Smoking marijuana, even casually, can cause damage to critical parts of the brain, according to a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
The researchers say the degree of brain changes appeared to be directly related to how frequently the study’s participants smoked pot.
The authors write in their paper:
The results of this study indicate that in young, recreational marijuana users, structural abnormalities in gray matter density, volume, and shape of the nucleus accumbens and amygdala can be observed. Pending confirmation in other cohorts of marijuana users, the present findings suggest that further study of marijuana effects are needed to help inform discussion about the legalization of marijuana.
The study comes with a plurality of Massachusetts residents supporting the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, and as the state is in the process of opening medical marijuana dispensaries.
Agencies/Canadajournal