The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: the current state of evidence and recommendations for research.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

14 The National Institute on Drug Abuse is conducting a large long-term study (the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study external icon, or ABCD study) to better understand the role marijuana and other substances play in adolescent brain development. Long-term impacts on the brain may also be caused by something other than marijuana, such as genetics, the home environment, or other unknown factors.

Whether other substances (for example, tobacco and alcohol) are used at the same time.

Amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana (in other words, the concentration or strength),.

The impact of marijuana use on the brain depends on many factors, including:

Youth who use marijuana may not do as well in school and may have trouble remembering things. 10 Marijuana’s effects on attention, memory, and learning may last a long time or even be permanent, 11 but more research is needed to fully understand these effects. Using marijuana before age 18 may affect how the brain builds connections for functions like attention, memory, and learning. 1,2 Although scientists are still learning about the effects of marijuana on developing brains, studies suggest that marijuana use by mothers during pregnancy could be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem-solving skills, and behavior in their children. Developing brains, such as those in babies, children, and teenagers, are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

1 What are the long-term effects of marijuana on the brain? Recent marijuana use (defined as within 24 hours) in youth and adults has an immediate impact on thinking, attention, memory, coordination, movement, and time perception. 1,2 What are the short-term effects of marijuana on the brain? Marijuana use directly affects brain function - specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time.

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