Scientists Found a Compound That Keeps Marijuana From Getting You High
Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the dopamine-boosting compound in marijuana that, technically speaking, "induces euphoria" — science jargon for "gets you high." It also happens to work on the brain region involved in psychological addiction. Now, a team of researchers has identified a substance that blocks THC's dopamine effect. Why is that important? Let's have a grown-up discussion about weed.
We've already written about the mechanics behind how marijuana makes you feel. But you may be surprised to find out that in the United States, over a million people sought treatment for marijuana dependence in 2009 (Figure 7.8), nearly as many as did for cocaine and heroin combined. While the Marijuana Policy Project points out that 57% of those receiving treatment in the U.S. did so in lieu of serving a prison sentence, people still seek anti-dependence treatment in countries like the Netherlands where marijuana use has been decriminalized.
Like most drugs with addictive potential, THC works by increasing dopamine levels in the "reward centers" of the brain (the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens). A team led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug abuse found that the drug Ro 61-8048 blocks THC's ability to stimulate dopamine production in the brain's reward centers. Without dopamine, there's no neurological reward to the drug, and no drive to continue using it.
The researchers taught squirrel monkeys to self-administer THC by pushing a lever. Once the monkeys exhibited signs of addiction (in this case, frequent lever pushing), Ro 61-8048 reduced the reward effect of continual THC doses, leading the monkeys to stop seeking additional doses. The same behavior was seen in rats that were taught to dose themselves with WIN 55,212-2, a synthetic THC substitute.
Oops forgot the link: http://gizmodo.com/scientists-found-a-compound-that-keeps-marijuana-from-g-1445168058
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Hell I smoked the evil weed for 40 plus years, many of them day in and day out and about 6 months ago I quit. Decided I didn't want to smoke it anymore, gave what I had to a friend and threw the pipe in the trash. Oh I thought about it a few times afterwards but not to the point I just had to go find some to smoke.
People who discover shit like this article have nothing better to do with their time is my guess. 
For shits and grins I just put it on my desktop 
I do not think THC leads to death in any way, nor do I think it's honest to equate the two. Alcohol is far more deadly. As far as I know, THC isn't deadly at all.
That said, the art is still gorgeous, and, mercifully, the Grateful Dead neutralized the death imagery with some of their art. I don't equate skulls and death as a result.
-Laelth
