¨Why Pot Smokers Are Paranoid¨

¨Why Pot Smokers Are Paranoid¨ was an article written about an experiment given to rats to test the effects that marijuana has on paranoia, a common side effect amongst the drug users. Paranoia is a developed irrational fear that may not be felt without the use of drugs. The experiment entailed to groups of rats that were trained to fear the scent of peppermint or almond. The scents were accompanied by a design that was placed in the cage with either black polka dots or white striped walls. What the research determined after examining the CB1 receptor activity within the brains of the rats was that these receptors are in fact activated by certain ingredients found in marijuana. Scientists blocked the CB1 receptors in some of the rats and gave a shock to them associated with the smell. The rats did not learn to fear the smell nor pattern even after being shocked. However the rats given marijuana intensely feared the shock and later the smell associated with the shock, whereas the control group of rats that were not given drugs nor were their receptors blocked reacted with a normal level of fear to the shock and smell. In conclusion Marijuana does cause an effect of paranoia because of the activity in the basolateral amygdale which helps the brain to learn paranoia.