70. BS, all the MJ smokers also smoked tobacco, the science is bunk.

[SemperEadem]

73. and who is paying his research bill...

follow the money... junk science can be bought as evidenced by those climate change deniers. The timing is quite suspect, being that Obama's admin is rethinking their stance on pot (http://reason.com/blog/2012/12/14/obama-on-marijuana-legalization-if-not-n"
and that states around the country are beginning to change their laws... of course one can buy a scientist to say what the prison industrial complex need for them to say to keep their construct in place and profitable.

[Rider3]

76. I doubt it.

I think this is just another scare tactic.

[Blandocyte]

77. Happened to me in the early 80s

After a little smoking, the risk of my listening to Billy Squier's The Stroke would increase.

[Blue Owl]

78. One stroke over the line, sweet Jesus

n/t

[farminator3000]

82. that is truly a pathetic assertion. why would someone even suggest that?

This study is the strongest piece of evidence that associates cannabis with stroke. The evidence is almost conclusive, except for the fact that only one of the cannabis users didn't smoke tobacco as well.

However, Barber believes that it is cannabis and not the tobacco that is causing the increased risk of stroke.

maybe instead-

"There are no deaths from cannabis use. Anywhere. You can't find one," said Dr. Lester Grinspoon, professor emeritus at Harvard Medical School.

Believe it: In 10,000 years of known use of cannabis, there's never been a single death attributed to marijuana.

"I've heard you have to smoke something like 15,000 joints in 20 minutes to get a toxic amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol," said Dr. Paul Hornby, a biochemist and human pathologist who also happens to be one of the leading authorities on cannabis research. "I challenge anybody to do that."

Meanwhile, it's a fact that anyone can die from ingesting too much aspirin, or too much coffee, or too much wine. Marijuana, on the other hand, medical or not, is not only non-lethal, but likely beneficial. Several studies, some published as recently as a few months ago, have shown that marijuana can even be good for your health, and could help treat conditions better than the solutions being cooked up in the labs.

The late Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a former national administrator of the U.S. government's marijuana research programs, appeared in a film about the business of marijuana prohibition shortly before his 2007 death called "The Union." (The full movie is available on both Netflix and YouTube.)

"After dealing with about 10,000 patents in the last 15 years, I'd say about 200 different medical conditions respond favorably to cannabis," Mikuriya said.
http://www.ibtimes.com/%E2%80%98medical%E2%80%99-marijuana-10-health-benefits-legitimize-legalization-742456

[farminator3000]

83. Marijuana protects your brain Studies reveal that MJ protects against brain damage from stroke

Marijuana protects your brain
Studies reveal that marijuana protects against brain damage from stroke, heart attacks, and nerve gas.

Researchers are investigating how cannabidiol and other antioxidants can reduce the severity of damage from "ischaemic strokes", in which blood vessels in the brain become blocked.

During ischaemic strokes, which make up 80% of all strokes, free radicals are released into the bloodstream. These harmful molecules are believed to cause stroke damage, such as paralysis and loss of speech and vision. Cannabidiol has potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, so it can neutralize free radicals and limit their damage.
http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1418.html

[jaysunb]

84. Liars....pure and simple. nt

[Enrique]

86. so does meat

legalize pot, and health conscious people can choose not to smoke it, the way people choose not to eat meat or whatever.

[KansDem]

87. Well, in that case...

[bitchkitty]

89. BULLSHIT!

It doesn't cause stroke, and it doesn't cause liver cirrhosis either (another bullshit study).

[obama2terms]

95. Complete Bullshit

Didn't another study say pot caused cirrhosis of the liver? It's just a bunch of anti pot people trying to turn away attention from the fact that alcohol and some prescription drugs are much much worse.

[eShirl]

96. I remain skeptical as I await other scientific studies to reproduce these results (or not).

[magic59]

97. Yes but you die happy

[hughee99]

98. Correlation is not causation. Can they PLEASE teach this day 1 of journalism school? n/t

[easychoice]

99. they just keep flogging the same horse...

Their lies got old 50 years ago.

[otherone]

105. yes

[LeftishBrit]

102. 'all but one of the stroke patients who were marijuana smokers also engaged in tobacco use'.

Which makes the study problematic. Smoking tobacco is already known to increase the risk of stroke.

[Kalidurga]

103. What they should do is have a scientific study.

I really don't care what P. Alan Barber believes. What I want to see is something that at least looks like a fact. He didn't provide anything that comes close to a resemblance.

[FarrenH]

107. "Study Shows Possible Link Between Marijuana Use and Strokes"

There, I fixed it

[Sunlei]

111. so they do a drug test on stroke victims and only pot shows up? only 'drug' that will show up?

(other than ciggies) bogus study! his peers should rip him to pieces!

[AAO]

114. Their conclussions are ironclad:

"This is the first case-controlled study to show a possible link to the increased risk of stroke from cannabis. Cannabis has been thought by the public to be a relatively safe, although illegal substance. This study shows this might not be the case; it may lead to stroke."

In other words, it may, it may not, we really don't have a clue. But we're going to pretend we're saying something meaningful just to fuck with people's heads.

[Locut0s]

115. WTF is the point of these studies when they never question the legality of alcohol?

We all know that alcohol consumption is bad for you. Yet since prohibition no one has ever questioned, thankfully, whether your average citizen has the right to consume it as he or she pleases (with the obvious exceptions of DUIs etc). And we all know how well prohibition worked out *rolleyes*.

So alcohol consumption is perfectly fine, a substance known since antiquity to be addicting and life ruining if abused, but NOOOooooo we need STUDIES to flesh out all the PROS and CONS of cannabis use before even thinking of legalizing it.

Fucking make alcohol illegal, and watch the country revolt, or legalize marijuana already. You can't have it both ways you fucking hypocritical puritans.

[CanSocDem]

116. Cannabis REDUCES the risk of a stroke...

...in my humble opinion.

Despite a high risk lifestyle that included a stressful occupation, several years of alcoholism, fifty years of tobacco use and unhealthy eating habits I can only surmise that the cannabis I've been using for 48 years is the only thing that has prevented a stroke.

I believe that STRESS is the number one cause of ALL illness. Cannabis alleviates stress.

It can also enlighten the consciousness by alleviating the fear of powerlessness in the face of medical propaganda. Somehow it makes the threat of catastrophic illness just another irrational paranoia to be forgotten when the buzz wears off.

Of course, if one wants to ignore the threats promulgated by the medical industry, you have to go All In.

.