Evidence for the Risks and Consequences of Adolescent Cannabis Exposure.
Amir Levine, Kelly Clemenza, Moira A Rynn, Jeffrey A. Lieberman
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry March 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2016.12.014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Adolescent cannabis use Affect Cross-sensitization Executive function Psychosis |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that a strong association exists between early, frequent, heavy adolescent cannabis exposure and poor cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in adulthood, but that definite conclusions cannot yet be made about whether cannabis use alone harms the human adolescent brain. Animal evidence indicates adolescent-onset cannabinoid exposure can trigger molecular processes leading to persistent adult deficits not seen with adult-onset exposure. |
Abstract
This review of the scientific literature examines the potential adult sequelae of exposure to cannabis and related synthetic cannabinoids in adolescence. We examine the four neuropsychiatric outcomes that are likely most vulnerable to alteration by early cannabinoid use, as identified within both the clinical and preclinical research: cognition, emotional functioning, risk for psychosis, and addiction. A literature search was conducted through PubMed, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar with no publication date restrictions. The search terms used were "adolescent" and "adult," and either "cannabis," "marijuana," "delta-9-tetra-hydrocannabinol," or "cannabinoid," which was then crossed with one or more of the following terms: "deficit," "impairment," "alteration," "long-term," "persistent," "development," "maturation," and "pubescent." The majority of the clinical and preclinical data point to a strong correlation between adolescent cannabinoid exposure and persistent, adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes in adulthood. Although the literature supports the hypothesis that adolescent cannabis use is connected to impaired cognition and mental health in adults, it does not conclusively demonstrate that cannabis consumption alone is sufficient to cause these deficits in humans. The animal literature, however, clearly indicates that adolescent-onset exposure to cannabinoids can catalyze molecular processes that lead to persistent functional deficits in adulthood, deficits that are not found to follow adult-onset exposure and that model some of the adverse outcomes reported in humans among adult populations of early-onset cannabis users. Based on the data in the current literature, a strong association is found between early, frequent, and heavy adolescent cannabis exposure and poor cognitive and psychiatric outcomes in adulthood, yet definite conclusions cannot yet be made as to whether cannabis use alone has a negative impact on the human adolescent brain. Future research will require animal models and longitudinal studies to be carefully designed with a focus on integrating assessments of molecular, structural, and behavioral outcomes in order to elucidate the full range of potential adverse and long-term consequences of cannabinoid exposure in adolescence.
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 24
- Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology March 12, 2020
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Adolescent cannabinoid exposure induces irritability-like behavior and cocaine cross-sensitization without affecting the escalation of cocaine self-administration in adulthood Scientific Reports September 11, 2018
- Motion and form perception in healthy individuals with adolescent cannabis use Frontiers in Psychiatry August 17, 2026
- Long-term effects of adolescent THC exposure on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive function in male rats Psychopharmacology April 23, 2026
and 19 more in the library
Cites 17
- Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning The British Journal of Psychiatry May 31, 2011
- Cannabis-induced psychosis and subsequent schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: follow-up study of 535 incident cases The British Journal of Psychiatry November 30, 2005
- Susceptibility of the adolescent brain to cannabinoids: long-term hippocampal effects and relevance to schizophrenia Translational Psychiatry November 27, 2012
- Sex-Dependent Psychoneuroendocrine Effects of THC and MDMA in an Animal Model of Adolescent Drug Consumption PLoS One November 4, 2013
- Novel Drugs of Abuse: A Snapshot of an Evolving Marketplace. Adolescent Psychiatry April 1, 2013
and 12 more in the library