https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027478/
Heavy and dependent cannabis users display craving and increased brain activity in reward‐related brain areas after exposure to cannabis‐related stimuli 7, 71. Craving is stronger in more severe users 8 and has been found to predict CUD problem severity 6, treatment outcome 72 and withdrawal severity 9 in heavy users.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cognitive-effects-of-long-term-cannabis-use-in-midlife-202206142760
The new research is just one of several studies suggesting there is a link between long-term heavy cannabis use and cognition. Still, future studies are needed to establish causation and explore how long-term cannabis use might impact the risk of developing dementia, since midlife cognitive impairment is associated with higher rates of dementia.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/06/marijuana-effects-brain
MRI data showed that users had stronger connectivity than nonusers between parts of the brain that are important for cognitive functions, such as working memory and coordination (Watson, K. K., et al., Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, Vol. 14, 2022). "Cannabis use could be offsetting normal age-related cognitive decline," said Rachel Thayer

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-from-addiction/202303/long-term-cannabis-use-cognition-and-the-hippocampus
Changes caused by long-term cannabis use resemble risk factors for dementia later in life. Our hippocampus is a complex brain structure deep in the temporal lobe that plays a major role in

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6915047/
However, studies conducted on human brains assessing the long term cannabis use and related brain structural changes do not fully confirm these findings although changes in the density of gray or white matter have been reported in different regions of frontal and parietal lobes (Matochik et al., 2005; Churchwell et al., 2010; Gruber et al., 2011).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3037578/
Some cannabis-related executive function deficits improve after cessation of cannabis use (Pope et al., 2002), but growing evidence suggests that other deficits persist after cannabis is discontinued (Bolla et al., 2005), and may hinder an individual's ability to make the best use of behavioral therapies and put him or her at greater risk for

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STR.0000000000000396
Marijuana is perceived as a harmless drug, and its recreational use has gained popularity among young individuals. The concentration of active ingredients in recreational formulations has gradually increased over time, and high-potency illicit cannabinomimetics have become available. Thus, the consumption of cannabis in the general population is rising. Data from preclinical models demonstrate

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1415297111
To address this limitation, we evaluated brain structural changes associated with chronic marijuana use in a large group of well-characterized marijuana users relative to age- and sex-matched nonusing controls. Our findings provide evidence that heavy, chronic marijuana users have lower OFC gray matter volumes compared with nonusing controls.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00470-x
So appetite, pain, moods, memory, age, general activity of the nervous system, and THC acts on cannabinoid receptors located throughout the brain. So high densities of these receptors are found in

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/STR.0000000000000396
Effects of Marijuana Use on Cerebrovas-cular Risk and Disease. Several studies have described an association between cannabis use and increased risk of stroke. Data from population survey studies indicate that the pat-tern (heavy vs less) and frequency (>10 d/mo) of cannabis use may increase the risk of stroke.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/11/marijuana-brain
Some of those brain abnormalities have been linked to cognitive differences. Gruber found that regular, heavy marijuana users — those who reported smoking five of the last seven days, and more than 2,500 times in their lives — had damage to their brains' white matter, which helps enable communication among neurons.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/mental-health/chronic-pot-use-may-have-serious-effects-brain-experts-say-n924441
The research leans towards yes. Studies have shown that chronic marijuana use affects the same brain structures that are involved with addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/joseph-c-maroon-a-neurologist-explains-the-dangers-of-marijuana/ar-BB1oZ6SM
An avalanche of research now confirms that marijuana has serious short-term risks and severe and potentially permanent long-term risks, especially for young users. The 2½-pound human brain with

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/heavy-marijuana-use-causes-poor-memory-and-abnormal-brain-structure-study-says
Teenagers who smoked marijuana daily for three years performed poorly on memory tasks and showed abnormal changes in brain structure, according to a Northwestern Medicine study. Researchers in

https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/cannabis-brain
Marijuana's potency has climbed over the decades, with the more traditional flower products now averaging about 17% THC and concentrates (known as wax, dabs, honey oil, etc.) reaching levels of 90% THC. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, making its use illegal at the federal level and restricting some kinds of scientific research.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4250161/
To address this limitation, we evaluated brain structural changes associated with chronic marijuana use in a large group of well-characterized marijuana users relative to age- and sex-matched nonusing controls. Our findings provide evidence that heavy, chronic marijuana users have lower OFC gray matter volumes compared with nonusing controls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6FWHNNFzww
A new study finds that heavy marijuana use by adults could have long-term effects on the brain. What kinds of effects? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswe

https://neurosciencenews.com/cannabis-dementia-neurology-25884/
April 9, 2024. Summary: Recreational cannabis use may be associated with a significant decrease in the odds of experiencing subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in adults over 45. Analyzing data from the CDC's 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, researchers found that recreational users had 96% lower odds of reporting SCD compared

https://newsroom.heart.org/news/how-does-cannabis-use-affect-brain-health
Structural changes in the brain were visible in some studies comparing marijuana users and non-users. Specifically, there was thinning of brain areas important in orchestrating thoughts and actions, or decreased volume in an area of the brain important for memory. ... AHA news release: Marijuana users' risk of deadly complication doubles

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/you-illuminated/201409/long-term-effects-marijuana-the-brain
A little under half of the people who seek treatment for marijuana dependence experience withdrawal when they try to quit, becoming anxious, irritable or depressed. These symptoms can precipitate

https://www.sciencealert.com/heavy-marijuana-use-shrinks-your-brain-but-increases-connectivity-when-you-re-young
These increases appear as soon as a person begins using marijuana, and they become more significant the heavier the use. Until a point. After about six or eight years of chronic marijuana use, this increased connectivity starts to decline, leaving long-term users with a shrunken OFC and only slightly above average connectively. The results have

https://www.arcannabisclinic.com/post/what-is-considered-heavy-marijuana-use-effects-on-users
Mentally, THC, the primary psychoactive component in marijuana, affects brain areas controlling judgment, coordination, and memory. Over time, heavy use can result in memory impairments and reduced cognitive function. Furthermore, there's a heightened risk of mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7027431/
Effects on brain structure. Most information on the impact of cannabis use in humans that has come from studies of individuals with chronic, heavy recreational use, and relevant reviews from 1976 to 2002 have presented some inconsistencies regarding effects on brain structure (34-37).Structural neuroimaging studies provide evidence of morphological abnormalities in chronic adolescent as well

https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/cannabis/risks-benefits-of-legal-marijuana
In general, the greatest risks of cannabis use happen with heavy cannabis use and large amounts of THC. In fact, inhaling highly concentrated THC (known as dabbing) has caused some people to experience psychotic symptoms, such as extreme paranoia and self-harm. Cannabis use can also worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

https://www.wsj.com/video/marijuana-heavy-users-risk-changes-to-brain/F4950E53-70C3-4529-BF6B-9C271BDDBB3F
Marijuana: Heavy Users Risk Changes to Brain. A new study finds that heavy marijuana use by adults could have long-term effects on the brain. What kinds of effects? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/30/health/marijuana-pros-and-cons-wellness/index.html
Here's where science currently stands on the use of marijuana for pain, sleep, anxiety, muscle spasms and other ailments — the results may surprise you. ... Your brain on marijuana 01:39

https://kvia.com/news/business-technology/stacker-science/2024/06/26/marijuana-use-is-at-an-all-time-high-heres-how-it-affects-mental-health/
Marijuana use is at an all-time high in the United States. In the past decade alone, Americans' reported marijuana smoking has more than doubled, increasing from 7% to 13% from 2013 to 2023