Cannabis: Occasional smoking weed also changes the brain

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MunichAnyone who puffs a joint only occasionally may be wrong to believe that they are on the safe side: Even the occasional use of cannabis can cause serious changes in the brain.

A total of 40 young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 had their brains screened for changes. Half of them smoked marijuana more or less frequently, the other half did not use drugs. The research team led by Hans Breiter vom: the nucleus accumbens and the amygdala were particularly interested in two brain regions. Both play an important role in motivation and emotions - and are related to the development of addiction. In order to get an exact picture of the state of the brain regions, the researchers determined the volume, shape and density of the gray matter.

Changed regions of the brain
In fact, the scientists found both brain regions in the minds of marijuana users to be altered - depending on how much hash the participants consumed. "Some of them only used marijuana once or twice a week to get high," says Breiter. Nevertheless, the researchers were able to determine changes in them too. "The idea that occasional marijuana use is harmless seems questionable based on our results," says the study director.

Sprawling nerve cells
The test results agree with those of earlier experiments with rats.Under the influence of the cannabis active ingredient THC, new nerve connections had formed in their brains. Such an adaptation of the brain to the drug could be a sign of an emerging addiction, the researchers speculate. The brain adapts to the unnaturally high release of hormones such as dopamine, which trigger a feeling of elation and stimulate the reward center in the brain.

Such hormones are also produced during good food, sex, or other positive social experiences. However, the kick that drugs trigger is much stronger. This has negative consequences in the long run. In a sense, the brain becomes dull. Ordinary, non-chemical stimuli then have less and less effect - they become uninteresting.

“People believe that smoking weed in your free time is fine as long as you don't have any problems at school or at work. However, our data clearly show that this is not the case. "

Mental addiction
At least heavy cannabis consumption often leads to emotional dependence. Since life seems monotonous compared to a drug high, many heavy users become listless and listless over time, lose their motivation and become increasingly isolated. In individual cases, cannabis is also associated with the occurrence of psychoses. (cf)

Source: Jodi M. Gilman, “Cannabis Use is Quantitatively Associated with Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala Abnormalities in Young Adult Recreational Users. Journal of Neuroscience, April 16, 2014 ”

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