Marijuana (Cannabis) has been used as a therapeutic agent to treat many symptoms related to the relaxation of brain nerves that cause seizures. But most often it is used as a recreational drug and with the recent legalization of weed in many states of America, for purposes of relaxation, better socializing, and getting a good night’s sleep, it is seeing widespread use throughout the US. But considering the kind of effect it has on the brain, should it get this acceptance?
How Far Can The Legalization Of Marijuana Be Accepted?
Studies related to the brain-numbing effects of weed have shown that it can impair the brain’s cognitive powers. This causes a decline in brain activities such as concentrating on a particular subject, learning and remembering facts in detail, and problem-solving.
According to a study co-authored by Dr. Alexandre Dumais, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal, Marijuana use in younger generations, when the brain is in the developmental stages, can affect the education of the students. The mind is unable to process the data correctly, and the alertness of the brain is reduced. Getting high through using Marijuana has harmful effects on the brains of adolescents who slowly develop a habit of taking this product. In adults, it can show its effect on work performance and also while driving.
The review study took a survey of 43,000 people to look into the negative impacts of Marijuana on brains. Dumais said that the primary psychoactive compound that is responsible for this ill effect is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is a fat-soluble compound and hence, it gets stored in the body fats. As a result, the Marijuana compound slowly gets released into the bloodstream and can have a long-term effect, although this requires more research to understand the actual phenomenon. He further added that the chronic effects of Marijuana in the younger ages are usually observed in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain. However, the kind of effect cannabis can have on the brain depends on the amount taken, the frequency, and the time for which it has been used, as also the age at which it has been used. Many studies also suggest that the side effects of using Marijuana may subside with time if the use is discontinued.
Dr. Megan Moreno, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has appreciated this study’s findings. She said that young minds could be affected very badly by the use of cannabis and hence, parents should be careful that their children are away from this brain-damaging weed. It is going to hamper the cognitive functions of the brain when they are in their most vigorous developmental stages. This will subsequently affect their lives in the later stages when they grow into adolescence and further as they enter adulthood with a profound impact on their cognitive functions. Marijuana intake in any form should thus be monitored amongst the young generations as it has the capacity to ruin entire lives.
The effects of cannabis on the brain still require in-depth study and research as it contains many other compounds that have an entourage effect on the body. But, the ill effects of THC have already been detected. Hence, it should be taken as a significant step in educating the young generation about the side effects of marijuana use and to discourage them from getting engaged in such activities. The young generations are more prone towards such activities and hence, special attention should be given to their habits. Poor cognition in the early stages is going to affect every stage of life and career development.
