Smoking weed as a teen might change your life for the worse - UC San Diego study
NBC 7 San Diego • • health
Key Points:
- A UC San Diego study tracking over 11,000 teens from ages 9-10 to 16-17 found that cannabis use is linked to slower improvements in memory, focus, and thinking speed during critical brain development years.
- Teens who used cannabis showed noticeably less cognitive growth over time compared to their non-using peers, with their abilities leveling off rather than improving.
- Although the cognitive differences may seem small, they could significantly impact learning, memory, and everyday functioning, potentially affecting academic performance and life trajectories.
- The study's lead author, Natasha Wade, emphasized that delaying cannabis use supports healthy brain development and cautioned families and teens about its potential effects as cannabis becomes more accessible.
- Researchers plan to continue monitoring the participants into adulthood to further understand the long-term impact of adolescent cannabis use.
