Chronic cannabis use associated with subcortical topological reorganization of structural connectivity in adults.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence September 1, 2024 R P Bell, J R Cohen, S L Towe et al.
Regular cannabis use in adults is associated with alterations in white matter network organization, particularly in a right subcortical module. Using connectomics to map structural connectivity, the study compared 53 adults who used cannabis regularly with 60 non-users. No significant whole-brain differences emerged after correction for multiple comparisons. However, within specific modules, cannabis users showed higher within-module degree, local efficiency, and network strength in a right subcortical module. The authors suggest these differences may stem from endocannabinoid system involvement in white matter growth processes.