Hi everyone! Crystal, your friendly molecular neuroscientist, here for DNews.

Whenever we read the news, we see new information about the positive benefits of marijuana and

more reasons why cocaine is really, really, bad for you. Recent studies report cocaine

use leading to everything from tissue damage in your eye, to an impaired ability to see

the unfavorable consequences of your actions. Why is that? Is it just a case of one being

more “organic”? No. No its not.

Cocaine and marijuana come from plants so I guess they can both be considered “natural

products”. But they activate completely different systems in our brains. Cocaine is

so popular because it is really great at activating our brain’s “pleasure center”. When

our neurons are sent swimming in dopamine it make us feel really, really good. For the

half hour or hour that the drug is active in our system, we feel happy, alert, euphoric,

and invincible. Which is great! except when it causes us to act irrationally, make self

destructive choices, and the source of that high becomes dangerously addictive.

Cocaine use is dangerous not just because the drug is highly addictive, but because,

like methamphetamine, it is a powerful stimulant that has an effect on our bodies as well as

our brains. Cocaine use can lead to an inability to regulate body temperature and at the right

doses, it interferes with cardiac function leading to high-blood pressure, arrhythmia,

and death.

Cocaine has been used in a medical context as well. It is used sparingly as a numbing

agent in nose and mouth surgeries, but that usage can hardly be considered therapeutic

and its potency and addictive qualities, not to mention its schedule II status as a controlled

substance, make it undesirable as an anaesthetic.

On the other hand, a wealth of research has been performed revealing the positive health

benefits of marijuana. But perhaps the most interesting characteristic of this controversial

plant are its anti-breast cancer properties. There’s been a lot of discussion over “compassionate

use” of marijuana due to reports that it helps patients undergoing chemo battle pain

and nausea, and increases their appetite. But quietly published studies are beginning

to reveal that compounds found in cannabis may directly inhibit the growth of some breast

cancer cells which is an exciting result for medicine.

Despite its legalization in many states, marijuana is still listed as a highly controlled substance

by the US government , a classification that makes research on this drug challenging to

perform in the US.

Given the current academic literature, I’d say marijuana wins by a mile in terms of health

benefits when compared to cocaine, but please remember the use of the term “healthy”

is relative! and not only is the composition of the drug important, how its used, and the

environment it’s used in, is important too. Lastly, neither I nor DNews condones the illegal

use of drugs so be smart out there and stay healthy.

What do you think? Could there be health benefits to cocaine? Subscribe to DNews and let us

know in the comments below. You can also find more on drugs and the brain by following me

on twitter @PolycrystalhD