Other RCTs included participants who were occasional cannabis where users averaging 5 cannabis intake per month (Mason et al. 2019). Also, one RCT required participants to have at least one cannabis exposure, although it was undefined, (Bloomfield et al. 2021) while another RCT did not exclude participants with previous cannabis exposure (O’Neill et al. 2021). The study only included Canadian adults ages 45 and older who had no prior dementia diagnosis. It’s garnered a lot of respect in medical circles because of its size – more than 6 million people’s health data was included, making the results more reliable than past, smaller marijuana studies. Unfortunately, you may not be able to tell the difference between natural and synthetic marijuana.
Furthermore, those who smoked marijuana during adolescence and then stopped did not regain their IQ points. Individuals who started using marijuana in their adulthood, on the other hand, did not experience any IQ loss. The most recent threat of weed has come in the form of new legislation and laws in many cities and states worldwide, allowing and regulating the use of weed in the same way alcohol is allowed and regulated.
- Along with addiction, marijuana use can negatively affect your mental health and quality of life.
- In this case, the researchers compared changes in IQ between twins who used marijuana and their abstinent siblings.
- This review aimed to investigate the effect of cannabis on glutamate levels in the living human brain.
- A well-structured clinical trial, guided by the insights from this review, would be a valuable approach to exploring this potential.
- The authors found that current users of marijuana performed worse on tests of verbal memory and processing speed.
He is former director of multimedia at STAT, where he oversaw all visual, audio and interactive journalism. Before that, he spent more than eight years at the New York Times, where he worked on five different desks across the paper. He holds dual master’s degrees from Columbia University in journalism and in earth and environmental sciences. He has worked aboard oceanographic research vessels and tracked money and politics in science from Washington, D.C. He was a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018.
Individuals struggling with this type of dual diagnosis need specialized care to address the two conditions at the same time. This means that they can’t stop using it even though it’s causing social and health problems in their lives. About 3 in 10 people who use marijuana will experience marijuana use disorder. Furthermore, studies reveal that the risk of developing marijuana use disorder is higher in people who started using marijuana during their adolescence and who use it more frequently.
Get To The Point: Does Marijuana Cause Addiction?
More research needs to be done to understand how marijuana use affects intelligence over time. A 2013 reply to the New Zealand study suggests that personality factors may play a role in both marijuana use and cognitive decline. The researchers reported an association between ongoing marijuana use and cognitive decline. A well-known 2012 study from New Zealand evaluated marijuana use and cognitive ability in more than 1,000 individuals over a 38-year period. There are THC capsules (Bloomfield et al. 2021), intravenous (IV) (Colizzi et al. 2020) or vapor forms (Mason et al. 2019; Solowij et al. 2015). Other studies used CBD capsules (O’Neill et al. 2021), liquids (Davies et al. 2023; Pretzsch et al. 2019a, 2019b; van Boxel et al. 2023) or vapors (Solowij et al. 2015).
Does Weed Affect Memory?
It’s also possible for long-term effects on the brain to be caused by something besides marijuana such as genetics, home environment, or other unknown factors. If you’re looking for something more comprehensive that offers supportive care, both mentally and physically, reach out to Ocean Recovery. We’re happy to help you with every step of weed recovery, from stopping using to building a healthy lifestyle that works for you without weed. If you think you might be having side effects that we haven’t mentioned, it’s a good idea to try tracking your side effects. If you are required to drug test for work, keep in mind that hair tests can show THC in hair for up to 90 days.
CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Medicinal and recreational marijuana use is becoming more common in the United States, with more states legalizing the substance each year, raising concerns about the drug’s effects on the brain. Prolonged exposure to and abuse of substances such as heroin, meth, and alcohol can cause irreversible brain damage, especially when abuse begins in childhood. There are some pieces of evidence to suggest that marijuana abuse is similar. Recent research has begun to explore the potential impact of cannabis on neurogenesis, the process by which new brain cells are formed. Some studies have suggested that cannabinoids like CBD may promote neurogenesis in specific areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, which is involved in learning and memory. However, the relationship between cannabis and neurogenesis is still not fully understood, and more research is needed to determine the precise mechanisms by which cannabinoids may influence this process.
However, there is increasing literature pointing out that starting young and using frequently may disrupt brain development. Research on whether weed kills brain cells remains inconclusive and warrants further study. While tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in marijuana, has been shown to induce cell death in lab experiments, these findings have not been replicated in living animals or humans. However, more research is needed to fully understand the extent of how frequent cannabis use can affect the brain.
Some studies suggest that THC has potentially permanent neurotoxic effects that impair people’s verbal learning, memory, and focus. As legalization has developed across the country, there has been an increase in older adults using cannabis for various reasons. Many have questions regarding how cannabis may affect different ailments, including those related to dementia. The connection between weed and Alzheimer’s disease is complicated, especially since they both can affect part of the brain responsible for memory. Before using cannabis to treat Alzheimer’s it’s important to untangle this complex relationship. Whether you are considering or currently using medical marijuana, following these suggestions can help you achieve your best experience.
Researchers are still finding out more about the long-term impacts of marijuana use on the brain. Early research suggests that marijuana use (especially in kids and teens) can have lasting negative impacts on the brain, including lower problem-solving, cognitive functioning, speed, and memory. Heavy and frequent users of marijuana may be at higher risk for these neurological effects, especially when they begin using young and continue for many years. Current evidence does not support the idea that cannabis use directly kills brain cells. However, heavy use, particularly during adolescence, may lead to brain structure and function alterations that warrant further investigation. Like with many substances, there is a temporary effect on brain cells; some die during consumption, but it is neither a consequential nor a permanent die-off.
The gradual legalization of marijuana (cannabis) across the United States has increased its popularity for recreational and medicinal use. This has initiated research on the long-term effects of marijuana, particularly if it kills brain cells. The primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Long-Term Effects Of Marijuana
This is also the chemical that your brain will slowly develop a tolerance for over time with prolonged use of marijuana. Synthetic marijuana (spice/K2) comes from a man-made hallucinogenic substance that is normally sprayed onto plant materials to replicate and enhance the effects of organic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is not safe for human consumption but has become increasingly popular in recent years. The toxic components of synthetic marijuana, or “fake weed”, can cause increased heart rate, vomiting, bleeding, and produces powerful mind-altering effects. In fact, many indications show quite the opposite and potentially highlight the neuroprotective function of some of the cannabinoids. Overall, the side effects of weed can be more harmful than helpful to the individual.
THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, how many brain cells does weed kill is a highly potent chemical that has an immediate effect. Once in the body, THC binds to and slows communication between cannabinoid receptors, which are primarily found in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and hippocampus. These brain regions, which control unconscious muscle movements, coordination, and memory, are also the ones that suffer the most long-term effects. As recreational marijuana use becomes legalized throughout the US, many people now wonder how marijuana affects the brain and whether or not it kills brain cells. Just as years of heavy alcohol, meth, and heroin use can cause some irreversible brain damage, prolonged marijuana abuse can affect the ability of brain cells to convey messages (also known as brain activity). Using marijuana can cause damage to brain cells that results in a number of concurrent symptoms throughout the body.
- The gradual legalization of marijuana (cannabis) across the United States has increased its popularity for recreational and medicinal use.
- However, it is essential to emphasize that the relationship between cannabis and brain development is complex and not yet fully understood.
- Furthermore, those who smoked marijuana during adolescence and then stopped did not regain their IQ points.
- Individuals struggling with this type of dual diagnosis need specialized care to address the two conditions at the same time.
- Especially for newbies, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it is best.20 Don’t use more until you know how the dose affects you.
Data availability
However, some studies suggest that chronic marijuana use, particularly in adolescents, may affect brain development and lead to changes in brain structure. This article will shed light on how chronic marijuana use affects brain development among adolescent cannabis users and its impact on cognitive function. The thing that makes substances of use, like illegal drugs, misused medications or alcohol so unique is that they change or alter the usual mechanics of the brain. They do this because they are made up of special chemicals that change the way the current chemical cycles in the brain work.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is marijuana’s primary psychoactive ingredient, and it attaches to the brain’s cannabinoid receptors (officially known as Cannabinoid receptor type 1 or CB1). These receptors connect to nerves in the brain which govern memory, appetite, pain regulation, and mood. Sometimes referred to as the “gateway drug,” marijuana use can increase the risk of drug abuse, not just on cannabis, but also on other drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) emphasizes the importance of monitoring for signs of dependency to prevent the escalation of cannabis use disorder and other substance use disorders.
Marijuana may also cause damage to white matter, which impacts communication between areas of the brain. It can cause a loss of interest in social and recreational activities you used to enjoy. Losing interest in setting and achieving goals could be a sign of marijuana addiction. While much has been learned, many aspects of cannabis and its relationship with brain health remain enigmatic. The increasing legalization and decriminalization of the plant worldwide will hopefully pave the way for more comprehensive and unbiased studies in the future. Edmund has an extensive background in addiction research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered.
The belief that marijuana kills brain cells has its roots in a series of studies conducted in the 1970s, which suggested that cannabis use led to brain damage. However, many of these studies have since been debunked due to methodological flaws or misinterpretation of the data. More recent research has shown that the relationship between cannabis and brain cells is far more complex than initially believed.