Further down:

> there was a single brain region where we saw that higher cannabis use was actually associated with lower brain volume – the posterior cingulate, which is part of the limbic system and is implicated in processes like memory, learning, and emotion. That said, some research suggests smaller posterior cingulate volume is actually associated with better working memory, so it’s a little unclear what this means.

Is it possible that there could be two separate things going on here? Anecdotally, I can confirm that my memory when actively using it not better. If you tell me something when I'm zoned out, unless I set a reminder or something in my calendar, fat chance I'll remember the next day. However, I am more of a "occasional weekend" user and then only in the evening after my work and family obligations are taken care of for the day; very similar to how many people consume a whisky or other hard liquor in moderation.

Question is if their memories just decide to remember different things they deem more important.

> if you can't remember anything?

You didn't read the article but instead rely on your bias alone.

Life long moderate cannabis use improves memory function. That's the main takeaway from the research.

I actually kinda like the interpretation that big brained, cognitively superior individuals are more likely to become cannabis users.

You don't have to replace alcohol with anything. If its self medication you should ask yourself or an expert how to lower stress with behavior or life style change.

Apart from that a better medication would be Ketamine which is also a NMDA receptor antagonist like alcohol but not as destructive to every cell in the body. Except your bladder.

*if it does, this is just one study. That said, because it's not legal in many places, any health effects are understudied (not unlike hallicunogens). There's plenty of movements that push for more study though.

Anyway, it's legal where I live, I avoided it for a long time because of reasons but it tends to give similar relaxing / depresant effects to alcohol, minus the downsides.

I'm confident Big Alcohol is pushing hard against legalizing and developing cannabis. As is the government, because alcohol is heavily taxed and therefore a big source of income.

Imagine you could replace with just existing.

That said, when I walked through the main street of my city after dark, I thought replacing all the drunks with stoned would have been a major improvement.

If you read the article, I believe it is more of a "we are studying it and there is a lot to do" than "drugs are good".

I think a very important part is:

> For example, I’m interested in the effects of THC versus CBD. We don't have any of that information in the UK Biobank. Most people in this study were using cannabis quite a while ago, and cannabis at that time looked very different from what’s available today. That context really matters. It’s a complex picture.

Drinking coffee gives positive health effects.

Drinking too much coffee and getting over-caffeinated has bad effects.

Of course junkies would jump on this paper, while conveniently ignoring meta-analyses.

"Longitudinal and twin studies report larger declines in IQ among cannabis users than their non-using peers but it is unclear whether these findings can be attributed to cannabis use or to genetic, mental health and environmental factors."

I'm pretty sure memory function is bad WHILE being baked but might improve long term when not under the influence. Maybe a rebound effect that makes the brain compensate for the CB1 receptor flooding.

It's "illegal", but certain places have a semi-permanent funk hanging in the air. It's almost as if it's decriminalised, but I'd expect police to grudgingly act if you're overly blatant when smoking it in the street.

It really should be legalised so that we can earn a bit of tax from its sale and reduce the amount of cash that criminals make from it (not so much the seller to the public, but all the criminal organisations that grow and smuggle it).

You know, like the ones involving a cabal of child-trafficking, pedophilic elites whose bad acts have something to do with pizza.