Why does our memory fail us?

Can Cannabis help filter us to filter painful memories and fear?

One of the greatest scare tactics involving Cannabis use is loss of memory…so how do we explain this 30 second short term memory loss in certain people because not everyone experiences this lapse of memory when using Cannabis. Numerous scientific studies on this subject have revealed that it is now accepted by physicians and psychiatrists that the short term memory loss is most definitely only short lived and will pass within a few minutes in most people. Just as there are no deaths ever recorded from Cannabis there is also no proof of anyone ever permanently losing their memory from using Cannabis. 

The truth is that Cannabis actually does help us to forget certain memories because if you think of millions of thoughts rushing through our brains then surely there must some kind of a filter system and ii believe that Cannabis helps us to recycle unwanted thoughts and memories especially the bad stuff we don’t even want to remember for example all the negative images we have to endure on social media platforms or on the late night news.

When THC interacts with our GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus region of our brains it acts as an inhibitor of the Cannabinoid receptors on these brain cells which affect our memory. This Cannabis induced inhibition of the GABAergic brain cells can in certain people lead to changes in memory concerning painful emotions and memories which doctors refer to as aversive memories and fear. In plain truth this means that bad memories are specifically targeted by Cannabis to be shifted into our brains recycle bin. 

You can take a look at studies by Jimok Kim and Bradley Alger in the journal Nature Neuroscience where these professors confirm that the GABAergic synapses do express Cannabinoid receptors. This mechanism of changes occurring because of Cannabis induced inhibition and subsequent reduction in Endocannabinoid levels is precisely what allows selective modifications of aversive memories in the hippocampal networks of the brain which controls our memory centre.

There is another memory study by a group of scientists and ii reference (Marsiacano et al. Nature 2002) where they have looked into the Cannabinoid receptors expressed in the basolateral amygdala complex which is a region of the brain which scientists know to control the elimination of these aversive memories.

“We propose that endocannabinoids facilitate extinction of aversive memories through their selective inhibitory effects on local inhibitory networks in the amygdala.” ~ Giovanni Marsiacano

The other interesting thing about Cannabis is exactly what one can actually remember specifically in terms of detail. When ii was studying traditional healing with the isi-Xhosa nation in rural Transkei South Africa ii came upon a very apt expression which best describes this now well-footed medical idea.  “Ukhumbula yonke into okomntu wentsango” Which directly translated in English says: “He remembers every little detail like a Cannabis smoker”. In my opinion this is why people who use Cannabis tend to be more creative and productive and ii believe that this is because Cannabis assists us to retrieve and retain positive memories in graphic detail even long after the original idea was conceived while sieving out all the negative fear based memories.

One of the most common side effects of pharmaceutical drugs is memory loss.

Certain pharmaceutical drugs are known to cause memory loss as well as other intellectual and perception problems. In fact, most of these drugs start with ‘anti’ for example antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics, antipsychotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-epileptics, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics even sleeping tablets and other sedative-hypnotics available. The problem is that all these other drugs affect our Acetycholine levels and this is what leads to symptoms resembling dementia like confusion, blurred vision, hallucinations, delirium and indeed memory loss. Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter concerned with memory and learning function. There is a natural decline of Acetylcholine production which is normal with old age and this is why seniors are more at risk of memory loss. And this is only exasperated by the chronic damage caused by years of unknowingly consuming dangerous drugs prescribed by our doctors to whom we look to for medical guidance and protection when we become ill in the first place.

Over the years ii have found that patients who use a daily dose of Cannabis oil seem to be far more medically protected from the harmful side effects of pharmaceutical drugs especially in respect of liver damage. Patients being treated with chemotherapy and radiation also greatly benefit from the neuroprotective healing properties of Cannabis which help to combat cellular destruction caused by so many of these treatments.

There is a really awful drug called scopolamine which is used to treat conditions like Parkinson’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. It is also known as ‘devils breath’ and is regarded as one of the most dangerous drugs in the world. It inhibits free will and blocks memory and can even lead to death. This mind control drug is the feature of many movies where you can witness crowds of people literally being turned into zombies and succumbing to instructions to do things they would not normally do. There are even stories of people becoming psychotic after using scopolamine transdermal patches for motion sickness. 

It is not only prescription drugs which cause memory loss a lot of over the counter medicines will do the same because they block this important neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine which is primarily concerned with our memory. Some names you can relate to are Advil (pain and insomnia), Benadryl – Diphenhydramine generic (for allergies), Nytol (insomnia), Sominex (insomnia), Tylenol (pain and insomnia) and even good old Zantac which we use for acid reflux.

There are many reports of fairly large research studies proving that seniors who use certain over the counter medicines like Benadryl are at a far greater risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s with memory loss being noticeable within 60 days. So you can only imagine how after a life time of consuming these drugs how their side effects slowly eat away at our memory and sometimes it is simply too late and the damage is too great and this is why we need to teach young people the truth about Cannabis and longevity from a young age. We must not wait until we are old and sick before we start to realise the importance of the benefits of inviting the human companion plant into our lives.