Cannabis and the Developing Adolescent Brain
Adina S. Fischer, S. Tapert, Dexter Lee Louie, A. Schatzberg, M. Singh
Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry April 18, 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s40501-020-00202-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The authors report that adolescent cannabis use is linked to increased risk of addiction, depressive and psychotic symptoms, and impaired cognition, sleep, and driving, while THC content and availability have risen and perceived risk has fallen. They contend that understanding of neurobiological mechanisms and treatments for youth cannabis misuse remains limited, with no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy for cannabis use disorder in youth. |
Abstract
Purpose of review This review summarizes (1) recent trends in delta-9-tetrahydrocannabionol [THC] and cannabidiol (CBD) content in cannabis products, (2) mechanism of action of THC and CBD and the neurobiological correlates of cannabis use on the developing adolescent brain, (3) effects of cannabis on psychiatric symptoms and daily functioning in youth (i.e., academic performance, cognition, sleep and driving), (4) cannabis products used to relieve or treat medical issues in youth, and (5) available treatments for cannabis use disorder in adolescence. Recent findings Despite marked increases in THC content and availability of cannabis, there has been a decline in perceived risk and an increase in use of cannabis extract products among youth in the USA. The primary psychiatric symptoms associated with cannabis use in youth are increased risk for addiction, depressive, and psychotic symptoms. Adolescent cannabis exposure also contributes to impaired cognition, sleep, and driving ability. Cannabis alters endocannabinoid system function which plays a central role in modulating the neurodevelopment of reward and stress systems. However, few studies have examined neurobiological mechanisms underlying the psychiatric and functional sequalae of cannabis exposure in youth. To-date, FDA-approved cannabinoid medications are very limited, none of them supporting their use for the treatment of psychiatric symptoms. Behavioral therapies are currently the mainstay of treating cannabis misuse, with no pharmacotherapies currently approved by the FDA for cannabis use disorder in youth. Summary Here, we summarize the neurobiological, psychiatric, and daily function effects of the most commonly used cannabinoids: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Our current understanding of the effects of cannabis on the developing brain and treatments for cannabis misuse in youth remain limited. Future research aimed at examining the neurobiological effects of cannabis, with objective measures of exposure, over the course of pediatric development and in relation to psychiatric symptoms are needed.
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 9
- The CannTeen study: verbal episodic memory, spatial working memory, and response inhibition in adolescent and adult cannabis users and age-matched controls Psychopharmacology April 29, 2022
- Challenges and considerations for treating PTSD with medicinal cannabis: the Australian clinician's perspective. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2023
- The CannTeen Study: Verbal Episodic Memory, Spatial Working Memory, and Response Inhibition in Adolescent and Adult Cannabis Users and Age-Matched Controls PRE-PRINT February 18, 2022
- Sex-specific vulnerabilities in cannabis-induced psychosis: A scoping review. Asian Journal of Psychiatry July 8, 2026
- Central Executive Network drives delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-induced nonlinear changes in large-scale functional connectivity in adolescent nonhuman primates. Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2025
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- Cannabis Use during Adolescent Development: Susceptibility to Psychiatric Illness Frontiers in Psychiatry 2013
- Cannabinoids for the treatment of mental disorders and symptoms of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis The Lancet Psychiatry October 28, 2019
- Age‐varying effects of cannabis use frequency and disorder on symptoms of psychosis, depression and anxiety in adolescents and adults Addiction November 16, 2018
- Clinical and Preclinical Evidence for Functional Interactions of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol. Neuropsychopharmacology January 2018
- Nucleus accumbens functional connectivity at age 20 is associated with trajectory of adolescent cannabis use and predicts psychosocial functioning in young adulthood. Addiction November 2017
and 4 more in the library