Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print How Marijuana Affects Your Brain By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on September 18, 2019 skodonnell / Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery More is known about the short-term effects of marijuana on the brain that is known about the long-term effects that the drug produces. Marijuana affects cannabinoid receptors which are found in brain regions that influence learning, memory, appetite, coordination, and pleasure. Affecting those receptors is how marijuana use produces the effects it has on users. What researchers do not fully understand is what effect that marijuana can have on the brain when someone uses the drug regularly over a long period of time. MRI imaging studies show that there are differences between the brains of marijuana users and non-users. Impaired Neural Connectivity According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, what scientists do not know is what the differences seen on the MRI images mean and how long the difference last, if someone quits using marijuana. MRI image studies of teen brains show that those who regularly use marijuana display impaired neural connectivity in specific brain regions involved in a broad range of executive functions like memory, learning, and impulse control compared to non-users. Loss of I.Q. Points A large, longitudinal study in New Zealand found that frequent marijuana use by adolescents was linked to an average loss of 8 I.Q. points in mid-adulthood. That same study also found that teens who used marijuana in adolescence but quit using as adults did not recover the lost I.Q. test points. Largest Effect on Young Brains Researchers believe that marijuana's strongest long-term effects occur with young smokers who brains are still developing neural connections. Research into the effects of marijuana on the brain has been hampered by the fact that most people who use marijuana also drink alcohol, or other substances, which can have their own negative effects on the brain. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Jacobus J, Tapert SF. Effects of cannabis on the adolescent brain. Curr Pharm Des. 2014;20(13):2186–2193. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990426 Batalla A, Bhattacharyya S, Yücel M, et al. Structural and functional imaging studies in chronic cannabis users: a systematic review of adolescent and adult findings. PloS One. 2013;8(2):e55821. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055821 National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana. What are marijuana's long-term effects on the brain?. Updated December 2019. Meier MH, Caspi A, Ambler A, et al. Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012;109(40):E2657-E2664. doi:10.1073/pnas.1206820109 Additional Reading National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Marijuana." DrugFacts Updated January 2014. National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Marijuana." Research Report Series Updated July 2012. National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Want to Know More?- Some FAQs about Marijuana." Marijuana: Facts for Teens Updated October 2013. The Partnership at DrugFree.org. "Marijuana." Drug Guide.