individuals are thinking about how marijuana affects the brain, especially in young individuals, after a new study in JAMA Network Open. Scientists are working quickly to learn more about how marijuana affects the brain over time because more people are using it now that the rules are changing. It is becoming more socially acceptable, and people think it is mostly safe. Dr. Joshua Gowin, a neurologist, was in charge of this new investigation. It demonstrates that marijuana might not be as safe as a lot of people think, especially when it comes to how it influences the brain.
The study looked at more than 1,000 adults between the ages of 22 and 36 who had a problem with using cannabis. Researchers employed contemporary brain imaging technology to see how the brains of people who use marijuana operated when they were doing certain tasks, especially ones that needed working memory. Working memory is a critical cognitive function that helps us maintain and change information for brief periods of time. You need working memory to do math, make plans, solve issues, and understand language.
People who had smoked cannabis lately or for a long time had brains that were less active when they did things that needed working memory. The brain’s activity slowing down suggests that cannabis may make it harder for the brain to interpret information as it happens. Dr. Gowin says that this finding is very important: “As more and more people around the world use cannabis, it is becoming more and more important to study how it affects people’s health.” Giving people knowledge about the good and bad things that can happen can help them make smart choices about using cannabis.
The scientists didn’t just look at working memory; they also looked at how cannabis changes the way different brain networks speak to each other. In the default mode network, you can daydream and think about yourself. The executive function network helps you plan and reach your goals. The emotional regulation network is in charge of protecting memories. Researchers discovered that these crucial parts of the brain were unable to talk to one other. This could make it tougher to think properly, keep your emotions in check, and make choices.
To make sure the science was right and to lower the likelihood of getting false positives, the researchers applied strict statistical approaches like false discovery rate (FDR) correction. The researchers used seven different methods to find out how people think. Some of them looked like they may be hurt, but only the working memory task affected brain activity in a way that was statistically significant.
Many people who use cannabis believe that CBD (cannabidiol), the part of cannabis that doesn’t get you high, can cancel out or lessen the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the part of cannabis that does get you high. This study shows something else. But the results indicated that CBD doesn’t always make THC’s unfavorable effects on thinking less unpleasant. Sometimes, it might even make matters worse. This shocking conclusion raises more difficulties and highlights how vital it is to study more about how cannabis operates in varied ways.
The study shows that using cannabis, especially for teens and young adults who have trouble with it, can make the brain perform less well. On the other hand, specialists suggest that additional research is needed. There are still some big questions that need to be answered: Does marijuana impact how the brain works directly, or do things in your life or the environment trigger these changes? How long do these effects stay once you stop using cannabis? Can the problems go away if you stop using?
Dr. Gowin and his team think that long-term, longitudinal research will be very helpful in finding solutions to these issues. The lesson for now is to be vigilant. A lot of people smoke marijuana for fun or for their health, and more places are making it legal. It’s important to understand that marijuana can change your brain, especially if you take it a lot or while you’re young.
This study’s purpose is not to terrify people. It wants people to be fair and recognize that marijuana, like any other drug, can be beneficial for you or bad for you. Knowing the facts may help consumers and health officials make safer, better choices about how to use it.
