How marijuana really affects the brain

MRI experiments show an obvious difference
in part of the cortex in people who toke up regularly. 

Although there’s a lot of buzz about marijuana being nonaddictive, the evidence is stacking up that people can — and do — become dependent on the drug. A study released earlier this year, for example, found that 40 percent of marijuana users in an outpatient treatment program showed signs of withdrawal, a classic indicator of addiction. Now, new research in the journal PNAS sheds light on how lighting up changes the brain — and potentially primes people for withdrawal.

It’s long been known that exposure to THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in pot, can lead to changes in the brain. Problem is, different studies have shown different structural alterations, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly how the stuff affects people mentally. That’s why a group of researchers decided to use three different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to examine the brains of 48 chronic marijuana users and 62 nonusers, while also assessing IQ and negative life consequences of pot smoking.

Cook a turkey in half the time, plus roasting tips

A simple method with a complicated name saves time
and results in more even and better browning.

This year, we are all about the art of spatchcocking (yes, spatchcocking) our Thanksgiving turkey. Don’t let the complicated name deter you from this refreshingly simple method: All you really have to do is butterfly it, or remove the backbone, and lay it flat, skin-side up, in a roasting pan. Why should you spatchcock? There’s more surface area, which means more even and better browning—and it also cooks up fast. Really fast. (A 12-pounder is roasted to perfection in 90 minutes flat.) That said, if you’d rather not spatchcock your bird this Thanksgiving (there’s always next year!), we hear you. But if you’re going to go for the whole bird, you’re going to want to do it right. Here’s a primer on how to make the most of your roast.