California: a four-year study on the long-term effects of cannabis on young people

What are the long-term effects of cannabis on young people? A four-year study will attempt to answer this thorny question.

The context of the study

The University of Irvine in California has just been awarded a $9 million grant to carry out a 4-year study on long-term effects of cannabis use on adolescents. Funding is provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), affiliated with the National Institute of Health.

The study will be conducted by UC Irvine's new Center for the Study of Cannabis, founded last year as a partnership between the School of Law and the School of Medicine. It will study the pharmacological and physiological effects of cannabis, as well as its legal implications, social and economic.

Daniele Piomelli, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Cannabis Studies says «this grant will enable us to take a big step towards a solid understanding of the real dangers and benefits of cannabis, and may lead to better methods of preventing cannabis dependence».

He adds, «It can also guide policy decisions firmly based on scientific evidence regarding the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis, as well as directing the development of medications to treat serious illnesses.»

Concerns

Cannabis use is fairly widespread among young Americans and often begins in adolescence. In 2013, a NIDA-sponsored survey estimated that 11.7% of middle school students and 35.1% of high school students had used cannabis at least once in their lives, figures similar to those for France. The first post-legalization studies noted only no noticeable effect of the various legalizations on young people's consumption.

This early consumption is renowned hinder or modify adolescent development. Some studies suggest that, like alcohol, Intense premature consumption can have irreversible effects on a young brain.

Daniele Piomelli points out that the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in young people exposed to cannabis is suspected, but stresses that these assertions need to be backed up by scientific research to determine «at what point in life and at what dose cannabis consumption can become dangerous».

A scientific perspective

The specific aim of the study is to determine the long-term effects of a early exposure to THC on adolescent behavior and brain function, and to understand the chemical processes involved in potential brain transformations. Research will therefore focus on «persistent changes in the endocannabinoid system and its signals, synaptic plasticity and behavior» in young users.

The endocannabinoid system is based on molecules produced by the body that regulate certain body functions and spirit. Visit phytocannabinoids, the plant's molecules, have similar effects on physiological and psychological processes. Piomelli explains that “the endocannabinoid system is the main entry point of THC into the brain (...) it is very important to understand whether excessive activation of the signaling system during adolescence can alter cognitive abilities and motivate behaviors that last into adulthood».