Cannabis in Adolescence: Lasting Cognitive Alterations and Underlying Mechanisms.
Andrew F Scheyer, Steven R Laviolette, Anne-Laure Pelissier, Olivier J. J. Manzoni
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research February 2023 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0183 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Adolescence Cognition |
| Key findings | Argues that adolescent cannabis use can produce long-term cognitive and psychiatric consequences, particularly with early initiation, high-potency or synthetic cannabis, and heavy or frequent use, and that preclinical studies indicate cannabinoid exposure during vulnerable developmental windows durably changes dendritic structure and synaptic function, often via epigenetic changes. |
Abstract
Cannabis consumption during adolescence is an area of particular concern, owing to changes in the social and political perception of the drug, and presents a scientific, medical, and economic challenge. Major social and economic interests continue to push toward cannabis legalization as well as pharmaceutical development. As a result, shifting perceptions of both legal and illicit cannabis use across the population have changed the collective evaluation of the potential dangers of the product. The wave of cannabis legalization therefore comes with new responsibility to educate the public on potential risks and known dangers associated with both recreational and medical cannabis. Among these is the risk of long-term cognitive and psychological consequences, particularly following early-life initiation of use, compounded by high-potency and/or synthetic cannabis, and heavy/frequent use of the drug. Underlying these cognitive and psychiatric consequences are lasting aberrations in the development of synaptic function, often secondary to epigenetic changes. Additional factors such as genetic risk and environmental influences or nondrug toxic insults during development are also profound contributors to these long-term functional alterations following adolescent cannabis use. Preclinical studies indicate that exposure to cannabinoids during specific windows of vulnerability (e.g., adolescence) impacts neurodevelopmental processes and behavior by durably changing dendritic structure and synaptic functions, including those normally mediated by endogenous cannabinoids and neuronal circuits.
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 7
- Adolescent THC impacts on mPFC dopamine-mediated cognitive processes in male and female rats. Psychopharmacology February 1, 2025
- Regulation of neural connectivity and oscillations by cannabinoids: A review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 7, 2026
- Prior cannabis vapor exposure impairs pattern separation in rodents of multiple ages but is rescued by citicoline administration. Neuroscience May 25, 2026
- Long-term effects of adolescent THC exposure on anxiety-like behavior and cognitive function in male rats Psychopharmacology April 23, 2026
- Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain and Behavior. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research April 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 22
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Effects of Chronic Exposure to Low-Dose delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Adolescence and Adulthood on Serotonin/Norepinephrine Neurotransmission and Emotional Behavior The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology July 23, 2020
- Early onset of cannabis use and violent behavior in psychosis European Psychiatry 2020
- Prefrontal cortical distribution of muscarinic M2 and cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors in adult male mice with or without chronic adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Cerebral Cortex November 21, 2022
- 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
and 17 more in the library