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Marijuana use as a teen can have serious implications. Here are some of the effects that marijuana has on the teenage brain. Learn more.
People that begin using cannabis in their teens are more likely to have lasting brain developmental effects and a higher potential for cannabis use disorder. Use the resources below to learn more.
Some risk-taking may foster identity development and independence (e.g., running for student council, asking someone out on a date). However, some risk behaviors—such as using marijuana—can have adverse efects on a teen’s health and well-being.
About 20% of individuals who start using marijuana in adolescence and up to 50% of teens who smoke marijuana daily will develop an addiction. Moreover, use of cannabis preparations with higher THC content show a dose-dependent increase in risk of developing a substance use disorder.
But too few studies offer definitive answers about the impact of cannabis use on teen health. We spoke with pediatrician Sarah Anderson, MD, PhD, an expert in adolescent medicine, to find out what is known and how parents can best protect the health of young people curious about using marijuana.
Brain health: Marijuana can cause permanent IQ loss of as much as 8 points when people start using it at a young age. These IQ points do not come back, even after quitting marijuana. Mental health: Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes.
Infants, children, and teens (who still have developing brains) are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of cannabis. 4 5 Long-term or frequent cannabis use has been linked to increased risk of psychosis or schizophrenia in some users. 6
In a mouse study designed to explore the impact of marijuana’s major psychoactive compound, THC, on teenage brains, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they found changes to the structure of microglia, which are specialized brain immune cells, that may worsen a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.
The scientists focus on marijuana’s harmful effects on teens, an age group in which the brain rapidly develops, which is one factor that could help explain increased risks from marijuana use in this population.
Learning: Marijuana’s effects on attention and memory make it difficult to learn something new or do complex tasks that require focus and concentration. Sports: Marijuana affects timing, movement, and coordination, which can harm athletic performance. Judgment: Marijuana, like most abused substances, can alter judgment.