Neuropsychiatric Effects of Marijuana

Abstract

Background: Cannabis (Marijuana) is one of the most widely used illicit drugs around the world. In the United States, it is the most commonly-used illicit drug. While there have been increasing numbers of arguments about legalizing marijuana primarily for its medicinal and recreational use, there remain concerns about its impact on the brain: neuropsychiatric problems, in particular, from its chronic use. Purpose & Method:To highlight recent knowledge, understanding and research of marijuana, its potency, mechanism of action, effects on psychomotor and cognitive performance and other neuropsychiatric function are explored; paying particular attention to the long term effects of Marijuana usage. Marijuana interacts with endogenous cannabinoid (CB) systems in the body. Actions on specific brain receptors are reflected in CB dose-related impairments of psychomotor performance. Further effects relating to psychosis, memory problems, and depression, are also experienced; primarily as a result of cortex degeneration. Conclusion:Marijuana significantly impacts the brain, specifically, the brain's structure, function and connectivity. Although marijuana use is linked to many neurological and psychiatric effects from long term use, it is often perceived in society as harmless

Interaction of sex and cannabis in adult in vivo brain imaging studies: A systematic review

“…Among the other cannibinoids, cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabidiolic acid are thought to counteract some of these psychoactive effects ( Bhattacharyya et al, 2010 ; Iseger and Bossong, 2015 ; Niesink and van Laar, 2013 ). The legalisation of medicinal and recreational cannabis has increased in various jurisdictions worldwide with usage rates reported to be on the rise ( Government of Canada, 2020 ; Wadieh et al, 2017 ). While usage rates may be increasing from 1982 to present, it appears to date that the mean age of first use (age 14 years) has not changed ( Červený et al, 2017 ; Chen et al, 2017 ; Fleming et al, 1982 ; Statistics Canada, 2016 ).…”