THC and CBD: Villain versus Hero? Insights into Adolescent Exposure.
Nicholas Pintori, Francesca Caria, Maria Antonietta De Luca, Cristina Miliano
International Journal of Molecular Sciences March 9, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065251 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Keywords | Adolescence |
| Key findings | The review argues that while THC's harmful effects in adults and adolescents are well documented, little is known about the long-term effects of CBD exposure, particularly during adolescence, despite growing youth consumption of CBD products considered safe. |
Abstract
Cannabis is the most used drug of abuse worldwide. It is well established that the most abundant phytocannabinoids in this plant are Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These two compounds have remarkably similar chemical structures yet vastly different effects in the brain. By binding to the same receptors, THC is psychoactive, while CBD has anxiolytic and antipsychotic properties. Lately, a variety of hemp-based products, including CBD and THC, have become widely available in the food and health industry, and medical and recreational use of cannabis has been legalized in many states/countries. As a result, people, including youths, are consuming CBD because it is considered "safe". An extensive literature exists evaluating the harmful effects of THC in both adults and adolescents, but little is known about the long-term effects of CBD exposure, especially in adolescence. The aim of this review is to collect preclinical and clinical evidence about the effects of cannabidiol.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on CBD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine prevents cortical neuropathological phenotypes caused by adolescent Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure in male rats. Translational Psychiatry October 6, 2025
- Prolonged incubation with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol but not with cannabidiol induces synaptic alterations and mitochondrial impairment in immature and mature rat organotypic hippocampal slices. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie February 1, 2025
- Does co-administration of cannabidiol (CBD) influence the plasma availability of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its active metabolite in humans? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 20, 2026
- Acute behavioural effects of low-dose cannabidiol: A randomised crossover trial in healthy volunteers. Journal of Psychopharmacology July 15, 2026
- Persistent behavioural consequences of chronic adolescent cannabidiol (CBD) in a mouse model with increased susceptibility to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and schizophrenia. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry March 1, 2025
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and 42 more in the library