January 28, 2025 Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2829657?guestAccessKey=f8f351db-7527-4a41-a8f8-7726890cbbc9&utm_term=012825&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_medium=referral&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9WalvwIQ5fjRvk-YZSGQ-2hTXePZGkwhoMUe735rFDjgnMte_931ZmJukzLcc3JyDij7zoqM6V4BHOAImGH4nayjnI8Q&_hsmi=344625380&utm_content=tfl&utm_source=for_the_media How weed may affect brain function People who use a lot of cannabis over time may experience reduced brain activity in certain situations, according to a study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open. Between 2012 and 2015, researchers tested more than 1,000 people ages 22-36. About 63% of “heavy users” — meaning those who have used cannabis 1,000 times or more — in the study had lower amounts of brain activity during a task, such as solving a math problem, that tests one’s ability to remember other information. There were similar associations between recent cannabis use and poor performance on working memory tasks, but other functions like motor skills, reward processing, emotion, and language did not see the same effects. It’s the largest study yet focusing on cannabis and brain function, the study authors write. Still, even larger and long-term studies are needed to fully understand the effects that cannabis has on the brain.