Taking the High out of Marijuana

As marijuana use is becoming more accepted in the United States-both medically and recreationally-a recent study toyed with the idea of taking the "high" out of the drug through a study involving rats.

According to lead study author Dr. Pier Vincenzo Piazza of the French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), he recently discovered that the brain produced a hormone called "pregnenolone" that carries a natural defense mechanism feature that fights the harmful effects of marijuana use among animals.

"When the brain is stimulated by high doses of THC, it produces pregnenolone -- a 3,000 percent increase -- that inhibits the effects of THC," said Piazza, according to WebMD.

The rodents in the experiment were given higher levels of THC that made more pregneolone and prevented them from experiencing the drug high. Due to their findings, researchers believe this hormone, which is already sold over the counter as an anti-aging supplement, could potentially be used to treat those who are addicted to marijuana.

"The parts that are shut down are the ones that mediate many of the effects of cannabis that you may want to get rid of," Piazza added, according to Time. "One is memory loss, another is [reduced] motivation and the third is seeking for the drug."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Science.