Different Effects of Cannabis Abuse on Adolescent and Adult Brain.
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Drug abuse Endocannabinoids |
| Key findings | Argues that THC's partial agonism at CB1 and CB2 receptors, and its reported reduction of neuronal growth factor and disruption of synapse-related signaling, may make the adolescent brain more vulnerable than the adult brain. Reports that structural changes, including grey matter loss in certain brain areas, have been observed in adolescent cannabis users, and that studies indicate early THC abuse can result in neuropsychological deficits. |
Abstract
Cannabis abuse is a common phenomenon among adolescents. The dominant psychoactive substance in Cannabis sativa is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, in the past 40 years the content of the psychoactive ingredient THC in most of the preparations is not constant but has increased due to other breeding and culturing conditions. THC acts as the endocannabinoids at CB1 and CB2 receptors but pharmacologically can be described as a partial (not a pure) agonist. Recent evidence shows that activation of the CB1 receptor by THC can diminish the production of neuronal growth factor in neurons and affect other signalling cascades involved in synapsis formation. Since these factors play an important role in the brain development and in the neuronal conversion processes during puberty, it seems reasonable that THC can affect the adolescent brain in another manner than the adult brain. Accordingly, in adolescent cannabis users structural changes were observed with loss of grey matter in certain brain areas. Moreover, recent studies show different effects of THC on adolescent and adult brains and on behaviour. These studies indicate that early THC abuse can result in neuropsychological deficits. This review gives an overview over the present knowledge in this field.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Adverse outcomes following psychedelic use in adolescents and adults: associations with age and personality traits. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health February 24, 2026
- Pediatric Brain on Cannabinoids: Adverse Effects of Cannabinoid Products in Children and Adolescents IntechOpen eBooks August 3, 2022
- Young Adult Cannabis Use and Circulating Endocannabinoid Concentrations on Cognitive Performance. Frontiers in adolescent medicine 2025
- Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Exposure to THC-Rich/CBD-Poor and CBD-Rich/THC-Poor Combinations: A Comparison with Pure THC Treatment in Female Rats International Journal of Molecular Sciences August 18, 2021
Cites 12
- The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study The Lancet Psychiatry May 1, 2019
- Psychopathological symptoms associated with synthetic cannabinoid use: a comparison with natural cannabis. Psychopharmacology April 9, 2019
- Adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alters the transcriptional trajectory and dendritic architecture of prefrontal pyramidal neurons. Molecular Psychiatry April 2019
- Adolescent THC exposure in female rats leads to cognitive deficits through a mechanism involving chromatin modifications in the prefrontal cortex. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience March 2018
- Long-term hippocampal glutamate synapse and astrocyte dysfunctions underlying the altered phenotype induced by adolescent THC treatment in male rats. Pharmacological Research September 2016
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