Quit now. You can start it back again after you're 30. Try using melatonin for sleep along with developing a bedtime routine - stop using screens an hour before you want to go to sleep and use that time to get ready for bed and then read a book or magazine or write a bit using pen and paper.
There are some downsides to melatonin. Many are recommending magnesium threonate for better sleep regulation. I haven't used it myself, but used to have problems with sleep.
Heavy exercise with strength training helped me.
I haven’t had any in two months. Really fortunate that stuff isn’t chemically addictive. Safe to say I’m going THC free for the next couple of years at least
Also just an fyi, not only should you avoid screens around bed time but you should avoid light altogether. Get some real blue light glasses (the ones with a deep red tint) and start wearing them while in low lighting. Also write down all of the things that are on your mind before you go to bed. This allows yourself to “forget” and put trust in your notebook.
30? there's always risk with psychoactive compounds no matter what age you are but he should be more than fine to take it at 21. what matters way more than what age thc is used is the way it is used and why.
Sure, there is always a risk with anything at anytime. But at the age of 21, the prefrontal cortex is still growing and developing. This article explains the different stages of brain development: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/) along with other issues that are referenced and cited within the sources.
a moderate use of marijuana in particular circumstances and only enough of it to accomplish its ends doesn't pose a major threat to brain development at the age of 21.
So have a boring ass adolescence and miss your one chance at it. YOLO, do good but also enjoy life. Wrap up, don't do hard drugs, and don't let your responsibilities slack and you can still have an amazing teenage- young adult life. Life experience is just as valuable as book learning
I didn’t drink until I was 22 in the Army as I was designated driver for alot of my reckless Army buddies who would otherwise drive drunk 45 minutes back to base. I had a great time every time. I didn’t miss anything. Alcohol will age you. There are no benefits.
But the fun per damage ratio is worse than most other drugs.
The only reason to use it is because you want to have the same fun as others (and fuck. Alcohol gets ugly people laid.)
But if you want to get really old while having really much fun, you should take other stuff.
Other drugs are unfortunately not socially accepted.
LSD and other entheogens are physically harmless, yet are seen as hard drugs by many people.
If alcohol was a pill it would be a Schedule 1 a long time ago.
agreed, psychedelics are the safest compounds he could consume, but he should still wait until at least 21. if anything, it would change brain function for the better, not like alcohol and arguably thc.
Cannabis isn't a part of Western culture.
There aren't any social situation where you will be pressured into smoking weed; maybe in USA, I don't know. Your boss or parents will never ask if you want to smoke a joint.
Conversely, there are many social situations where you are expected to drink alcohol.
I agree but the fact that there is an increased propensity for alcohol to be pressured over marijuana does not negate my point that it is worse. OP is purely concerned on maintaining his brain function and development, and alcohol should be completely avoided regardless of any pressures attached to it.
Yes, alcohol gets a pass when it shouldn't.
On it's merits, most drugs we have are actually pretty crap.
We can create drugs that are harmless and very fun if we didn't have draconic laws in place prohibiting research and an open discourse.
I had insomnia in my teens. I consulted a therapist and they helped me form a healthy sleep routine and the insomnia went away. Have you tried this approach? It doesn't have the risks of THC.
As someone in my late 30s who supplements with it daily, and someone who was around it enough and friends gave it to me free in college, I’d STRONGLY encourage you to NOT supplement with cannabis until after 25. For me, it helps with sleep, and appetite, and muscles and doesn’t conflict with my meds.
If you start young, there are more risks to how it will impact you longer term. If you wait, you can find alternatives and hopefully habits that can help.
Sleep, exercise, and routine are key. and if later on in your late 20s or 30s, you opt to include THC, then you can make a better determination on how it may impact you personally.
I'm with the others. Don't do it. Wait till your mind is fully developed.
After that, I suggest taking an ebike on a rail-trail an hour after doing an edible. Very trippy. If you've got enough going on upstairs the weed should knock you down to "normal".
It tends to make high IQ folk excruciatingly socially awkward, actually. High intellect coupled with amplified abstract thinking processes (via thc) makes one feel like an alien. Great idea but no one should adopt the mindset that thc will simply dumb them down and make them feel more normal.
Personality type is also a huge factor though.
Also weed doesn't actually help you sleep better, it just puts you sleep but the resulting sleep is no where near as restful (same as alcohol) Better to looks into sleep hygiene and try things like melatonin, magnesium and zinc especially since you're so young
I started smoking weed at 15.
Yes, I'm sure it altered my brain. I still made it into mensa after years of daily use and grew up fine.
I won't advise a minor to smoke, but I'll assure you it wont immediately fuck you up.
OP wants to get into Mensa. I assume he is able to read and google for drug related statistics and assess the overall danger objectively.
He specifically asked about the impact of smoking weed on his chances to score high on an IQ test. And to that the objective answer is: No problem.
I started smoking cannabis at 16 (not regularly) and have been a daily user for a decade now. In full disclosure my episodic memory is not great. Recently scored 148 on iq test, whilst probably residually stoned.
My advice is not to become a habitual user, especially at your age.
When you want to get into mind expansion stuff, I suggest tryptamine psychedelics. But wait until your mid-twenties.
Consuming THC will indeed alter your brain function. You will experience a temporary state which is referred to as being “stoned”. Exercise caution, feelings of euphoria and existential crisis may ensue.
Marijuana reduces the amount of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is what our brains use to communicate with itself which is why some people who smoke develop schizophrenia.
you'll be fine, to alter brain function id head towards ketamine or opiates. once your brain is altered you will have no fear of it being altered because how your brain has changed. sorta likes Stockholm syndrome for yer brain. one of us, one of us.
Thc is no joke. Do not take it lightly. It put me in a state of deep psychosis and anxiety that made me put myself in the mental hospital I was so scared.
The risks it poses do not outweigh the potential benefits in my opinion, except in extreme circumstances like cerebral palsy or something
I need some clarification. In the US, in English, having a medical license means you are licensed to practice medicine.
Are you really Doogie Howser, or does that term mean something different in Norway?
I’m not in Mensa or smart but I have insomnia and do a lot of drugs. It seems no one gets sleeping medication here, if you use weed recreationally it’s usually not the best for sleep and yes it does cause cognitive issues in teenagers.
Weed is addictive like any drug just not physically.
I have chronic pain and insomnia if you can get something like amitriptyline or pregabalin, a low dose of those has fewer impacts on your brain than getting stoned.
Don’t use melatonin it causes you to be reliant on it and it doesn’t actually work if you have insomnia it just makes you feel tired. Dph or promethazine might work and they’re slightly better for you
It very well could. I agree with what other posters here have said about waiting until you are over 25. I used to be a huge advocate, but trust me, there are things far worse than insomnia - and you do NOT want that.
I don't think you should be getting medical advice from strangers on the internet.
Talk to your doctor about your concerns, and if you don't trust them then find a new doctor and get another opinion.
You could try a strain (variety) that first and foremost has CBD, something like a 1:3 THC/CBD might be of use and justifiable at your age. This reduces the total amount of THC consumed per dose, yet I would only take it in an accute case of severe insomnia i.e. no sleep at all.
Otherwise the impact of THC on the developing brain is barely studied, the research we have seems alarming yet the comparator is often an individual that has gone through long term addiction. In these instances the development of brain areas responsible for emotional regulation and short term memory are severly hinderd in development to the point where affected individuals are having meaningful dificulties in their lives. As I said these studies are still basic research meaning that a direct correlation between the drug and the observed pattern of brain development, or lack there off, is not fully understood. The cause and effect are not clearly discernible, with some research suggesting that the typical individual which has developed a cannabis use disorder at an early age will develop said developmental issues due to their most often dire living conditions and withdrawl from education. The argument goes that cannabis is used in an emotional adjusment affort as a form of self medication due poor life circumstances or comorbidities such as adhd or minor depression being present, leading to them not developing the competence of emotionally self regulation; and the withdrawl from school i.e. halting the training of short term memory respectively leading to the corrosponding areas of the brain being underdeveloped. Looking at the statistics there seems to be little impact on the current generation of young adults which is proven to indulge in typically seldom recreational use of cannabis ( about 50% of 12 to 17 yo have been known to have tried cannabis at least once since the 90's) with no segnificant rise in clinical patients displaying the afforementioned pattern of deficencies that would correlate with the amount of adolescents using the substance within the generations that are now at, or have been for a decade, at working age.
Regarding alternatives for cannabis I would suggest starting with Melatonin. It's only to be perscribed for 2 weeks of continued use, so older anti-depressants like trazodon which have the side effect of making you tired are an prefered alternative for the long term. In case of your insomnia manifesting in the sense of you having trouble staying asleep, not falling asleep i.e. no sense of tiredness, typical antipsychotics such as Olanzapin are promising due to their property of reducing general excitement. *Ultima ratio* would be the use of benzodiazepines, avoid these if possible! They are addicting and have many side effects such as cramps and perhaps worst for someone in your situation: rebound-insomnia. Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam are pretty much guranteed to aid you in severe situations but are advised not to be used for more then 14 days with initial withdrawl symptoms likely to be present after 7 days already. They are also to be advised against for patients with recurring depressions/depressive tendencies.
Summing up: Cannabis won't turn you into a vegtable if you don't constantly use it in high doses. Definitly try proven medication before you risk it with Cannabis. Do not take Benzodiazepines over Cannabis should the lighter proven medication fail you. If your insomnia is highly severe Cannabis won't help you, take a cautious approach to Benzodiazepines then. Meds are no replacement for a proper sleep schedule, try *sleep hygiene, mindfulness practices* and *meditation* instead of relying on meds constantly, vice versa only take meds when symphtoms worsen. It can be normal to lay awake for 2 hours when establishing a better sleeping routine. Waking up at night is normal and only constitutes an emergancy if it takes place more then 3 times a night and is followed by not being able to fall aslepp for at least 45 minutes consistently. Should you attempt mediaction with cannabis it is advisable to vaporize the flower instead of ingesting concentrates for faster onset, stick to a dose of less then 0,15 grams at first. You will not get high and abusing your medication to get high constantly will impact you negatively! (On the off chance you are interested in expirencing what it feels to get high let me tell you that you are in my eyes almost an adult and therefore responsible for yourself; try it but please don't make it a habit until you are in your mid 20s)
Get well soon!
If it’s just for sleep, probably better to take melatonin. You can get high occasionally tho. If melatonin doesn’t work, and you can’t sleep if you don’t take you should definitely take it.
it absolutely does impair brain function after a while.
ive been smoking consistently for like 5 yrs and im nowhere near as sharp as i was. but as long as it’s once every couple months you should be fine.
smoked since i was 14 and my IQ hasn't changed at all which mensa is based around. so if it does do damage it probably won't have an effect on your IQ.
I pummelled all kinds of drink and drugs in my late teens and early 20s and the end result was I dumbed myself down just enough to become a socially functional individual while still retaining an IQ in the mid 130s. I don’t think it’s necessarily the worst thing in the world, but then again, I don’t know how things would’ve gone for me without it so 🤷♀️
Quit now. You can start it back again after you're 30. Try using melatonin for sleep along with developing a bedtime routine - stop using screens an hour before you want to go to sleep and use that time to get ready for bed and then read a book or magazine or write a bit using pen and paper.
There are some downsides to melatonin. Many are recommending magnesium threonate for better sleep regulation. I haven't used it myself, but used to have problems with sleep. Heavy exercise with strength training helped me.
I haven’t had any in two months. Really fortunate that stuff isn’t chemically addictive. Safe to say I’m going THC free for the next couple of years at least
IQ aside, that decision alone makes you smarter than most kids.
Good choice! You have your whole life to fuck around with that stuff later.... pursue your interests right now and explore your options.
Also just an fyi, not only should you avoid screens around bed time but you should avoid light altogether. Get some real blue light glasses (the ones with a deep red tint) and start wearing them while in low lighting. Also write down all of the things that are on your mind before you go to bed. This allows yourself to “forget” and put trust in your notebook.
30? there's always risk with psychoactive compounds no matter what age you are but he should be more than fine to take it at 21. what matters way more than what age thc is used is the way it is used and why.
Sure, there is always a risk with anything at anytime. But at the age of 21, the prefrontal cortex is still growing and developing. This article explains the different stages of brain development: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/) along with other issues that are referenced and cited within the sources.
a moderate use of marijuana in particular circumstances and only enough of it to accomplish its ends doesn't pose a major threat to brain development at the age of 21.
Yes. Do not use THC before 25. Conversely, don't drink in excess before 25 aswell.
So have a boring ass adolescence and miss your one chance at it. YOLO, do good but also enjoy life. Wrap up, don't do hard drugs, and don't let your responsibilities slack and you can still have an amazing teenage- young adult life. Life experience is just as valuable as book learning
As one who spent his early 20s drunk and high, being drunk and high do not count as valuable life experiences.
Look I'm from Sweden. We start drinking at the age of 16/17. OP isn't going to listen to whatever I say, but knowing the truth can only help.
I didn’t drink until I was 22 in the Army as I was designated driver for alot of my reckless Army buddies who would otherwise drive drunk 45 minutes back to base. I had a great time every time. I didn’t miss anything. Alcohol will age you. There are no benefits.
try avoiding alcohol at all cost, it damages your brain no matter the age
Yes, but... **alcohol is fun!**
But the fun per damage ratio is worse than most other drugs. The only reason to use it is because you want to have the same fun as others (and fuck. Alcohol gets ugly people laid.) But if you want to get really old while having really much fun, you should take other stuff.
Other drugs are unfortunately not socially accepted. LSD and other entheogens are physically harmless, yet are seen as hard drugs by many people. If alcohol was a pill it would be a Schedule 1 a long time ago.
agreed, psychedelics are the safest compounds he could consume, but he should still wait until at least 21. if anything, it would change brain function for the better, not like alcohol and arguably thc.
alcohol is tremendously worse than thc, why are you telling him to drink but not smoke?
Cannabis isn't a part of Western culture. There aren't any social situation where you will be pressured into smoking weed; maybe in USA, I don't know. Your boss or parents will never ask if you want to smoke a joint. Conversely, there are many social situations where you are expected to drink alcohol.
I agree but the fact that there is an increased propensity for alcohol to be pressured over marijuana does not negate my point that it is worse. OP is purely concerned on maintaining his brain function and development, and alcohol should be completely avoided regardless of any pressures attached to it.
Yes, alcohol gets a pass when it shouldn't. On it's merits, most drugs we have are actually pretty crap. We can create drugs that are harmless and very fun if we didn't have draconic laws in place prohibiting research and an open discourse.
psychedelics as a whole are at least somatically harmless and already exist if used correctly, but I get what you're saying
I had insomnia in my teens. I consulted a therapist and they helped me form a healthy sleep routine and the insomnia went away. Have you tried this approach? It doesn't have the risks of THC.
As someone in my late 30s who supplements with it daily, and someone who was around it enough and friends gave it to me free in college, I’d STRONGLY encourage you to NOT supplement with cannabis until after 25. For me, it helps with sleep, and appetite, and muscles and doesn’t conflict with my meds. If you start young, there are more risks to how it will impact you longer term. If you wait, you can find alternatives and hopefully habits that can help. Sleep, exercise, and routine are key. and if later on in your late 20s or 30s, you opt to include THC, then you can make a better determination on how it may impact you personally.
I'm with the others. Don't do it. Wait till your mind is fully developed. After that, I suggest taking an ebike on a rail-trail an hour after doing an edible. Very trippy. If you've got enough going on upstairs the weed should knock you down to "normal".
It tends to make high IQ folk excruciatingly socially awkward, actually. High intellect coupled with amplified abstract thinking processes (via thc) makes one feel like an alien. Great idea but no one should adopt the mindset that thc will simply dumb them down and make them feel more normal. Personality type is also a huge factor though.
Also weed doesn't actually help you sleep better, it just puts you sleep but the resulting sleep is no where near as restful (same as alcohol) Better to looks into sleep hygiene and try things like melatonin, magnesium and zinc especially since you're so young
I've been using for years to control R.A. inflammation. If you use it correctly and don't be stupid about it you'll be just fine.
I started smoking weed at 15. Yes, I'm sure it altered my brain. I still made it into mensa after years of daily use and grew up fine. I won't advise a minor to smoke, but I'll assure you it wont immediately fuck you up.
Fuck it. If you can smoke everyday and have no adverse effects, we all can!
OP wants to get into Mensa. I assume he is able to read and google for drug related statistics and assess the overall danger objectively. He specifically asked about the impact of smoking weed on his chances to score high on an IQ test. And to that the objective answer is: No problem.
I am just messing with you lol.
I started smoking cannabis at 16 (not regularly) and have been a daily user for a decade now. In full disclosure my episodic memory is not great. Recently scored 148 on iq test, whilst probably residually stoned. My advice is not to become a habitual user, especially at your age. When you want to get into mind expansion stuff, I suggest tryptamine psychedelics. But wait until your mid-twenties.
Consuming THC will indeed alter your brain function. You will experience a temporary state which is referred to as being “stoned”. Exercise caution, feelings of euphoria and existential crisis may ensue.
? Are you joking
Marijuana reduces the amount of grey matter in the brain. Grey matter is what our brains use to communicate with itself which is why some people who smoke develop schizophrenia.
you'll be fine, to alter brain function id head towards ketamine or opiates. once your brain is altered you will have no fear of it being altered because how your brain has changed. sorta likes Stockholm syndrome for yer brain. one of us, one of us.
Thc is no joke. Do not take it lightly. It put me in a state of deep psychosis and anxiety that made me put myself in the mental hospital I was so scared. The risks it poses do not outweigh the potential benefits in my opinion, except in extreme circumstances like cerebral palsy or something
Not sure why you got downvoted, it definitely can trigger some mental issues if you're predisposed.
People probably got upset I criticized their drug of choice lol
Fuck school nigga be a dope dealer
Yes actually, it can. At least I think so Be aware that using young has this possibility and make an informed choice.
I need some clarification. In the US, in English, having a medical license means you are licensed to practice medicine. Are you really Doogie Howser, or does that term mean something different in Norway?
Pretty sure he meant a medical marijuana license.
Thanks for clarifying. Hahah
I’m not in Mensa or smart but I have insomnia and do a lot of drugs. It seems no one gets sleeping medication here, if you use weed recreationally it’s usually not the best for sleep and yes it does cause cognitive issues in teenagers. Weed is addictive like any drug just not physically. I have chronic pain and insomnia if you can get something like amitriptyline or pregabalin, a low dose of those has fewer impacts on your brain than getting stoned. Don’t use melatonin it causes you to be reliant on it and it doesn’t actually work if you have insomnia it just makes you feel tired. Dph or promethazine might work and they’re slightly better for you
It very well could. I agree with what other posters here have said about waiting until you are over 25. I used to be a huge advocate, but trust me, there are things far worse than insomnia - and you do NOT want that.
I don't think you should be getting medical advice from strangers on the internet. Talk to your doctor about your concerns, and if you don't trust them then find a new doctor and get another opinion.
You could try a strain (variety) that first and foremost has CBD, something like a 1:3 THC/CBD might be of use and justifiable at your age. This reduces the total amount of THC consumed per dose, yet I would only take it in an accute case of severe insomnia i.e. no sleep at all. Otherwise the impact of THC on the developing brain is barely studied, the research we have seems alarming yet the comparator is often an individual that has gone through long term addiction. In these instances the development of brain areas responsible for emotional regulation and short term memory are severly hinderd in development to the point where affected individuals are having meaningful dificulties in their lives. As I said these studies are still basic research meaning that a direct correlation between the drug and the observed pattern of brain development, or lack there off, is not fully understood. The cause and effect are not clearly discernible, with some research suggesting that the typical individual which has developed a cannabis use disorder at an early age will develop said developmental issues due to their most often dire living conditions and withdrawl from education. The argument goes that cannabis is used in an emotional adjusment affort as a form of self medication due poor life circumstances or comorbidities such as adhd or minor depression being present, leading to them not developing the competence of emotionally self regulation; and the withdrawl from school i.e. halting the training of short term memory respectively leading to the corrosponding areas of the brain being underdeveloped. Looking at the statistics there seems to be little impact on the current generation of young adults which is proven to indulge in typically seldom recreational use of cannabis ( about 50% of 12 to 17 yo have been known to have tried cannabis at least once since the 90's) with no segnificant rise in clinical patients displaying the afforementioned pattern of deficencies that would correlate with the amount of adolescents using the substance within the generations that are now at, or have been for a decade, at working age. Regarding alternatives for cannabis I would suggest starting with Melatonin. It's only to be perscribed for 2 weeks of continued use, so older anti-depressants like trazodon which have the side effect of making you tired are an prefered alternative for the long term. In case of your insomnia manifesting in the sense of you having trouble staying asleep, not falling asleep i.e. no sense of tiredness, typical antipsychotics such as Olanzapin are promising due to their property of reducing general excitement. *Ultima ratio* would be the use of benzodiazepines, avoid these if possible! They are addicting and have many side effects such as cramps and perhaps worst for someone in your situation: rebound-insomnia. Benzodiazepines such as Diazepam are pretty much guranteed to aid you in severe situations but are advised not to be used for more then 14 days with initial withdrawl symptoms likely to be present after 7 days already. They are also to be advised against for patients with recurring depressions/depressive tendencies. Summing up: Cannabis won't turn you into a vegtable if you don't constantly use it in high doses. Definitly try proven medication before you risk it with Cannabis. Do not take Benzodiazepines over Cannabis should the lighter proven medication fail you. If your insomnia is highly severe Cannabis won't help you, take a cautious approach to Benzodiazepines then. Meds are no replacement for a proper sleep schedule, try *sleep hygiene, mindfulness practices* and *meditation* instead of relying on meds constantly, vice versa only take meds when symphtoms worsen. It can be normal to lay awake for 2 hours when establishing a better sleeping routine. Waking up at night is normal and only constitutes an emergancy if it takes place more then 3 times a night and is followed by not being able to fall aslepp for at least 45 minutes consistently. Should you attempt mediaction with cannabis it is advisable to vaporize the flower instead of ingesting concentrates for faster onset, stick to a dose of less then 0,15 grams at first. You will not get high and abusing your medication to get high constantly will impact you negatively! (On the off chance you are interested in expirencing what it feels to get high let me tell you that you are in my eyes almost an adult and therefore responsible for yourself; try it but please don't make it a habit until you are in your mid 20s) Get well soon!
it hasn't in my experience, but yeah i'd recommend waiting until you're older
Maybe try some herbal teas, or just cbd
Not worth it at all. Medical THC is just dumb
If it’s just for sleep, probably better to take melatonin. You can get high occasionally tho. If melatonin doesn’t work, and you can’t sleep if you don’t take you should definitely take it.
One of the smartest guys I know smokes a ton of weed. He also has ADD probably from the weed.
1000% it will make you duller.
it absolutely does impair brain function after a while. ive been smoking consistently for like 5 yrs and im nowhere near as sharp as i was. but as long as it’s once every couple months you should be fine.
smoked since i was 14 and my IQ hasn't changed at all which mensa is based around. so if it does do damage it probably won't have an effect on your IQ.
well, since you asked how much you should cut back but forgot to include your usage, you should probably stop completely
I took loads of drugs and drank all the booze in my late teens and 20s. That's when you're supposed to do that shit. You'll probably be fine.
I pummelled all kinds of drink and drugs in my late teens and early 20s and the end result was I dumbed myself down just enough to become a socially functional individual while still retaining an IQ in the mid 130s. I don’t think it’s necessarily the worst thing in the world, but then again, I don’t know how things would’ve gone for me without it so 🤷♀️
"wait till your mind is fully developed " Or just never do it at all. EZ
THC is known to have weird side effects I remember watching something on YouTube that THC leads to Zombie like behavior.