Do you remember Cheech and Chong, the iconic stoner duo who were famous for spending their days in a haze of marijuana, unable to do much besides getting high?
While this stereotype may have become outdated with the increasing legalization of marijuana, the harmful effects of weed on cognitive function have not been forgotten by science.
A review of research published in the journal Addiction in January 2022 found that cannabis use can impair several areas of cognition, including concentration, memory, and learning, which can have a significant impact on daily life.
The negative impact of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, on the brain’s higher levels of thinking can be particularly detrimental to cognitive development in youth whose brains are still developing.
Regular and heavy use of cannabis may lead to reduced educational attainment, poor work performance, and dangerous driving. It is not yet clear if the deficits caused by cannabis use can be recovered or reversed, and high-quality research is needed to establish the long-term impact of THC exposure.
Preventive and interventional measures to educate youths on cannabis use and discourage them from using the substance in a chronic manner should be considered since youths remain particularly susceptible to the effects of cannabis.
