The prefrontal cortex is one of the last regions of the brain to mature. It is responsible for complex decision-making like planning, prioritizing, and controlling impulses. Using weed as a teen can increase the speed of cortex thinning, which can put brain development at risk.
Many studies have shown that not all regions of the brain develop at the same time. In fact, the
prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, is one of the last regions of the brain to mature. In a study that compared the brains of weed and non-weed users,
scientists found that marijuana use during adolescence can negatively impact the development of the prefrontal cortex and can increase the thinning of this region of the brain.
