A recent federally funded study published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open” has revealed that cognitive functions such as inhibitory control, reward response and working memory do not change significantly after a year of cannabis use. The study refutes the long-held notion that marijuana use impairs memory and brain function. It involved adults who typically used cannabis for issues such as depression, anxiety, pain or sleep problems.
The research team conducted the study on 57 patients who had recently received medical cannabis certification in the Boston area. Brain activity was monitored using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants performed various cognitive activities. Brain activity was evaluated at the beginning of the trial and again after a year of marijuana use.
The fMRI scans showed no discernible changes in brain activation related to mental activities even after a year of consuming medical marijuana. Furthermore, there was no correlation observed over time between the frequency of cannabis use and changes in brain activity.
In a statement summarizing their findings, the researchers emphasized that medical cannabis users who typically consume it in small to moderate doses to manage medical symptoms often experience minimal long-term neural changes in areas such as working memory, inhibitory control and reward processing. They reiterated that no notable differences were observed in brain activity between the initial and follow-up scans taken a year later.
These results may provide reassurance to individuals who rely on medical cannabis to manage their health concerns but are worried about the potential long-term effects on their brain health. However, the researchers recommended that further studies be conducted, particularly focusing on higher doses of cannabis, more frequent usage and studies involving younger individuals.
The study findings align with recent research that suggests prescribed medical marijuana has minimal short-term impact on cognitive function, even for those managing chronic illnesses.
While more research is necessary to fully understand the long-term consequences of marijuana use, a growing body of evidence indicates that some concerns may have been exaggerated. For instance, a study from last year found that cancer patients who used medical cannabis reported clearer thinking and better pain management.
Another study involving young people at risk for psychosis found that consistent marijuana use—more than two years—did not lead to early psychosis, as some critics of cannabis claim. Instead, it was linked to slight improvements in cognitive abilities and a reduction in the use of other drugs.
Furthermore, an analysis of data from about 65 million health insurance policyholders by the AMA revealed no discernible increase in diagnoses for psychosis in places where the drug has been allowed as opposed to those where it has not.
As more misconceptions about the effects of marijuana on the brain are debunked, the overall industry could grow more explosively and other verticals, such as the one in which Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR) operates, are set to also experience faster growth.
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