We all know the stereotype of the bumbling, forgetful stoner. Cannabis has for long been associated with memory loss, and that has been one of the main arguments against legalizing. However, most of these claims lacked any scientific backing but over the past few years, researchers have been steadily learning more about cannabis and its effect on the human body, especially the brain. To understand how cannabis affects memory, we’ll first have to discuss short and long term memory.
Your short term memory stores immediate events temporarily, for instance, to remember a phone number that has just been recited. It can hold information for approximately twenty to thirty seconds, and it is pushed out when new items are presented. Long term memory, on the other hand, stores information indefinitely. Research has shown that marijuana intoxication does have an effect on short term memory, temporarily altering or distorting short term memory processing.
However, this can’t be blamed on ‘cannabis’ as a whole. The plant produces hundreds of chemicals called cannabinoids, and they are responsible for its effects. In this case, the cannabinoids in question are THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and cannabidiol (“CBD”). When you consume cannabis, these two components disrupt neural signaling by binding with receptors responsible for forming memories in the brain. This can result in problems with concentration, loss of interest, and eventually impact learning.
What’s interesting is that the two cannabinoids have quite different effects. THC, the chemical responsible for cannabis’ infamous high, has a negative effect on short term memory and it increases the risk of developing mental health problems. Cannabidiol, on the other hand, has been found to prevent neural decline. It has a positive impact against neurodegenerative diseases that affect memory such as psychosis, Alzheimer’s, Huntington Chorea, and epilepsy. In fact, some animal studies found that it could prevent the onset of these diseases through the creation of neurons.
There are several different cannabis strains, each with varying levels of CBD and THC, and they have different effects on memory. For instance, cannabis with high levels of THC but little to no CBD will have a negative effect on memory, especially in adolescents. It impacts their ability to retain and recall information, but this isn’t permanent and will stop once you stop consuming cannabis. However, a strain with high CBD levels can prevent neural decline. This goes to show that different types and strains of cannabis can have both positive and negative effects on memory.
The cannabis sector, including entities like Sugarmade, Inc. (OTCQB: SGMD), are glad that the myths against cannabis are being dismantled one at a time by solid scientific data.
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