Wanted: Pot Smokers for a University Study

Now that is one statement I never thought I'd see in terms of a Wanted ad attached to a university. But to be honest, when it comes to the University of Iowa and it's liberal bent, it shouldn't have come as a surprise when the University of Iowa announced recently that they were looking for pot smokers to participate in the third year of a four year study regarding how marijuana affects the brain, as well as verbal, cognitive and math skills.

Promising payment (if the right handed participant between the ages of 18-44 passes the initial screening of course) of $600, one cannot help but be curious as to what benefit this study will garner for the scientists spearheaded by lead investigator Robert Block other than a cut from the approximately 2 million dollars this study has cost the National Institute of Health. I can't help but ponder, that since Block is an associate professor in the school of anesthesia, if there is more to this study than the public has been informed. Could this study be also focusing on pain control and sedation as well as the above mentioned areas of study? Since anesthesia's definition is basically " to induce a state of total unconsciousness", one cannot help but be curious as to the amounts of marijuana consumed which will be included in the study.

A concern voiced by some locals recently, is simply that by launching this study, the University of Iowa is in part giving the "thumbs up" to the use of marijuana. In the past week alone, a 28 year old mother was arrested and charged with "child endangerment and numerous drug charges" after a well child check revealed her 4 week old child tested positive for THC. Do you suppose the University will take advantage of this opportunity to study an individual from the ripe age of 4 weeks through adulthood to see how the effects of marijuana have effected this child's cognitive development? Somehow I suspect that won't be the case and this child will suffer developmental problems down the line when most likely it will be discovered that not only was this infant exposed to the drug for the first 4 weeks of her life, but in vetro as well.

Though the $600 payment may sound tempting to some, it also raises the question of whether those participating in this study will be exempt from prosecution by the law when the participants admit to use of the illegal drug. And well it should. For when push comes to shove, the drug is illegal and the University is looking for present users of the drug for it's study. While well and good that they are seeking answers as to the effects of marijuana on users, one can't help but think that there are plenty of other studies that might be of better benefit to the populace than yet another study on the effects of drugs.

After all, Americans have been immersed in the drug culture since the 60's and studies have appeared time and time again ad nauseum. One such study focusing on males from 15-17 was announced in April of 2007 at the University of Iowa as well. Is there anything new to be discovered from this current study? One will have to wait and see. It certainly will prove interesting to watch how they handle the stickier issues involved with this illegal drug as well as see if any new information is forthcoming. Most of all it will prove interesting to see how many, as well as what caliber of participants the University will garner from this study and the press that has gone along with it.

Local residents question as to whether this study is a "BYOB" (bring your own bud) or will the University furnish the drug as has been rumored? And if the University of Iowa is providing the drug where are they obtaining said drug and are they actually breaking the law by "distribution of a controlled substance"? These and many other questions are on the lips of locals, but little information is forthcoming from the University at this time. Interesting at the very least and perhaps illuminating at their best. Only time will tell as to what this study actually will reveal and whether the somewhat high cost was worth the price after all.