Long-Term Medical Cannabis Use Has No Significant Harmful Effects On Memory Or Impulse Control, New Study Says
A new study published in JAMA Network Open provides a comprehensive look into the effects of year-long medical cannabis use on brain function, with surprising results. Despite the growing popularity of cannabis as a treatment for symptoms like depression, anxiety, pain and insomnia, the study found no significant changes in brain activity linked to cognitive functions after a year of use.
The research, led by Debbie C. L. Burdinski, BS, and a team of experts, explored the neural implications of cannabis use in 57 adults who had newly obtained medical cannabis cards (MCC) for symptom relief. Conducted over three years from 2017 to 2020 in the greater Boston area, the study aimed to examine whether regular cannabis use affected cognitive processes such as working memory, reward processing and inhibitory control, key areas that are often believed to be impacted by cannabis use.
Key Findings From Brain Imaging
Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scans at the beginning of the study and again one year later to assess brain activity during tasks requiring memory, …