Alcohol vs Cannabis

This weeks blog will be about Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a common disease among Alcoholics.

Here's a true little story to set the tone:

Picture it:  France, Mid July of 2009.  A family of 5 travel by mode of the ever swift, infamous onion-smelling Metro around the city. On one of the stops a man stumbled inside the train, the stench of drink trailed after him. He looked about the cart, eyeing some dude sitting down muttering under his breath. When the family caught his attention--assuming one of them was looking mighty fine--he reached into his pockets for his wallet, and showed them his money, and said, "I ...will pay-uh for sex...." The aunt giggles nervously...what are the chances this drunk buffoon is on the same train they were? Their silent rejection bruised his ego. "Bah! F**king Americans!" 

That's enough of that...so, anywho, it is not to my knowledge that this man was indeed an Alcoholic, however, I also do not have the knowledge to say he was not. This man was clearly drunk out of his mind, and the worst part is, he probably doesn't even remember what happened. My family and I are not so lucky...yes, twas I on that train. 

Many people think that being an Alcoholic means you’ve killed your brain cells. Specifically, they’re called neurons and that is a very big mistake. Alcoholism damages the tips (or ends) of your neurons. These are called dendrites. The (irreversible) damage of these sensitive beings causes memory loss or problems, confusion, paralysis of the eyes...etc. Though it isn’t the alcohol itself that causes damage to the dendrites; it is more often dehydration, and malnutrition.  

Here is some credit for the information they've gifted to me.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/10-brain-myths9.htm

                               Try picking up women looking like this: 

So, that being said....Here is a video on Marijuana use and its effect on memory on the elderly.

Imagine that? A restoration of memory in the elderly.....

This blog is not intended to promote the use of Marijuana, let's get this clear. I don't want the PO-PO somehow knocking at my door or anything...it is, however, a comparison of the effects between a socially accepted behavior (drinking) and an illegal behavior (smoking pot). 

Alcoholism also leads to the following: Cancer, Anemia, Cardiovascular Disease, Dementia, Depression, gout, seizures, high blood pressure, nerve damage..and many, many more.

The only bad effect I can see with the use of Marijuana is for the Psychiatrists' and the pharmaceutical companies who deal with patients with emotional/anxiety problems...they might not have jobs if there was a switch from prescribed meds to Marijuana. 

My first question to you is: Do you know anyone whose suffered from Alcoholism? If so, what details do you remember....specifically those to do with memory? The second is: are you for or against the use of medicinal Marijuana?