Cannabis Usage and Its Effects

            Cannabis usage has become very popular among American adolescents. Access to cannabis has become easier as many states are legalizing the usage of marijuana. However, excess usage of cannabis can lead to long term defects in individuals, as evident by numerous studies that are being conducted. Thus, it is important to study cannabis in full detail by fully understanding the scope of its influences to better help individuals who may be addicted and to inform others about the possible consequences.  

            In an article published in the Columbia University Medical Center in April of 2016, Heavy cannabis use associated with reduced dopamine release in brain, the researchers found evidence of a failing dopamine system in heavy marijuana users. The experiment was comprised of 11 adults between the age of 21 and 40, who were extremely dependent on cannabis (Columbia University Medical Center). This group was examined in comparison to a control group of 12 healthy individuals (Columbia University Medical Center). Through the experiment, Dr. Abi-Dargham and the other researchers found that long term heavy usage of cannabis impairs the dopaminergic system, which has negative effects on learning and behavior (Columbia University Medical Center). This highlights important consequences of long term excessive usage of cannabis. This can impair the working memory and lead to attention deficits.  

            In another article, Dr. Mikael Kowal, from Leiden University, studied the effects of cannabis on dopamine related functions, such as creative thinking and recognizing one’s own mistakes. Dr. Kowal conducted the experiment with 40 regular users of cannabis and had a control of 20 non-users who were given a placebo (Leiden University). Looking at the data comparing the two groups, he saw that cannabis users were less good at brainstorming, less good at recognizing mistakes, and had lower dopamine productions (Leiden University). This shows the important effect on the dopaminergic system from excessive usage of cannabis. Dr. Kowal was able to conclude that cannabis users are less good at creative thinking and are less likely to be aware of the mistakes that they make in comparison to non-cannabis users (Leiden University). This study and the study done at the Columbia Medical Center both highlight the importance of the harmful effects on the dopamine system from the excessive usage of cannabis. Impairments in the dopamine system can then lead to impairments in memory, attention deficits, poor creative thinking, and the inability to know that one is making mistakes.  

            One of the researchers that is studying Cannabis usage is Dr. John Csernansky, Lizzie Gilman Professor & Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In his talk, he discussed about one of his studies, where he looked at schizophrenia patients with and without a past cannabis use disorder. He found that a past cannabis use disorder during adolescence can be associated with hippocampal morphology and episodic memory impairments later in life (Smith et al.). Dr. Csernansky’s talk about cannabis usage helped to better portray the effects of long term usage of cannabis. His discussion relates back to the findings in the aforementioned articles especially in terms of memory impairments, which has an important dopamine component.

            Understanding the important role dopamine plays and the effects on the dopamine system is important to understand effects of cannabis usage. Through my research with Dr. Stephan Steidl, I was able to study how reward predictive cues activates the dopamine system in rats. Helping to better understand the dopamine system is especially important in individuals with drug addictions and memory concerns. This finding relates back to the research that Dr. Csernansky has done, where he was able to see impairments in episodic memory on cannabis using individuals. This finding also ties back to the research at the Columbia University Medical Center as well as the research of Dr. Kowal from Leiden University. The research being done to better understand cannabis usage will allow us to better educate adolescents about the dangers of cannabis usage and help those who are long time users.  

Works Cited

Cannabis and the Brain. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2016. <http://s2.lemde.fr/image/2012/09/06/534x0/1756764_4_8784_cannabis-adolescents-le-cannabis-herbe-a_994ab17aad29a137240e7d43571b65c4.jpg>.

Cannabis. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2016. <https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/cannabis.jpg>.

Cannabis Usage. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2016. <http://images.lpcdn.ca/641x427/201204/29/496037.jpg>.

Columbia University Medical Center. "Heavy Cannabis Use Associated with Reduced Dopamine Release in Brain." ScienceDaily, 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 10 Dec. 2016. <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414214826.htm>.

Leiden University. "Cannabis Reduces Creativity, but User Generally Not Aware." ScienceDaily, 4 Oct. 2016. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161004125829.htm>.

Smith, Matthew J., Derin J. Cobia, James L. Reilly, Jodi Gilman, Andrea G. Roberts, Kathryn I. Alpert, Lei Wang, Hans C. Breiter, and John G. Csernansky. "Cannabis-Related Episodic Memory Deficits and Hippocampal Morphological Differences in Healthy Individuals and Schizophrenia Subjects." Web of Science. Hippocampus Journal, Sept. 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2016. <https://apps.webofknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=WOS&search_mode=GeneralSearch&qid=1&SID=P1QEYrmXhbvPBnvZNtU&page=1&doc=1>.