Lisdahl, K.M., Wright, N.E., Kirchner-Medina, C., Maple, K.E., Shollenbarger, S. (2014). Considering cannabis: The effects of regular cannabis use on neurocognition in adolescents and young adults. Current Addiction Reports, 1(2), 144-156.

Thirty-six percent of high school seniors have used cannabis in the past year, and an alarming 6.5% smoked cannabis daily, up from 2.4% in 1993 (Johnston et al., 2013). Adolescents and emerging adults are undergoing significant neurodevelopment and animal studies suggest they may be particularly vulnerable to negative drug effects. In this review, we will provide a detailed overview of studies outlining the effects of regular (at least weekly) cannabis use on neurocognition, including studies outlining cognitive, structural and functional findings. We will also explore the public health impact of this research.

As many states have recently legalized recreational and medicinal cannabis use, it is important to understand the potential impact of cannabis use on neurocognition. This review highlights the relationship between cannabis use and neurocognition in adolescents and young adults.