Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain and Behavior.
Conor H. Murray, Joshua Cassarino, Ziva D. Cooper
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research April 2026 DOI: 10.1177/25785125251372061 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Age Brain Cognition Lifetime Mood |
| Key findings | The authors argue that susceptibility to cannabis-related harm differs by life stage, with in utero and adolescent exposure raising concern for altered brain development and later neuropsychiatric disorders. They report that escalating use and low risk perception may be reversing among pregnant women and adolescents and have shifted toward late adulthood, and they call for clinical and policy action to reduce harm. |
Abstract
The effect of cannabis use on health is likely to depend on individual differences. In particular, there is a growing need to understand the impact of cannabis and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on brain and behavioral health across the lifespan. We conducted a narrative review summarizing the effects of cannabis and THC across three stages of life: in utero, adolescence, and late adulthood. We also provide an up-to-date report on past 30-day cannabis use and risk perceptions from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; 2002-2023) during pregnancy, adolescence, and late adulthood. We note that NSDUH data collected during 2020 and since 2021 are not directly comparable to earlier years due to shifts in data collection methods. Recent epidemiological data indicate a potential reversal of both the escalating rates of cannabis use and low perceptions of risk among pregnant women and adolescents. Findings across preclinical and clinical studies support high perceptions of risk for individuals in utero and adolescence, when alterations in brain development indicate potential for susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. The escalating rates of cannabis use and associated low perceptions of risk have shifted to the late adulthood population, which may face unique health risks associated with cannabis use. Our findings emphasize the necessity for clinical and policy recommendations to mitigate the risks associated with cannabis use and to enhance public understanding of its implications on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Continued research and educational strategies are essential to address these evolving trends and reduce harm.
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
Cites 25
- Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 2003
- Cannabis Use during Adolescent Development: Susceptibility to Psychiatric Illness Frontiers in Psychiatry 2013
- Age-related differences in the impact of cannabis use on the brain and cognition: a systematic review European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience January 24, 2019
- Are adolescents more vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis than adults? A placebo-controlled study in human males Translational Psychiatry November 29, 2016
- Susceptibility of the adolescent brain to cannabinoids: long-term hippocampal effects and relevance to schizophrenia Translational Psychiatry November 27, 2012
and 20 more in the library