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cannabis

This shows an older woman with a tincture.

·June 3, 2025·5 min read

Cannabis Use Among U.S. Seniors Has Surged 46% in Just Two Years

Marijuana use among U.S. adults aged 65 and older has climbed to a record 7%, up nearly 46% from 2021 to 2023. The trend is especially pronounced among college-educated, married, and higher-income individuals, particularly women.

This is a drawing of a cannabis pharmacy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 8, 2025·5 min read

Legal Cannabis Linked to Less Problematic Use, Better Mental Health

The Weed Care study in Switzerland is investigating how legal access to cannabis affects users' consumption and mental health. In the first randomized trial of its kind, participants buying cannabis legally showed a slight decline in problematic use, especially among those who also used other drugs.

This shows a teen with a drink and brains.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 11, 2025·4 min read

Using Cannabis While Drinking May Lead to Riskier Behavior

Young adults often use alcohol and cannabis together, a behavior that may dull the perceived negative effects of drinking and increase the risk of alcohol-related harm. A recent study found that simultaneous use can reduce users’ awareness of alcohol’s effects, potentially leading to alcohol use disorder and dangerous behaviors like drunk driving.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 9, 2025·5 min read

Elevated Dopamine in Cannabis Users May Explain Psychosis Risk

New research reveals that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis, such as schizophrenia. This may help explain why frequent cannabis use can increase the risk of hallucinations and delusions.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·March 14, 2025·6 min read

Cannabis Terpenes Offer New Hope for Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia

New research has identified cannabis-derived terpenes—compounds that give plants their distinctive aroma—as effective treatments for fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain. In preclinical mouse models, terpenes such as geraniol and linalool significantly reduced chronic pain, providing promising alternatives to opioid medications and avoiding THC's psychoactive side effects.

Featured Neuroscience Pain

·February 6, 2025·6 min read

How CBD Modulates THC’s Impact on the Brain

Researchers have identified how CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors to mitigate the negative effects of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Unlike THC, which fully activates the receptor and causes side effects like memory loss and addiction, CBD acts as a modulator, fine-tuning receptor activity.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2025·6 min read

Cannabis Use Reduces Brain Activity in Key Memory Regions

A study of over 1,000 young adults reveals that both recent and heavy lifetime cannabis use reduce brain activity in regions critical for working memory, including the prefrontal cortex and anterior insula. This reduced activity correlates with poorer performance on memory tasks like following instructions or solving problems.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 16, 2024·4 min read

Study Challenges Myths About Cannabis, Brain Health, and IQ

A study spanning 44 years and involving over 5,000 men challenges long-held beliefs about cannabis and cognition. Researchers found that cannabis users experienced slightly less cognitive decline from early adulthood to late midlife compared to nonusers.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 6, 2024·6 min read

Psychosis Risk Tied to Heavy Cannabis Use and Genetic Factors

Heavy cannabis use and genetic risk for schizophrenia independently contribute to the likelihood of developing psychosis. Researchers used two large datasets to analyze the relationship between cannabis use, schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRS), and psychosis.

This shows a child, her parents and leaves.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2024·4 min read

Teens’ Views on Cannabis Tied to Perceptions of Parental Use

Teens who perceive their parents use cannabis are more likely to hold favorable views toward the drug and express intentions to try it. The impact of parental cannabis use perception varies by parent gender, with closeness to mothers and fathers influencing teens’ attitudes differently.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 3, 2024·5 min read

Cannabis Impacts Brain Plasticity via Astrocyte Receptors

Researchers discovered that cannabis affects brain development by interacting with CB1 receptors on astrocytes, not just neurons. Using a mouse model, they showed that removing these receptors impaired the brain’s ability to adapt during critical periods of plasticity, particularly in the visual cortex.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 25, 2024·3 min read

Can Cannabis Help ADHD?

Researchers are investigating how cannabis affects ADHD symptoms, focusing on its interactions with the body's endocannabinoid system. Evidence suggests cannabis influences attention, hyperactivity, and anxiety, but the findings are limited due to legal restrictions and the complexity of ADHD presentations.