In a September issue of the East Tennessean, Zach Quinones wrote an article entitled, “Texas University researches effects of binge drinking and smoking cigarettes.” The story examined the correlation between drinking and the urge to smoke cigarettes. You know, the universal, “I only smoke when I drink” syndrome. I read an article shortly after titled, “Pot May Protect Brain from Booze.” This examined drinking and smoking marijuana and how it affects the brain. Shocked by the results, the Marijuana Project issued a press release immediately describing the study.

Done at University of California San Diego in August, researchers wanted to examine the effects of reefer on drinkers and non-drinkers brains.

The subjects were males and females, ages 16 to 19, late high school and early college age, basically the years where limits are tested.

The case studies were divided into three categories according to their partying habits: binge drinkers, binge drinkers who smoke pot and then non-drinkers or smokers.

Much to the researchers’ surprise, those students who go green had less brain damage than those who don’t.

Binge drinkers had damage in the white matter of their brains, but the drinkers and pot smokers showed damage in only three of the eight areas, and seven areas were in better shape than the pure drinkers.

“I have observed each side of this, and from an outsider looking in, the people who smoke tend to make better decisions then those who drink,” said human services major Cala Musick.

“I figure if you’re going to do one or the other you might as well do the one that allows you to make better decisions.”

What does this mean for young college students of America?

According to these researchers, if you want to protect those brain cells, maybe chasing your beverage with a joint instead of a cigarette will keep from creating any permanent damage.

“As a person who does not partake in either of these, it seems to me if you’re going to be a binge drinker, you might as well go ahead and smoke pot, too,” said exercise science major Landon Sharp.

This study was published by the online journal Neuro-toxicology and Teratology, and collegecandy.com wittingly reviewed the results of the experiment.

“I think more in-depth studies should be done to measure the effects of marijuana before any real conclusion can be made, but I do believe it’s a step in the right direction for diminishing some of the negative myths about marijuana,” said psychology major Casey Metts.

With research continuing to be done over time, I believe more talk about legalization and regulation will start to become prominent in the legislation arena and on the minds of the American people.

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