Weed impacts the basal ganglia, the part of the brain central to motivation, and can reduce the production of dopamine, the chemical in the body that allows you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.
Research shows that the
basal ganglia region of the brain is central to our motivation system and is densely filled with cannabinoid receptors, which help produce dopamine, a chemical that allows us to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. Scientists compared the
volume of the basal ganglia of weed users and non-users and found that weed users had a reduced volume in the basal ganglia, while non-users did not. These structural differences in the basal ganglia can impact our ability to respond to internal and external motivational signals.
