Long lasting consequences of cannabis exposure in adolescence
Open accessAbstract
Despite the increasing use of cannabis among adolescents, there are little and often contradictory studies on the long-term neurobiological consequences of cannabis consumption in juveniles. Adolescence is a critical phase for cerebral development, where the endocannabinoid system plays an important role influencing the release and action of different neurotransmitters. Therefore, a strong stimulation by the psychoactive component of marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocanabinol (THC), might lead to subtle but lasting neurobiological changes that can affect adult brain functions and behaviour. The literature here summarized by use of experimental animal models, puts forward that heavy cannabis consumption in adolescence may induce subtle changes in the adult brain circuits ending in altered emotional and cognitive performance, enhanced vulnerability for the use of more harmful drugs of abuse in selected individuals, and may represent a risk factor for developing schizophrenia in adulthood. Therefore, the potential problems arising in relation to marijuana consumption in adolescence suggest that this developmental phase is a vulnerable period for persistent adverse effects of cannabinoids.
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There is some evidence from animal models that adolescence could be a critical period for development of the endocannabinoid system.
“There is some evidence from animal models that adolescence could be a critical period for development of the endocannabinoid system (33,34).”
From Association Between Cannabis and Psychosis: Epidemiologic Evidence (2016) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Rubino, T., & Parolaro, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Insubria (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Parolaro, D.
- Venue
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-04
- Volume
- 286
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- S108-S113
- ISSN
- 0303-7207 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967221192
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 7.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hal.science
- Licence
- Locations
- Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- IrInSubria (University of Insubria) (submittedVersion)
- Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- adolescent cannabis use, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, endocannabinoid system, brain development, drug abuse vulnerability, schizophrenia risk
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Animals, Behavior, Cannabis, Humans, Models, Biological, Psychotic Disorders
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