Room: Paradise B
Speaker(s):
Rebecca Preston, PhD
Presentation: Due to the changing attitude towards cannabis, and the increasing decriminalization of non-medical marijuana, cannabis use is at historically high levels among adolescents and young adults – with daily or near daily use continuing to rise. At the same time, perception of risk associated with cannabis use has decreased. Exposing developing brains to cannabis disrupts brain development and behavior, primes the brain for being more susceptible to developing other forms of addiction later in life, and impacts trajectories leading to psychosis, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other substance use disorders. Of the various mental health disorders, significant attention has focused on the co-occurrence of cannabis use and psychosis.
Objectives:
- Understand the association between cannabis use during brain development and cognition, emotional functioning, and the risk of developing mental health disorders, particularly psychosis
- Highlight the developmental, acute, and long-term effects of cannabis use
- Raise awareness that regular THC use during brain development is not a benign activity and can impact brain, behavior, and mental health trajectories
Slides and Handouts: