Brain health from mariguana

Marijuana use directly affects brain function, particularly the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, attention, decision-making, coordination, emotions, and reaction time.1,2

Effects of marijuana

What are the short-term effects of marijuana on the brain?
Recent marijuana use (defined as within the last 24 hours) in youth and adults has an immediate impact on thinking, attention, memory, coordination, movement, and time perception.1

What are the long-term effects of marijuana on the brain?

Marijuana affects brain development. When the brain is still developing, as in infants, children, and adolescents, it is particularly defenseless against the harmful effects of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).1,2 Although scientists are still learning about the effects marijuana has on the brain during development, studies suggest that marijuana use during pregnancy by mothers may be linked to problems with attention, memory, problem solving, and behavior in their children.3-9

Marijuana use before age 18 may

affect how the brain makes connections for functions such as attention, memory, and learning.10 The effects of marijuana on attention, memory, and learning may be long-lasting or even permanent,11 but more research is needed to fully understand these effects. Youth who use marijuana may have poorer school performance and difficulty remembering things.1,6,12,13 The impact of marijuana use on the brain depends on many factors, including the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana (in other words, its concentration or potency)
how often it is used,the age at which it is used, and whether other substances (e.g., tobacco and liquor) were used at the same time. The causes of long-term brain effects could also be due to other factors unrelated to marijuana, such as genetics, family environment, or other unknown factors.14 The National Institute on Drug Abuse is conducting a large-scale, long-term study (the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study-outer symbol, or ABCD study) to better understand the role of marijuana and other substances in adolescent brain development.