Not much has been said or written about the long-term effects of marijuana on the brain. Information pertaining to the potential damage caused to the brain by prolonged chronic cannabis use is also vague and inconsistent. Some attribute the lack of information to the subtle nature of these effects that cannot be detected reliably by current techniques.
On the other end, the potential side effects caused to the brain function by chronic marijuana use are still unclear. Even though imaging studies show certain alterations, they can be hardly related to cognitive functioning. The uncertainty in this case stems from factors like withdrawal symptoms, residual drug effects and even other drug use.
Whatever be the case though, it is purported that chronic cannabis use can lead to several detrimental health effects in the body and mind. Some of the more common side effects are given below.
Mood Changes
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is a mind altering agent that is found in the Cannabis plant. True to its name, THC causes several mood changes once it enters the mind. At first, the individual would start to feel euphoric. This is achieved by stimulating the increased production and release of the chemical dopamine. Once euphoria sets in, relaxation follows. Some of the other effects reported by chronic cannabis users include laughter, increased appetite and heightened sensory perception. Once the euphoria dies down though, the individual may start feeling depressed, sleepy and anxious. Effects like panic, distrust and fear are not uncommon either.
Memory Loss
Chronic cannabis affects an individual’s ability to create new memories as well as shift focus. THC also binds to the receptors located in the ganglia and cerebellum, thus affecting reaction time, posture, balance and mind-body coordination significantly. These would make it hard for the individual to learn or do complicated tasks, including even driving a car.
Acute Psychosis
Studies indicate that individuals who take large doses of marijuana continuously tend to experience symptoms of acute psychosis, including delusions, loss of sense and hallucinations. In certain cases, high concentrations of cannabis can lead to mild-severe schizophrenia in marijuana users.
Reduced Grey Matter in Brain
Scientists examining the brain scans of individuals who smoke marijuana and cannabis on a regular basis, reveal that chronic marijuana users tend to have reduced average volumes of grey matter in the brain, mostly in the orbitofrontal cortex. This is the part that is responsible for tasks like decision making and mental processing.
The study indicates that chronic cannabis users have more white matter in their brains as well. The so called white matter pertains to the connections forged between cells that dictate how the brain learns, understands and functions in different scenarios.
The study indicates that the increased volume of white matter in the brain would lead to extra connections being forged in the brain in order to compensate for the missing grey matter. These connections would not stand the test of time and would eventually break down after about six years. This would in time, lead to the structural connectivity of the brain degrading beyond repair. And this would in most cases, lead to conditions like personality disorder or psychopathy.
Alarming facts about marijuana use
Along with the effects of smoking cannabis on the brain, the study also pointed out some alarming facts about marijuana use. Accordingly, one in every six teenagers who smoke regularly get addicted to it. Chronic cannabis users do not perform well in school owing to the impairment in intellectual development caused by marijuana use.
It has also been noted that adults who smoke cannabis usually tend to make the transition to harder drugs. Pregnant women who smoke marijuana face the risk of causing several health related ailments to their newborns, including low birth weight.
Summary
Studies have indicated that smoking marijuana/cannabis regularly can affect the body and mind significantly. With most of these effects targeting the brain, it is imperative that individuals stop using marijuana or cannabis or at least control their use.