Title:Effects of Cannabis on the Adolescent Brain
Volume: 20
Issue: 13
Author(s): Joanna Jacobus and Susan F. Tapert
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Adolescence, neuroimaging, cannabis, marijuana, alcohol, brain, cognition.
Abstract: This article reviews neuroimaging, neurocognitive, and preclinical findings on the effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain.
Marijuana is the second most widely used intoxicant in adolescence, and teens who engage in heavy marijuana use often show disadvantages
in neurocognitive performance, macrostructural and microstructural brain development, and alterations in brain functioning. It remains
unclear whether such disadvantages reflect pre-existing differences that lead to increased substances use and further changes in
brain architecture and behavioral outcomes. Future work should focus on prospective investigations to help disentangle dose-dependent
effects from pre-existing effects, and to better understand the interactive relationships with other commonly abused substances (e.g., alcohol)
to better understand the role of regular cannabis use on neurodevelopmental trajectories.
