The teen brain shows a greater ability to change (plasticity) than that of adults based on what teens do and experience. Using weed as a teen may put your brain development at risk.
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 cannabis as a teen may increase the speed of cortex thinning, which is a sign of an aging brain.
Weed affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for coordination and motor functions, like how you move around. Weed can harm its development.
Weed impacts the basal ganglia. That’s the part of the brain where you get motivation from. Regularly using weed can impact the production of dopamine. That’s the chemical in the body that allows you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.
People who use weed to cope with negative emotions are likely to develop dependence and addiction. Frequent weed use can result in the receptors called CB1 becoming less sensitive to THC. That means more and more is needed to feel the same effects.
The hippocampus manages the brain’s ability to form and hold memories. When people smoke weed, the THC in weed attaches to receptors in the hippocampus, impacting its ability to do so.
