Older adults who have used marijuana at some point show stronger cognitive abilities than those who report little or no prior exposure, according to new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
Using data from a large national cohort in the UK of over 500,000 participants, the team examined the relationship between marijuana use, brain structure, and cognitive function in adults between the ages of 40 and 70.
Participants provided detailed information about their lifetime marijuana consumption. They also underwent brain imaging using magnetic resonance imaging and completed standardized tests designed to measure different aspects of thinking and memory. The tests evaluated areas such as learning ability, recall, mental speed, and the capacity to shift between tasks.
According to the researchers, individuals with a greater history of marijuana use tended to have larger brain volumes in specific regions known to contain high concentrations of cannabinoid receptors. These areas included the anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, hippocampus, and putamen, all of which play key roles in memory, emotional regulation, and executive function.
The study also found that higher lifetime cannabis exposure was linked to stronger performance across multiple cognitive measures. Participants with more extensive past use generally scored higher on assessments of memory, processing speed, learning, and flexible thinking.
The authors noted that the results align with emerging research pointing toward possible neuroprotective effects associated with marijuana use in older populations.
They added that their findings contribute to a growing scientific conversation rather than providing definitive conclusions. Still, they noted that the observed associations raise the possibility that cannabis could play a role in supporting brain health as people age, particularly in regions sensitive to cannabinoids.
Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said the study challenges deeply rooted assumptions about marijuana users. He argued that negative stereotypes surrounding marijuana and cognition remain widespread and often go unexamined. Armentano added that research contradicting these stereotypes rarely receives sustained attention in mainstream news coverage.
The results are consistent with findings from several recent studies. A study in Israel involving over 67,000 older adults found that participants with prior marijuana use performed better in areas including executive function, attention, memory, and processing speed. That study also linked past use with a slower rate of decline in executive abilities over time.
Similar conclusions were reached by researchers in Denmark, who observed significantly less cognitive deterioration among marijuana users compared with non-users over time. In the United States, a separate study focusing on older adults living with HIV found that those who reported occasional marijuana use demonstrated stronger cognitive performance than those who did not use the drug.
As more studies dispel the common misconceptions about marijuana, more people are likely to warm up to the substance and drive innovation within the industry. The accelerated growth of the industry could then open up new business opportunities for ecosystem firms like Innovative Industrial Properties Inc. (NYSE: IIPR).
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