Cannabis

Question 1

Misperceptions

Answer 1

1. Our endogenous cannabinoid system was made for exogenous cannabis
2. Cannabis is a natural plant so must be benign
3. Everyone is doing it
4. It is not addictive
5. Cannabis is medicine so I will feel better if I use it
6. The research is inconsistent

Question 2

Potency

Answer 2

Due to its chemical makeup, THC and CBD, the potency can differ which will result in different effects

Question 3

2 stages of growth that happen prenatally and teen years

Answer 3

Synaptic pruning, myelination

Question 4

Endocannabinoid system

Answer 4

Helps regulate sleep, appetite, digestion, mood, motor coordination, planning, pain, memory and learning, etc

Question 5

Impacted behav

Answer 5

Academic and employment successes, motivation, reward, emotional regulation, risk taking behaviour, cognition (processing speed, attention, memory, impulsivity = executive functioning)

Question 6

Can be addictive

Answer 6

Cannabis use disorder develops faster than alcohol or tobacco
Withdrawal = irritability, anxiety, restlessness, sleep problems
9% of users overall

Question 7

What we know about cannabis and the brain

Answer 7

• Most consistently alterations exist in the hippocampus, cerebellum, amygdala, striatum,
prefrontal cortex = regions high in cannabinoid
receptors
• Executive Functioning is impacted
• Younger initiation > older initiation
• More frequent use > less frequent use
• Higher THC dose > lower THC dose

Question 8

Executive functioning

Answer 8

• The ultimate mental activity.
• Judgment, planning, decision making, social conduct, organization, anticipation, goal establishment, monitoring results and use of feedback.
• The PFC is the “dashboard” of the brain.