Smoking Pot Reduces IO Level in Teens: Study

Teens who smoke pot too often have lower IQ levels, finds a study.

Marijuana or cannabis induces a mild euphoric and relaxing sensation that lasts for about 90 minutes on average. Cannabis or 'pot' is the most common form of recreational drug that is known to have long-term effects on mental health and brain functioning in children and youngsters. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, say smoking pot once a week affects memory, concentration and thinking capabilities in teens. Their research examined participants aged below 25 who were exposed to the drug.

It was observed many subjects began using the drug in their late teens and became regular pot smokers at age 20. The experts did an analysis of past studies on impact of marijuana on brain structure and noted it significantly changes the brains of adolescents. Their analysis revealed frequent exposure to pot diminished the grey matter volume that is associated with intellectual skills.

The study also looked at data of 17,482 teenagers in Montana and found that the trend of marijuana addiction was common in places where the drug use was legalized for medical purposes. The recent drive to legalize marijuana use for medical purposes may pose a threat to the health of the younger population, fear the researchers.

"It needs to be emphasized that regular cannabis use, defined here as once a week, is not safe and may result in addiction and neurocognitive damage, especially in youth. The adolescent period is a sensitive period of neurodevelopment," said Krista Lisdahl, director of the brain-imaging and neuropsychology lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, reports theUSA Today.

"Unfortunately, much of what we know from earlier research is based on smoking marijuana with much lower doses of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) than are commonly used today. All we know so far is that more people are showing up in the ERs with adverse effects. We've only seen a little bit of it with marijuana, but now we're seeing more of it," said Alan Budney, psychologist at the Dartmouth College.

More information is available online in the journal of Current Addiction Reports.