Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on Adolescent & Young Adult Brain | Dr. Andrew Huberman

Summary

Andrew Huberman discusses the complexities surrounding cannabis legalization, emphasizing the need for balanced discourse on its effects. While acknowledging the potential benefits for adults, he highlights the significant risks for the developing brain, especially for those aged 14 to 25. Citing a Lancet Psychiatry study, he warns of the increased risk of psychosis and other mental health disorders associated with heavy cannabis use, particularly with potent THC strains, urging caution and education for younger users.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Cannabis is becoming legal in many areas and is often discussed for its positive effects without much mention of the negatives.
• 👍 Acknowledgement of the positive effects of cannabis in adults with occasional use, provided it is used safely and legally.
• 🔬 The developing brain and body's response to cannabis is different from that of an adult's, with potential negative impacts on mood regulation and executive functions.
• 🧠 The human brain continues to develop until at least age 25, and cannabis, particularly THC, can disrupt the fine-tuning of neural circuitry during this period.
• 📚 Reference to a significant paper published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2022, which systematically reviewed the impact of cannabis potency on mental health and addiction.
• ⚠️ Chronic cannabis use, defined as more than twice per week, has been linked to mental health disorders.
• 🚫 Heavy cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes, especially for those predisposed genetically.
• 📉 The media attention given to the study's findings was not sustained, despite the importance of the findings.
• 🌱 The potency of THC in cannabis has increased with new strains, which correlates with a higher risk of developing mental health issues.
• 📉 The risk of psychosis is escalating with the higher THC potency in cannabis, emphasizing the need for reduced use in younger populations.
• 👨‍🎓 The age group of 16 to 24 is the most frequent adopters of cannabis use, which is a demographic that needs to be aware of the associated health risks.

Q & A

What is the main concern regarding the use of cannabis as discussed by Andrew Huberman?

Andrew Huberman's main concern is the impact of cannabis, particularly THC, on the developing brain and body of young individuals aged 14 to 25. He emphasizes that while cannabis may have positive effects for adults with occasional use, it can disrupt the neural circuitry responsible for mood regulation and executive functions in younger users.

What are the known positive effects of cannabis in adults with occasional use?

The script acknowledges that there are many known positive effects of cannabis in adults with occasional use, provided it is used safely, legally, and in the right context. However, it does not specify the exact benefits.

Why is the developing brain more susceptible to the negative effects of cannabis?

The developing brain is more susceptible because it continues to develop until at least age 25, with neural circuitry that is fine-tuned for mood regulation and executive functions. Cannabis, especially THC, can dramatically disrupt these developmental processes.

What is the significance of the paper published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2022?

The paper published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2022 is significant because it is a systematic review that evaluated over 4,000 studies to understand the impact of early cannabis use on the later development of mental health disorders, such as psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar-like episodes.

What is the association between the potency of cannabis and mental health disorders according to the Lancet Psychiatry paper?

According to the Lancet Psychiatry paper, there is a clear association between the potency of cannabis, specifically the THC concentration, and the increased probability of developing psychosis, major depressive episodes, or major anxiety disorders later in life.

What are the risks associated with heavy cannabis use as defined in the Lancet Psychiatry paper?

Heavy cannabis use, defined as more frequent than twice per week, has been associated with four times the risk of psychosis later in life, particularly for conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes.

How does the genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia affect the risk of psychosis due to cannabis use?

Individuals with a genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia who use cannabis, especially during adolescence and up to age 25, have a significantly increased risk of developing psychosis, to the extent of being four times greater.

Why is the message about the potential risks of cannabis use for young people not widely discussed in the media?

The script suggests that while the findings of the Lancet Psychiatry paper received some attention, they were not widely sustained in media discussions, possibly due to the overwhelming number of events and topics competing for attention.

What is the demographic most likely to start using cannabis and why is this concerning?

The demographic most likely to start using cannabis is individuals aged 16 to 24. This is concerning because this age group is twice as likely to use cannabis as others, and they may not be fully aware of the serious health consequences that could arise from its use.

How does the perception of cannabis in the media and by public figures influence young people's decisions to use it?

The perception that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and may even have health benefits, as portrayed by media, sports figures, celebrities, and politicians, can lead young people to adopt and continue cannabis use without realizing the potential health risks.

What is the recommendation regarding cannabis use for adolescents and young adults based on the script?

The recommendation based on the script is to reduce the frequency of cannabis use to zero or very low, and to avoid high-potency cannabis, especially for adolescents, teens, and individuals aged 25 or younger, to minimize the risk of developing mental health disorders.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 The Risks of Cannabis Use in Young Adults

Andrew Huberman discusses the unique situation of cannabis legalization and its implications for mental health, particularly in young adults. He acknowledges the positive effects of cannabis for adults but emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between occasional use in adults and the potential harm to the developing brain of those aged 14 to 25. Huberman highlights the disruption of neural circuitry related to mood regulation and executive functions by THC, a key component of cannabis. He references a 2022 Lancet Psychiatry paper that systematically reviews the association between cannabis potency and mental health disorders, showing that chronic use increases the risk of psychosis, especially schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes, by four times. The paper also points out the correlation between higher THC concentration and the increased probability of developing major mental health issues later in life.

05:01

📈 The Rising Potency of Cannabis and Its Consequences

The second paragraph delves into the increasing potency of cannabis strains and the heightened risk of psychosis associated with it. With the rise of engineered cannabis products containing higher THC levels, the potential for mental health issues is escalating. Huberman warns that the most frequent adopters of cannabis are in the 16 to 24 age bracket, a demographic that is more likely to be influenced by media, sports figures, celebrities, and politicians who often downplay the risks. This creates a concerning scenario where young people may continue cannabis use without being fully aware of the serious health repercussions that could manifest later in life. The paragraph underscores the urgency of addressing this issue, particularly in reducing cannabis use frequency and potency among adolescents and young adults.

Keywords

💡Cannabis

Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes. In the video, it is discussed as a substance that is becoming legal in many areas and is often associated with positive effects, but also carries significant risks, particularly for the developing brain.

💡Legalization

Legalization refers to the process of making the use of a substance or activity legal. The script mentions the ongoing legalization of cannabis in various regions and acknowledges the efforts of those who have fought for this change, while also raising concerns about potential negative impacts.

💡Positive Effects

Positive effects are the beneficial outcomes or advantages of a certain substance or action. The video script notes that many people are discussing the positive effects of cannabis, such as its potential therapeutic uses, without equally considering the negative effects.

💡Negative Effects

Negative effects are the harmful or detrimental outcomes associated with a substance or action. The video emphasizes the lack of discussion about the negative effects of cannabis, especially its impact on the developing brain and the increased risk of mental health disorders.

💡Developing Brain

A developing brain refers to the brain of a young person that is still growing and maturing, typically until the age of 25. The script highlights that the use of cannabis during this critical period can have long-lasting negative effects on cognitive functions and mental health.

💡Mood Regulation

Mood regulation is the ability of an individual to manage and control their emotional state. The video discusses how cannabis, particularly THC, can disrupt the neural circuitry involved in mood regulation, leading to potential mental health issues.

💡Executive Function

Executive function refers to the set of cognitive skills that allow a person to plan, organize, and execute tasks effectively. The script points out that the development of these functions is crucial for becoming a functional adult and can be negatively impacted by cannabis use.

💡THC

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive component in cannabis. The video emphasizes that THC, especially in high concentrations, can significantly increase the risk of developing mental health disorders such as psychosis, depression, and anxiety.

💡Potent

Potent refers to the strength or effectiveness of a substance, often in terms of its concentration or purity. The script discusses the correlation between the potency of cannabis, specifically THC concentration, and the increased risk of mental health issues.

💡Psychosis

Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by a disconnection from reality, often involving hallucinations or delusions. The video cites research indicating that heavy cannabis use can quadruple the risk of developing psychosis later in life.

💡Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder characterized by a range of different symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking. The script mentions that cannabis use, especially during the developmental years, can increase the risk of developing schizophrenia.

💡Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is characterized by extreme mood swings between emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). The video script indicates that cannabis use can exacerbate the risk of bipolar episodes, particularly in those predisposed to the condition.

💡Systematic Review

A systematic review is a comprehensive analysis that uses explicit methods to identify, select, and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review. The script refers to a systematic review published in Lancet Psychiatry that analyzed the impact of cannabis potency on mental health.

💡Major Depressive Episode

A major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, along with other symptoms that affect functioning. The video points out that high-potency cannabis use is linked to an increased risk of experiencing a major depressive episode.

💡Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear. The script discusses how the use of high-potency cannabis can lead to the development of anxiety disorders later in life.

Highlights

Cannabis is becoming legal in various areas and is often discussed for its positive effects without much consideration of the negative effects.

Cannabis use is acknowledged to have known positive effects for adults with very occasional use, provided it is safe and legal.

The safety of cannabis for the developing brain and body is a distinct issue from its effects on adults.

The brain continues to develop until at least age 25, and cannabis, particularly THC, can disrupt mood regulation and executive functions.

A Lancet Psychiatry paper from 2022 systematically reviewed the association between cannabis potency and mental health/addiction.

Chronic cannabis use (more than twice per week) is linked to mental health disorders.

Heavy cannabis use increases the risk of psychosis, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes, by four times.

Both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have a strong genetic component, and cannabis use can exacerbate the risk for those predisposed.

The study points to a clear conclusion that higher THC concentration correlates with a higher probability of developing mental health issues.

The advent of new, more potent strains of cannabis increases the risk of psychosis.

The paper emphasizes the need to reduce cannabis use frequency and potency in adolescents and young adults to mitigate health risks.

The general perception that cannabis is safer than alcohol and may have health benefits can mislead young people into risky use.

The most frequent adopters of cannabis use are in the age bracket of 16 to 24, which coincides with the period of brain development.

Young people are more likely to adopt cannabis use due to media portrayal and celebrity endorsements.

The paper's findings on the risks associated with cannabis use, especially for the young, have not received enough media attention.

The transcript calls for awareness and caution regarding cannabis use, particularly for the developing brain.

Transcripts

ANDREW HUBERMAN: Cannabis is a unique instance

in which nowadays we are hearing,

yes, it's becoming legal in a number of areas,

and we talked earlier about why that's probably

a good thing in most circumstances,

but that we aren't just hearing that cannabis is safe

or it's not just being implied that cannabis is safer,

but many more people are talking about the positive effects

of cannabis without a lot of discussion

about the negative effects of cannabis.

And I realize that saying this is

going to upset some people out there

because I know that there are a number of people who fought

very hard for the legalization process,

and I want to acknowledge that.

I also want to acknowledge the many known positive effects

of cannabis in adults with very occasional use,

provided it is delivered safely and in the safe context

and setting and with legality.

That is entirely distinct from the issue of

whether or not cannabis is safe for the developing

brain and body.

Again, I'm not demonizing anybody for using cannabis,

but I want to make the point very simply and very directly.

It is far and away a different circumstance

for the brain for an individual to be

25 years or older and using cannabis, in whatever form,

occasionally or maybe even frequently,

than it is for a young person aged 14 to 25

to be using cannabis, either by smoking or vaping

or by edible or any other form, on the brain and body.

It's absolutely clear that the brain continues to develop

at least until age 25 and that a huge number of systems related

to mood regulation, so-called the executive function,

the ability to organize one's thoughts, plan,

and execute plans, essentially to become a functional human

being--

that's one portion of becoming a functional human being,

but certainly an essential one--

all of that relies on the fine-tuning

of this neural circuitry that we've been

talking about up until now.

And it's abundantly clear that cannabis,

and THC in particular, dramatically

disrupt those processes.

So if this isn't clear enough just from my statements,

I'd like to point to a particular paper.

This is one of the more impactful papers

in this area in recent years.

This is a paper published in Lancet Psychiatry in 2022.

The title is "Association of cannabis potency

with mental ill health and addiction:

a systematic review."

There are a number of very important points

in this very fine paper.

Lancet Psychiatry is one of the Premier medical journals

out there, and they evaluated a huge number of studies.

They actually looked at more than 4,000 studies.

They selected the ones that were only

the most rigorous in terms of study design and analysis

and rigor of conclusions, and they

looked at how early use of cannabis

impacted later probability of development

of psychosis and other psychiatric conditions.

And the takeaways from this study are very clear.

First of all, chronic cannabis use--

so more than twice per week--

has consistently been associated with mental health disorders.

I'm pulling some phrases directly from the paper.

Heavy cannabis use, meaning cannabis use

more frequent than twice per week,

has been associated with four times the risk of psychosis

later in life.

In particular, schizophrenia and bipolar-like episodes.

Now, we've done an episode on bipolar disorder,

so-called bipolar depression.

We have not yet done one on schizophrenia.

But both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

have a very, very strong genetic component.

There's a 30-- three zero--

times greater likelihood that you

have bipolar disorder if you have a first relative who

has bipolar disorder.

And then it's also the case that using

cannabis, especially during adolescence and the teen years

and up until age 25, create a four times greater risk

of psychosis for those that have a predisposition to bipolar

disorder and/or schizophrenia.

Now, I don't hear very much about this in the media.

This paper got some attention, and then

it sort of got swept away.

I don't think that was an intentional sweeping way.

There's just a lot of events in the world, as you well know.

But I think it's a particularly important set of findings,

because, obviously, in looking at so many studies,

it distills out the strongest findings that are out there

and really pulls the consistent messages that

are arriving from all these different studies.

And, as they point out-- and, again, I'm paraphrasing here--

this is the first systematic review

of the association of cannabis potency, and all of the data

point to a very clear conclusion, which

is the more potent the THC concentration,

the higher probability of developing psychosis

or a major depressive episode or a major anxiety disorder

later in life.

That should be of particular concern

because we know, we are absolutely clear,

about the fact that with the advent of all these new strains

of cannabis and with the engineering and availability

of cannabis at much higher potency, meaning THC potency,

the risk of psychosis is going up and up

and is likely to continue going up unless something is done

to reduce the frequency of cannabis use

to zero, ideally, or to very low frequency, very

low potency, in adolescents and teens

and people age 25 or younger.

I know a lot of people don't want

to hear this message because, first of all, it's alarming,

and, second of all, as I mentioned earlier,

the statistics tell us that the greatest number of people

that are starting to use cannabis

are in the age bracket of 16 to 24.

Many of them are functional in other areas of life.

They are students.

They are employed, et cetera.

But when you couple that with the fact

that the most frequent adopters of cannabis use

are in this age bracket of 16 to 24--

they're twice as likely to use as other individuals

or to start using cannabis as are other individuals--

plus the general perception out there because of the way

that cannabis is discussed in the media and by sports figures

and by celebrities and by politicians,

et cetera, that it's not as bad as alcohol and maybe not

that bad and maybe even has health benefits,

then you're essentially setting up

a system where young people are far more

likely to adopt and continue cannabis use without realizing

these serious health consequences that await them

later.

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