1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: Hello everybody. I'm Jemma Spake and welcome back to the 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: Psychology of Your Twenties, the podcast where we talk through 3 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: the biggest changes, moments, and transitions of our twenties and 4 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:25,520 Speaker 1: what they mean for our psychology. Hello everybody, Welcome back 5 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: to the show. Welcome back to the podcast. It is 6 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: so great to have you here back for another episode 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: as we, of course break down the psychology of our twenties. 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: Back as well for an episode. I know a lot 9 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: of you have been waiting for Thank you for your patience, 10 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: but I just felt like I felt like we had 11 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: to wait for episode for twenty to do this topic. 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 1: For esthetic purposes. Of course, today we are talking about 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: the psychology of weed. I know a lot of people 14 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: have thoughts on cannabis usage and as a drug. You know, 15 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: it's obviously very easy to villainize, but cultures and societies 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: have been using cannabis for thousands of years. It is 17 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: one of the oldest drugs, oldest plants in fact, that 18 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: has it's essentially co evolved alongside humanity. And as we 19 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: are and as society is taking a much more liberal 20 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: approach to cannabis, I think the psychology behind it is 21 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 1: very unexploited and incredibly fascinating. I think the more liberal 22 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: approach that we're taking to cannabis usage has been really 23 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: amazing for so many people. It's been adopted for chronic 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: pain management, for therapeutic practices, it's rolled back a lot 25 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: of unfair criminalization, amongst many other things. There are still 26 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: important considerations we do need to know if we want 27 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: to take part, especially from an emotional, biological and psychological standpoint. 28 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: You may have heard this thing that no one has 29 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: ever overdosed from weed. Weed is an addictive We need 30 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: to kind of debunk these a little bit. There are 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: two side to cannabis consumption that mean that it can 32 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: be as dangerous as it is liberating and enjoyable. So 33 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: that's what we're going to talk about today, as well 34 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: as just the science and what it does to your brain, 35 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: why it makes you more hungry, why certain people get 36 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: anxious other people don't. There's going to of course be 37 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,679 Speaker 1: some resources in the description if you need them, or 38 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: if this episode brings up any concerns about dependency for 39 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: you or someone you know. We are going to take 40 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 1: a very scientific approach today. So as always, this episode 41 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: isn't an endorsement of doing drugs. But let's be honest. 42 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: I'm in my twenties, I went to a university in 43 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: a state marijuana was legal, So I'm not going to 44 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: be a hypocrite and say don't do it, or pass 45 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: any judgment or for your usage or lack of usage. 46 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: I just think the psychology is very fascinating. It's important 47 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: purely from like a research standpoint. Weed is just has 48 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: there so much cool information about it. So without further ado, 49 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: let's get into it. To begin understanding the psychology of weed, 50 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: we have to start with knowing what the heck it 51 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: actually does to our brains and bodies to make us 52 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 1: feel the way it does. Basically, where does the high 53 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: feeling come from? A lot of the feeling of being 54 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: high starts with something called the endocannabinoid system. This is 55 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: a natural system in your body, everybody's body, and in 56 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: your brain as well, and it helps regulate mood, stress, appetite, memory, pain, reward, 57 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: even how strongly we react to things around us, basically 58 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: how we interpret sensations. In other words, it is involved 59 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 1: in many of the exact same functions that people notice 60 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: that notice shifting when they consume weed. Fun fact, the 61 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: endocannabinoid system is also the same system responsible for the 62 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: high feeling that some people get from exercise. Everybody has 63 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: an endocannabinoid system, and every body naturally produces its own 64 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: endocannabinoid molecules. Whether you smoke weed, whether you don't, whether 65 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: you've ever seen weed, looked at weed, smeltweed, or not, 66 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: your body already has a system in place. In particular, 67 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: your body naturally produces two well known cannabis like chemicals nandamide, 68 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: which is known as the Bliss molecule, and two ag 69 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: These chemicals naturally bind to cannabinoid receptors in your body 70 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: to influence mood, pain, appetite, memory. Another fun fact, a 71 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: Harvard report found that we actually have more cannabinoid receptors 72 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: in our bodies, specifically CB one receptors than nearly any 73 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: other receptor in our brain and in our system. That 74 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: is how important they are to how we function. Now. 75 00:04:56,440 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: Cannabis works by interfering with this system and acting on 76 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: those same receptors of which we have many, but in 77 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: ways that is artificial, meaning basically, the chemicals that are 78 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 1: coming in weren't naturally produced by the body and may 79 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: occur at like a higher level than what the body 80 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: is normally used to, meaning it disrupts the system, meaning 81 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: we get the symptoms of being high that we are 82 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: used to. The main reason weed can feel euphoric or strange, 83 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: or calming or even disorientating is because of its chemical makeup. 84 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: One University of Mississippi study has found that there are 85 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: over one hundred and forty cannabinoids as well as other 86 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: chemicals that make up the chemical structure of cannabis. When 87 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: those enter our body, they kind of flood every single 88 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: system and they create the reactions that we know. But 89 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: when we talk about mainly the psychological sensation that accompanies weed, 90 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: we are mainly talking about two specific cannabinoids that have 91 00:05:58,839 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: the most impact. THHC and CBD. They are both active 92 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 1: components found in cannabis. They affect the body and brain 93 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: very differently in the most and are the most significant 94 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: of the chemicals that make up cannabis. So basically they 95 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: are responsible for the majority of the feeling that we 96 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: have in response to smoking weed or consuming weed. So 97 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: THHC is the main psychoactive component. This is the component 98 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: most responsible for the classic high that people feel, so 99 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: that shift in time awareness the increase in appetite, the 100 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: foggy memory and thoughts, patents, thought patterns, everything, and for 101 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 1: some people as well, anxiety and paranoia. It's THHC. CBD 102 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: is very different. It does not produce the classic high 103 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 1: associated with THHC, and it does not seem to bind 104 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: to the brain's CB one receptors in the same direct, 105 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: powerful way that THHC does. Instead, CBD has a much 106 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: broader and more indirect pharmacology. So what that basically means 107 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: is that THHD is coming in and only really hitting 108 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: one kind of receptor. CBD is hitting multiple different kinds 109 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: all across the body, including CB two receptors, which actually 110 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: occur primarily in our immune system, so it's involved in 111 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 1: several systems. It's basically what we're saying, And CBD is 112 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: what you would often see marketed as medical products, So 113 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: CBD oil, CBD gummies, CBD drops. Some people think of 114 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: it as like a weaker weed, but it's a different 115 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 1: cannabis compound or derivative entirely with a completely different profile 116 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: of feelings or sensations. It doesn't create that same overhaul 117 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: in our consciousness. In research, it's often described as actually 118 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: having a potentially calming, antipsychotic, anti convulsant, anti inflammatory kind 119 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: of job or role. So whilst THCHC or typical weed 120 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 1: tends to shift our experience psychologically into this altered, intensified state, 121 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: CBD is better understood as a compound that may influence 122 00:08:16,840 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: our body more than our mind, but also our overall 123 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: ability to regulate. Okay, turning away from medicinal uses. One 124 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 1: question I got from a lot of you when I 125 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: said on Instagram that we were doing this episode is 126 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: why does it impact me? Why does smoking weed impact 127 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: me differently compared to my friends, compared to my boyfriend, 128 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: my girlfriend, I don't know my parents even, Why do 129 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: I have such a different response. Two different people could 130 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: consume the same product, same amount, same everything, and have 131 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: wildly different psychological experiences, particularly when it comes to feelings 132 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 1: of calm versus feelings of anxiety. Now, one of the 133 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: main reasons is that, and one of the main reasons 134 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: it has such a different effect is simply because we 135 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 1: have different brains and therefore different cannabinoid systems, different sensitivities 136 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: to substances, different psychological profiles that impact how we interpret 137 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: the physical and emotional sensations of weed. This is all 138 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: affected by things like personality, genetics, stress. Even this setting 139 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: that we are in when we use it currently, when 140 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 1: we first used it. THHC changes how the brain filters attention, filters, reward, 141 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: and emotion. But it can also feel very different depending 142 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: on what is already going on internally or the state 143 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: of your CB two or CB one receptors. Despite a 144 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: lot of research suggesting that there is a casual link 145 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:50,320 Speaker 1: between cannabis and anxiety, a large twenty twenty four review 146 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: from researchers based at UCLA actually suggests that this association 147 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: can be best explained by the fact that anxiety predisp 148 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 1: exposing individuals tend to use cannabis more as a method 149 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: of self medication compared to people who don't have an 150 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: anxiety predisposition. So this suggests that it's not necessarily cannabis 151 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: usage overall that makes you anxious. Makes everybody anxious, but 152 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,599 Speaker 1: it's just that when people with a certain anxiety profile 153 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 1: or a certain personality do use cannabis, the effect of 154 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 1: that on their anxiety is a lot worse. But also 155 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: they may be more likely to try it in the 156 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: first place, or lean on it in order to self 157 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: soothe because of this promise initially that it's this calming, 158 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:48,200 Speaker 1: chill out, really dopey kind of feeling. Now, how our 159 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: anxiety presents beyond cannabis use just in general, is also 160 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: different from person to person. Some people feel anxious when 161 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: they feel out of control. Some people feel anxious when 162 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: they feel like they have too much control and they're 163 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: too overstimulated, they're too alert, they're too aware. You can 164 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:08,000 Speaker 1: kind of guess which person is going to have a 165 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: worse reaction. Two people might both think that they're anxious. 166 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: But for somebody, weed is really calming. For others, it's not. 167 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: For the person for whom their anxiety really manifests as 168 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: needing to be alert, wanting to be on top of things, 169 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: consuming weed might not always give them the break from time, 170 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: memory and place and sensations that they want. It just 171 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: feels like association. It feels really overwhelming. So maybe I'm 172 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: not explaining that well, but basically you can come to 173 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: the table like anxiety isn't one type of thing, right 174 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,439 Speaker 1: we think of anxiety as this one condition. They are 175 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:51,839 Speaker 1: actually variants to our anxiety. And that is why, even 176 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: if we're not just comparing anxious and not anxious people, 177 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: but two three four different anxious people. Every single one 178 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: of them could respond differently to wead based on how 179 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 1: we interpret and how we relate to body sensations or 180 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: bodily sensations, and how in control we want to feel. 181 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: Cannabis doesn't just create anxiety out of the blue. It 182 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: seems to amplify whatever emotion or feeling is already there, 183 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 1: such as pre existing anxiety, especially when the dose of 184 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: THHC is higher. That also may explain why, again, you 185 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: may have different reactions across two different days because of 186 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: your pre existing emotional state, on top of dosage, on 187 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: top of your environment, on top of what is unconsciously 188 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: going on for you. One day you're fine, the next 189 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: day you're not. This is also the case for things 190 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: like creativity as well. A lot of people feel way 191 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: more creative when they're high because our thoughts can feel 192 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: less filtered and more unusual. It makes whatever emotional state 193 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: we're in heightened. But the researcher is actually really interesting, 194 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 1: this was an area I really want to look into, 195 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: and it suggests that feeling creative is not the same 196 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: as actually being creative. And when people smoke they just 197 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: feel creative, They may not actually be more creative tangibly, practically, physically. 198 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: One twenty twenty three study found that cannabis use didn't 199 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: increase actual creativity, but it did make people have biased 200 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: evaluations of their creativity. Basically, that means they judge their 201 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: own ideas other people's ideas as more creative. So if 202 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: you've ever been high with your friends and thought, oh 203 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: my god, this conversation we're having right now is hilarious. 204 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: This is the funniest thing ever. That was How has 205 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: nobody ever thought of that joke or that saying or whatever, 206 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 1: we should start a podcast. If you've ever had some 207 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 1: bizarre idea for a movie or a joke that you're like, 208 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: that is just this is genius, and you look back 209 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: the next morning and you're like, that was really actually unfunny, 210 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 1: Like that really was just bizarre. That's what's happening here. 211 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: That effect on perceived creativity has struck you. An earlier 212 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen research paper also found that highly potent cannabis 213 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: may actually impair divergent thinking, and people that smoke regularly 214 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: so weed may make thoughts feel more novel and exciting 215 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: in the moment without necessarily making them better and actually 216 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: making it harder for us to think differently long term. Essentially, 217 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:30,800 Speaker 1: what we're really talking about is the effect that it 218 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: has now in a critic, what weed really does is 219 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: impact emotional control. It can't make you more creative, but 220 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: it can reduce the pressure and the I guess yeah, 221 00:14:44,280 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: the pressure and the criticism surrounding surrounding you on a 222 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: daily basis, and it just lets your thoughts flow differently. 223 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: It just weakens your impulses that are perhaps previously holding 224 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,520 Speaker 1: back creative or non create thoughts that you would usually have. 225 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: What else we have to mention about how weed impacts 226 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:10,160 Speaker 1: us differently, Oh, we have to mention the hunger, the monchies, 227 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:16,320 Speaker 1: because weed make some people absolutely ravenous, absolutely ravenous, and 228 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: other people they don't want to touch. They wouldn't, they 229 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: don't want to touch even their favorite meal. Again, this 230 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: is because the endocannabinoid system helps regulate not just your appetite, 231 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: which it does, but also the pleasure and emotional pull 232 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: of food. THHD appears to increase both wanting and liking food. 233 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: Food can seem more appealing and eating it feels more rewarding, 234 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: based on kind of how THHD interacts with your CB 235 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: one receptors. That is why the munchies. It's usually not 236 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: physical hunger, but it's because the sensory experience of eating 237 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: is so much better. The flavors feel richer, more satisfying. 238 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: That's why food seems so irresistible. People who feel less 239 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: reaction to tapc though, may not have that same drive. 240 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: And what we're really getting at here is that there 241 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: are basically dozens of different psychological reaction profiles that you 242 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: can have from consuming cannabis, based on how many CB 243 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: one or CB two receptors you have, based on how 244 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: much weed you're consuming, based on how much weed you've 245 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: consumed in the past, based on your emotional state, based 246 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: on your genetics. Again, you could have a completely different 247 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 1: experience from somebody sitting across from you, and a completely 248 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: different experience every single time you smoke. The common thread 249 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: here is that weed doesn't create one fixed effect effect 250 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: on people, but that it changes the intensity and meaning 251 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: of the experience. Let's talk about the next big cannabis debate, 252 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: and I guesses what it could be. Okay, it's the 253 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: question of whether weed is addictive. There is a big 254 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,680 Speaker 1: myth that I've seen online and heard in person that 255 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: it's impossible to have a problem with weed because it's 256 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: not addictive. Is that true or foss? Let's break it down. 257 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: It is true that cannabis is not addictive in exactly 258 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 1: the same way as every other drug, or alcohol or nicotine. 259 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 1: But it's also absolutely true that it has its own 260 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: unique pattern of dependency. A useful way to talk about 261 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: this is to separate biological dependence from psychological dependence. Biological 262 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: dependence is what happens when the brain and body adapt 263 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: to regular use of a substance over time. That means 264 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: that they build up tolerance. It means that they need 265 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: more of the substance for the same effect, and it 266 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: also means that if they stop, they may experience physical 267 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: withdrawal symptoms like irritability, recklessness, sleep problems, low mood, reduced appetite, anxiety. 268 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: The reason people may say that weed isn't as chemically 269 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: addictive is because most people don't experience fears withdrawal symptoms 270 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: the way they do with alcohol or harder drugs that 271 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: typically affect our dopamine and gabber systems. You know, the 272 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 1: next morning you might feel a little bit hazy, but 273 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: your body isn't going to physically isn't going to have 274 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: the same physical withdrawal pattern. Research does show this changes 275 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: depending on when you start using cannabis, So if you 276 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: start before sixteen, or if you smoke a lot, you 277 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: can develop physical dependency and your likelihood of having a 278 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:36,879 Speaker 1: chemical or a biological addiction is much higher. But psychological 279 00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: dependence is a different story. Weed may not have the 280 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: same chemical biological pool, but when it becomes a form 281 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: of emotional and psychological coping, it is just as dangerous. 282 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:53,199 Speaker 1: It is just as dependency driven or dependency risky. It 283 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 1: can start replacing all other coping. It becomes difficult to stop, 284 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: especially when it is the only thing citty between you 285 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: and the pain you and the social anxiety you and 286 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 1: the grief you and the hopelessness. Its ability to dull 287 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: or remove intense emotions is rewarding. It's called negative reinforcement. 288 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: It removes a bad feeling, and that is just as 289 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 1: motivational as when something gives us a good feeling, And 290 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,719 Speaker 1: that's why it's so intoxicating. Research into the drive behind 291 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: cannabis use has consistently found that using weed to quote 292 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: with distress with tension. Emotional discomfort is linked to more 293 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: problematic use and worse outcomes, and often because of the 294 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: way weed makes us feel, which is maybe quite sluggish, tired, lethargic, 295 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: we rarely then go on to engage in things that 296 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:54,120 Speaker 1: might actually help us. So, rather than being something we 297 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 1: just use casually for fun, in this situation, it becomes 298 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: emotional management, or it becomes escapism from our current situation 299 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 1: without actually allowing us to address the root problem. One 300 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 1: of the emotions or feelings I feel like links most 301 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: significantly to cannabis usage is loneliness. This is a great 302 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:19,399 Speaker 1: example of how weed can become a way that we 303 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: avoid the deeper feeling. The literature on the correlation between 304 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: loneliness and smoking weed is just that correlational, So we 305 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: can't say that smoking weed directly causes loneliness because that 306 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: would be inaccurate. But what a lot of studies, including 307 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:39,959 Speaker 1: one in twenty sixteen, suggest is that social anxiety, solitary 308 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: cannabis use, and cannabis related problems are often clustered together, 309 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: and that using cannabis can actually be one of the 310 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:54,200 Speaker 1: roots that takes social discomfort and mild isolation and turns 311 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 1: it into something more problematic, like full on solitude and 312 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 1: full on a bit of a personal loneliness crisis. And 313 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 1: this makes a lot of sense. It makes a lot 314 00:21:04,359 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: of sense. Weed can amplify certain emotions that we can 315 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,919 Speaker 1: feel very self conscious of in front of people, in 316 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: front of other people, but it can also make us 317 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: feel better about other emotions that we feel individually. So 318 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: therefore it can become something that we only do by 319 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:24,200 Speaker 1: ourselves because we want we want the we want the feeling. 320 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 1: We don't want to see or be around other people 321 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: while we have the feeling, But the feeling in itself 322 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:34,400 Speaker 1: is still good. And that can mean that the more 323 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: we really just enjoy that solitary time, smoking alone, consuming alone, 324 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,720 Speaker 1: the more of a comforting ritual it becomes, the more 325 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: of a habit, the more that it can be a 326 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: replacement for connection. If someone, maybe it's you right now, 327 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: starts to use weed mainly in a solitary manner or 328 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: to manage a broader sense of loneliness, that is dangerous 329 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: territory because it becomes harder and harder to come back 330 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: from and harder and harder to you know, feel okay 331 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 1: with being around people. But again, people are different. Like 332 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: for some people it's a purely social activity. It can 333 00:22:08,560 --> 00:22:11,399 Speaker 1: actually be a really fun source of memories. It just 334 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,280 Speaker 1: depends on your response, and it depends on everybody's response. 335 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: So I think the thing we can't do when we 336 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: talk about weed is make broad stroke statements that weed 337 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: is bad, every weed user is lonely and depressed, because 338 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: it's just not true. It's just something to be aware 339 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: of about. How you know, there is a deep correlation 340 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: between solitary usage and extended loneliness, meaning that yes, loneliness 341 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: initially might cause somebody to smoke weed by themselves because 342 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: they don't have anybody to smoke or consume with, but 343 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: then it can make it worse, and it can be 344 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: a mediating factor that continues to escalate the pattern. Okay, 345 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 1: that was so intense. Let's take a break. I feel 346 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 1: like I just lectured everybody. Let's yeah, let's take a break, 347 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: and then let's talk about the effect that it has 348 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 1: on our brain, what it does to our emotions and motivation, 349 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 1: and also our relationships in the long term. Stay with us. Okay, 350 00:23:10,320 --> 00:23:14,399 Speaker 1: let's talk about the long term effects of smoking weed 351 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: on the brain. Because I feel like this is something 352 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,959 Speaker 1: a lot of people want to know about. When people 353 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 1: ask about the long term effects of smoking weed, one 354 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: of the most important things to clarify is that the 355 00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: answer is not completely simple. On one hand, research doesn't 356 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: support the idea that everybody who smokes cannabis will end 357 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:38,040 Speaker 1: up with severe permanent brain damage, but it also doesn't 358 00:23:38,040 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: support the idea that using weed long term is completely 359 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: harmless either. What the evidence suggests is that the effects 360 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 1: depend a lot on how often somebody uses it, how 361 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:54,640 Speaker 1: much they use, and how old they were when they started, 362 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 1: and whether they have developed more dependent patterns of use, 363 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: so using multiple time times a week for extended periods 364 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: of time. Basically, the younger you start, the more frequently 365 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: frequently you use, the greater the amount, the longer the 366 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 1: period of usage, the greater the correlation with problems involving attention, learning, 367 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: and working memory. Especially, cannabis affects brain systems specifically that 368 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 1: are heavily involved in learning and memory. Specifically, this region 369 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 1: called the hippo campus, which you guys probably know from 370 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: episodes in the past, helps us form and organized new memories. 371 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: THHC in particular basically interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors in 372 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:47,479 Speaker 1: this region and disrupts the process of encoding information, meaning 373 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: that smoking weed doesn't erase our memories or consuming we 374 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: doesn't erase our memories. What it does is mean that 375 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: the information never gets properly stored in the first place. 376 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: It just gets held in short term weak working memory. 377 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: It never gets converted into short and then long term. 378 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,640 Speaker 1: This is why people who are high often lose track 379 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:10,200 Speaker 1: of conversation. They may struggle to hold on to new information. 380 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: They may struggle to problem solve in the moment or 381 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: get things done because working memory is so so short, 382 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 1: the storage time is very There is not much storage 383 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 1: time at all, so it's hard to cram everything in there. 384 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: When the influence of THHD and of weed in general 385 00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:31,679 Speaker 1: is disrupting the consolidation of memories needed for short term 386 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 1: and long term memory. In the long term, oh my god, 387 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:36,719 Speaker 1: I feel like I've said long term, short term memory, 388 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,880 Speaker 1: all those things a million times, but in the long term. 389 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: Research from twenty twenty five that looked at a sample 390 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 1: of over one thousand adults aged twenty two to thirty 391 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: six found that heavy lifetime cannabis use is associated with 392 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: lower brain activation during working memory tasks, and this association 393 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: remains even in individuals who hadn't necessarily smoked recently or 394 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: heavily recently. So it suggests that you know the impact 395 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: and effects of weed on cognitive function even after you quit, 396 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 1: Even after you tape it down, can be long lasting. 397 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: Despite reducing slowly over time, you may still feel that 398 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 1: your brain is different. Our brain does have an amazing 399 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:25,120 Speaker 1: and incredible capacity to rewire and restore itself. So it's 400 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: not to say like, if the damage is done, you 401 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,439 Speaker 1: may as well keep going, like you're never going to 402 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: get a certain level of brain functioning back. But it 403 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: is just like important to recognize that if you're sitting 404 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: here being like I do notice differences, I don't know 405 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: if I'm performing at my best, to know that, like, yeah, 406 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,359 Speaker 1: that's probably correct, there is danger to how your brain 407 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:53,359 Speaker 1: functions that you should be aware of. At the same time, 408 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,359 Speaker 1: there is some evidence to the contrary for when weed, 409 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:01,360 Speaker 1: specifically medical cannabis is used for medis and all purposes. 410 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: One of the largest ever longitudinal observational studies on the 411 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 1: effect of medical cannabis on individuals followed participants over a 412 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: two year period, and it assessed them before they started using, 413 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 1: and then at three months, six months, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, 414 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: and twenty four months. Even after a few times, even 415 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:26,639 Speaker 1: at the three month mark, patients actually performed better in 416 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: particular cognitive tasks that required executive functioning. So we're seeing 417 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 1: a different pattern. This is a direct quote from the researcher. 418 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,879 Speaker 1: Her name is Stacy Ruber. She actually runs the Marijuana 419 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,960 Speaker 1: Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery problem. That is a mouthful, and 420 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,960 Speaker 1: she does heaps of studies around this, But on this 421 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: study she said, rather than getting worse, they're actually getting 422 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: better because their physical symptoms are alleviated. That means they 423 00:27:56,119 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 1: can think more clearly, and often they rely less on 424 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: other substances like opioids that can disrupt thinking. This contrast 425 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: with poor cognitive performance seen among heavy recreational marijuana users 426 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: relative to non users. There you go. So basically, what 427 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 1: this is saying is that when there's a lesser THC 428 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: factor when marijuana is used medicinally, especially for chronic pain 429 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 1: or chronic illnesses that are otherwise clouding cognitive capacity, cognitive 430 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:33,919 Speaker 1: functioning does go up. So again you can't it's not 431 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: all or nothing. It's not any any If you touch cannabis, 432 00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 1: you're immediately like twenty times dumber. No, it's a complex 433 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 1: interaction with the body, with our emotions, with time, with psychology, 434 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: let's turn our attention to motivation. Because of the impact 435 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: of THC on reward processing and motivation, people often talk 436 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:01,160 Speaker 1: about cannabis as if it is automatically something that will 437 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: turn you into this lazy, zombie like person. Of course, 438 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:09,200 Speaker 1: in the short term, cannabis use does and can reduce motivation, 439 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: especially in someone who is actively high, like things require 440 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: planning and sustained focus a lot less appealing in that state. 441 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: Everything that is, you know, the immediate reward is a 442 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 1: lot more tantalizing, a lot more naturally attractive during those periods. 443 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: But long term, the stereotype of like the lazy, unmotivated 444 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: weed user seems to be incorrect, especially if you're not 445 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: using every single day or every single week or all 446 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: the time, Like you are kind of allowed to have 447 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: a couple of moments where you aren't heavily motivated because 448 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: you can sustain motivation elsewhere and in other times of 449 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: your life. In fact, across newer studies, there is little 450 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: consistent evidence that all cannabis users are generally less motivated 451 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: than non users once you actually look carefully at the data. 452 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,240 Speaker 1: Some studies in including a significant paper from twenty twenty 453 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: three from researchers at the University of Cambridge and the 454 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: University of Bath, found absolutely no major differences in self 455 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:15,640 Speaker 1: reported motivation, pleasure, or willingness to work for reward, especially 456 00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: in non dependent users. Now critical point here is self reported. 457 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: So obviously, you know, obviously there's like there's a level 458 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: of trust that we have to believe that people know 459 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: what motivation feels like for them. But a lot of participants, 460 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: you know, didn't show decline or didn't show differences in 461 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 1: their ability to delay pleasure, in their ability to work 462 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: long term and steadily and consistently for goals. The other 463 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:51,120 Speaker 1: critical thing though is non dependent users. It is a 464 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:55,120 Speaker 1: different story when somebody is dependent. This is key. The 465 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: more convincing concern is always and has always been around 466 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: heavy use and cannabis use disorder. That is where the 467 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: issue around motivation most likely comes up. But the thing 468 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: is is that not everybody who uses cannabis is going 469 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 1: to go on to become dependent. In fact, it isn't. 470 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: It's not unheard of, and it's definitely not rare, but 471 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 1: it is not as risky and as common as most 472 00:31:25,800 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: people who are opposed to any kind of cannabis usage 473 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 1: in society, including for medicinal purposes, would make it seem 474 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 1: one more thing to note here as well. Just like 475 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: we talked about how long term cannabis use can impact 476 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:46,520 Speaker 1: cognitive cognitive skills and memory, but that those things can 477 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:51,560 Speaker 1: return and can be rebuilt. Same goes for motivation. So basically, 478 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:57,280 Speaker 1: it's not over like. It's not like you have it's 479 00:31:57,320 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 1: not like you have physically permanently damaged your entire relationship 480 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 1: to reward, like it can be reversed. Let's talk about 481 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:11,560 Speaker 1: one final impact that requires close examination, which is the 482 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: impact of weed on relationships, especially when one person is 483 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:19,800 Speaker 1: a frequent user and the other is not. I got 484 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: a lot of messages about this because it creates a 485 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: lot of complications, right, There's a lot of pressure to participate. 486 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:30,520 Speaker 1: There's different mental stages at different moments are at the 487 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: same moment, so two people could be in a completely 488 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: different mindset for connecting and for bonding in the same 489 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: time period. There's concerns about somebody's usage when they do 490 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 1: feel like they have a problem. There's resentment, there's fear. 491 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:49,080 Speaker 1: There's also just plain annoyance that maybe you don't want 492 00:32:49,080 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 1: somebody to be smoking all the time or be high 493 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,120 Speaker 1: all the time, and they just can't seem to give 494 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:56,880 Speaker 1: it up, and it's frustrating. There is a lot of 495 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,640 Speaker 1: potential for weed to shape the way we connect with people. 496 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,200 Speaker 1: In the short term, Cannabis can make us more social, 497 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 1: and it can feel and it can make social moments 498 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:11,200 Speaker 1: feel easier for some people by lowering tension, by lowering 499 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: those impulse barriers, by making things seem funnier, by creating 500 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 1: shared memories and a shared sense of ease. That is 501 00:33:19,280 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 1: the part of smoking with friends or with partners that 502 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 1: can sometimes feel like a bonding opportunity. Conversations feel a 503 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:28,640 Speaker 1: lot looser, laughter comes more easily, ordinary moments are more 504 00:33:28,920 --> 00:33:34,880 Speaker 1: imaginative and enjoyable. But in a long term relationship sometimes 505 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: it can feel like, well, why would you need that? 506 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 1: Why do you need conversations to be easier? Shouldn't how 507 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: conversations already be easy? Shouldn't I already make you feel 508 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: safe and relaxed? Am I not entertaining enough? Like? Maybe 509 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:50,960 Speaker 1: you need this for other people, but why would you 510 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: need this for me? Like I'm your person? And you 511 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:57,160 Speaker 1: can very quickly see how insecurity is valid here and 512 00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: can really sparkle those moments, especially if you aren't on 513 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 1: the same page and there's not full truthfulness, and it 514 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:08,359 Speaker 1: is a fair concern from the loved one, especially if 515 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: you've had you know, if they've had partners who've previously 516 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:14,920 Speaker 1: ignored them because of weed, previously made them feel insecure, 517 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 1: previously rejected them usage or not, they're coming into this 518 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:23,720 Speaker 1: relationship with a different need for openness and a different 519 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 1: need to understand your motivations. Because being with somebody who 520 00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: smokes a lot of weed, even when they're asked not to, 521 00:34:31,840 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 1: or being with somebody who maybe you as a weed 522 00:34:35,280 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 1: smoker or somebody as a weed smoker, is with somebody 523 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: who isn't and they don't understand the relationship you have 524 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: with it, there's a lot of room for ambiguity. And 525 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,399 Speaker 1: when we have ambiguity that is not addressed, we have 526 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: people come up with their own stories, and people come 527 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:52,600 Speaker 1: up with their own reasons for why somebody is participating 528 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: somebody isn't. That can create a lot of resentment and 529 00:34:56,120 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 1: a lot of fear around the relationship being at risk. 530 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 1: It all comes back to this core concern of presence. 531 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:08,360 Speaker 1: Relationships of any kind, friendships, family ties, romantic bonds depend 532 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 1: on attention, depend on shared memory, responsiveness, and emotional availability. 533 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: And because cannabis can affect short term memory, as we know, 534 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: but also motivation and attention, it can sometimes interfere with 535 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:25,120 Speaker 1: these key aspects. Somebody may seem checked out, forgetful, hard 536 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:29,200 Speaker 1: to follow, less reliable, less emotionally engaged, and it's not 537 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 1: necessarily because they don't care. It's because weed is changing 538 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:36,560 Speaker 1: how they present in that interaction, and if that becomes 539 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: a pattern, other people, especially loved ones, start to feel 540 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: a kind of distance that's actually pretty awkward to bring up. 541 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,920 Speaker 1: Another issue is that cannabis can sometimes become part of 542 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:52,760 Speaker 1: avoidance in relationships. More broadly, if someone uses weed after stress, 543 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 1: after moments of loneliness, conflict, boredom, emotional discomfort, it may 544 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: help them feel better quickly, but it can also make 545 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: them less likely to reach out to repair, explain themselves, 546 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:10,239 Speaker 1: or sit with difficult emotions alongside other people. And that 547 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 1: is the foundation of deep relationships, romantic or not. The 548 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:17,360 Speaker 1: risk is not just that someone smokes and becomes distant, 549 00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 1: but that cannabis becomes their preferred way of managing feelings 550 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:26,319 Speaker 1: that would otherwise lead them to connect with somebody that 551 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,200 Speaker 1: they loved. Like again, it all comes down to this 552 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: psychological dependency and psychological emotional management of discomfort. Listen, we 553 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:41,480 Speaker 1: can't notot mention the positive side. Cannabis can improve intimacy, 554 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,799 Speaker 1: especially for people with chronic pain or a lot of 555 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 1: stress and anxiety around sex. I've heard that from some people, 556 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: you know, it's the only thing that allows them to 557 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 1: really feel in the moment with somebody. It can also 558 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 1: be bonding just because it's funny. You know, two of 559 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: my best friends smoke weed and play video games together 560 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 1: as a little treat every few months, And honestly, it 561 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:05,080 Speaker 1: sounds like a blast, and it sounds like something that 562 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:09,399 Speaker 1: really nurtures their relationship. And honestly, like, when I hear 563 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 1: about it, I'm like, God, you guys, that sounds really 564 00:37:11,719 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: really fun. But when should we be worried about it? 565 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:19,360 Speaker 1: When does it flip over? I'd say you should be 566 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 1: worried individually or in terms of your relationship with somebody 567 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 1: when weed starts to change your behavior in a very clear, 568 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:33,520 Speaker 1: observable way to you, not observable to everybody else, to you, 569 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:37,320 Speaker 1: like you can notice it. That might mean you keep 570 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:40,920 Speaker 1: using more than you planned. You find yourself smoking earlier 571 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:43,480 Speaker 1: in the day, smoking your days. You said you wouldn't 572 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: building your routine around when you can get high next. 573 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,799 Speaker 1: One of the clearest signs is loss of control. And 574 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: that's what all of these come down to. You feel 575 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:59,920 Speaker 1: like your life is oriented and centered around this substance 576 00:38:00,239 --> 00:38:03,080 Speaker 1: and when you're going to consume it, how much? With who? 577 00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:07,840 Speaker 1: When is the next available time or period where you 578 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,560 Speaker 1: can do it? And you no longer feel in control 579 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:13,799 Speaker 1: of your relationship to it, you kind of know deep 580 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: down like I keep saying I could stop, I keep 581 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,399 Speaker 1: saying I don't need this, But every time I'm given 582 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: the opportunity, I every time I'm I'm not given the opportunity, 583 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: I just always find myself saying yes, I always find 584 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 1: myself back here. You should also pay attention to when 585 00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 1: weed starts affecting you emotionally in a way that is 586 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: more about reducing negative emotions rather than increasing only positive ones. Basically, 587 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:46,960 Speaker 1: if getting high is no longer mainly about the pleasure 588 00:38:47,040 --> 00:38:51,920 Speaker 1: aspect and about elevating experiences and making experiences better, and 589 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:54,680 Speaker 1: it's more about not wanting to feel a certain thing, 590 00:38:55,040 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: not wanting to feel stressed, bored, awkward, or overwhelmed. That 591 00:38:58,719 --> 00:39:01,680 Speaker 1: is a different relationship with the substance. That is a 592 00:39:01,719 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: negative driven or a removal of negative feeling driven like relationship, 593 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:11,160 Speaker 1: where again we're experiencing negative reinforcement. We want to be 594 00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: experiencing positive reinforcement where we're like, oh, this is making 595 00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:17,839 Speaker 1: things better for me, rather than it's meaning that things 596 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:21,359 Speaker 1: aren't getting worse. At that point, weed is not just 597 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:24,080 Speaker 1: something you enjoy. It's something that you lean on, and 598 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:26,719 Speaker 1: it's something that you specifically rely on to regulate inner 599 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:30,799 Speaker 1: well being, whether you realize it or not. It is 600 00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 1: a relief oriented pattern of use. Another distinct warning sign 601 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: is when weed starts affecting how clearly you think and 602 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:42,920 Speaker 1: function on a daily or regular basis. If your memory 603 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,480 Speaker 1: feels worse, if your concentration is wavering, or it's getting 604 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: harder to stay motivated and follow through on not just 605 00:39:50,200 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: ordinary responsibilities but things you really want to do that 606 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:58,000 Speaker 1: is worth noticing a acting on b These effects can creep 607 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,000 Speaker 1: in gradually, of course, which is partly white people miss them. 608 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:05,000 Speaker 1: But over time, there will come a point where you 609 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:08,000 Speaker 1: will tip into this new mental state where you're like, 610 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,560 Speaker 1: I just am not the same person as I used 611 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:14,799 Speaker 1: to be, and I don't really like that. That is 612 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:17,759 Speaker 1: a clear sign that something needs to change and that 613 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:21,240 Speaker 1: you can change as well since you've noticed. And finally, 614 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:24,560 Speaker 1: a different kind of red flag, one that may not 615 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:27,360 Speaker 1: be as common, is when your body starts showing signs 616 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: of dependency. If you feel irritable, anxious, restless, unable to sleep, 617 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:36,120 Speaker 1: your appetite is messed around or revolves around weed. That 618 00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:39,759 Speaker 1: suggests that your system has adapted to regular use and 619 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:42,520 Speaker 1: you've developed a new kind of baseline, and that is 620 00:40:42,520 --> 00:40:46,480 Speaker 1: indicative of this kind of chemical dependency alongside of psychological 621 00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 1: dependency we've kind of been speaking about. It's really important 622 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:56,360 Speaker 1: at this stage that you cut down because physical dependency. 623 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 1: I know people talk about weed as a gateway drug. 624 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: Especially when you experience a physical dependency where you feel 625 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:07,239 Speaker 1: like you need to smoke so much, that is when 626 00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 1: you can start looking for other ways to get the 627 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:13,880 Speaker 1: same feeling. That is when you can start escalating usage 628 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 1: to the point where it is really really psychologically disruptive. 629 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:22,440 Speaker 1: Alongside physically disruptive. And look again, I'm not trying to 630 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:24,840 Speaker 1: villainize it at all. I would be a hypocrite if 631 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,919 Speaker 1: I did. But we also can't pretend it's harmless either. 632 00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:31,160 Speaker 1: I think this is why the conversation around weed is 633 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,400 Speaker 1: so difficult, is because there's either people who want to 634 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:37,920 Speaker 1: say it only harms people, or there's people who want 635 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:40,839 Speaker 1: to say there are absolutely no issues with it and 636 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:43,480 Speaker 1: people just need to chill out. No, it's somewhere in 637 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:47,560 Speaker 1: the middle, which is that individuals are going to react 638 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:51,680 Speaker 1: differently to this substance. People do go on to develop 639 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:56,360 Speaker 1: really severe mental health conditions in response to smoking weed. 640 00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:04,120 Speaker 1: Psychosis from weed or from cannabis, Schizophrenia from the consumption 641 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:09,080 Speaker 1: of cannabis is real. It's not just like something that 642 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:12,560 Speaker 1: is used to scare people. There are certain individuals who 643 00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:20,240 Speaker 1: have a personality, genetic, temperament vulnerability, psychological vulnerability that means 644 00:42:20,760 --> 00:42:27,600 Speaker 1: their schizophrenic psychotic symptoms remain untriggered until they smoke weed, 645 00:42:27,640 --> 00:42:30,759 Speaker 1: and that can genuinely that is life changing for them, 646 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:36,360 Speaker 1: and that is like, it's life changing. So be careful, 647 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:41,120 Speaker 1: be safe. Know if your family has a history of that, 648 00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 1: go slow, and just like take care of yourself. Like 649 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:48,000 Speaker 1: if again, I think it all comes down to this. 650 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:52,760 Speaker 1: If this experience is elevating life for you and making 651 00:42:53,200 --> 00:42:57,800 Speaker 1: if it's elevating already positive experiences, elevating time with your friends, 652 00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:01,440 Speaker 1: elevating your creative practice, elevating your mood on a beautiful 653 00:43:01,480 --> 00:43:06,160 Speaker 1: sunny day, go for it. But if you are honest 654 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,759 Speaker 1: with yourself and it's not doing those things, or if 655 00:43:08,800 --> 00:43:11,160 Speaker 1: you're just doing it to keep up with a partner, 656 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 1: with a friendship group, or you're just doing it to 657 00:43:13,760 --> 00:43:16,600 Speaker 1: avoid other stuff that's going on, that is not a 658 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:20,600 Speaker 1: healthy state of mind to be in at the very 659 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 1: minimum when consuming weed. And it's not a healthy place 660 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:27,440 Speaker 1: to be in terms of risk of dependency. So that's 661 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,120 Speaker 1: what I'm gonna That's what I'm gonna leave it at. 662 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:32,839 Speaker 1: I do think we can be quite a spiritual positive thing, 663 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,360 Speaker 1: quite psychologically rewarding. But when it isn't that for you, 664 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:39,400 Speaker 1: it requires closer examination. And I hope that this episode 665 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:42,320 Speaker 1: has allowed you to do that, or allowed you to 666 00:43:42,360 --> 00:43:45,319 Speaker 1: do that in regards to a relationship that you're in, 667 00:43:45,480 --> 00:43:48,000 Speaker 1: or in regards to a friendship or somebody that you 668 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 1: know who might also be struggling with whether weed is 669 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,239 Speaker 1: a good or bad choice for them or their relationship 670 00:43:54,239 --> 00:43:56,800 Speaker 1: to it. I'm going to leave a couple of links 671 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:00,400 Speaker 1: in the description for you guys to check out further 672 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:03,000 Speaker 1: if you like have concerns or worries, but also if 673 00:44:03,000 --> 00:44:05,759 Speaker 1: you just want to do some deeper research. I know 674 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:08,359 Speaker 1: we couldn't touch on everything today. Again, this is meant 675 00:44:08,360 --> 00:44:10,319 Speaker 1: to be a bonus episode. It's now like almost an 676 00:44:10,320 --> 00:44:14,080 Speaker 1: hour long, so I'm sorry, but if you want a 677 00:44:14,080 --> 00:44:16,399 Speaker 1: part two, let me know. If you've made it this far, 678 00:44:16,760 --> 00:44:19,000 Speaker 1: leave leave a little comment down below let me know 679 00:44:19,040 --> 00:44:21,640 Speaker 1: that you're still here. A reminder as well. You can 680 00:44:21,719 --> 00:44:24,680 Speaker 1: always watch episodes of the podcast on Netflix if you 681 00:44:24,719 --> 00:44:27,759 Speaker 1: prefer video content. You can follow us on Instagram at 682 00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:29,880 Speaker 1: that Psychology podcast. That's where I got a lot of 683 00:44:30,239 --> 00:44:33,160 Speaker 1: questions for today's episode from, and it's a great place 684 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,160 Speaker 1: to connect with me and other members of the podcast 685 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:40,160 Speaker 1: listener community. I don't know what else I need to 686 00:44:40,160 --> 00:44:42,600 Speaker 1: tell you, guys. Yeah, just hope you enjoyed the episode, 687 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:44,600 Speaker 1: and if there's something I didn't cover, feel free to 688 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:47,959 Speaker 1: mention it down below. But until next time, be safe, 689 00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:51,799 Speaker 1: be kind, be gentle to yourself. Definitely be safe and 690 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:53,759 Speaker 1: we will talk very very soon.