1. A review of studies on how cannabis affects teens shows that THC can interfere with normal growth and brain development.

2. Research over the years has found that using THC during adolescence can change the structure, molecules, and function of brain circuits.

3. THC can harm the hippocampus and another area called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which are both important for learning and memory.

4. In a study on mice, researchers found that exposure to THC during adolescence caused long-term memory problems.

5. Studies have also shown that THC use can impact short-term memory.

6. Studies show that regular cannabis use can cause changes in the brain's structure, leading to poor neural efficiency.

7. A study with weed users found that teens (12–17) who used weed without any previous dependency or addiction were more likely to develop a dependence on cannabis within 12 months, while young adults (18–25) were more likely to develop it within 36 months.

8. According to the CDC, about 30% of cannabis users have cannabis use disorder, and the risk of developing it increases if teens begin using cannabis before age 18.

9. A study found that using weed as a coping mechanism was a predictor of potential weed dependence.

10. Many studies have shown that not all regions of the brain develop at the same time.

11. In a study that compared the brains of weed and non-weed users, scientists found that marijuana use during adolescence can negatively impact the development of the prefrontal cortex and can increase the thinning of this region of the brain.

12. Researchers have finally begun to understand the endocannabinoid system’s (ECS) role in regulating memory.

13. Researchers have finally begun to understand the ECS’s role in coping with stress.

14. Researchers have finally begun to understand the ECS’s role in managing anxiety.

15. But studies have shown that when THC enters the body, it overwhelms the ECS and prevents endocannabinoids from doing their job in regulating memory, coordination/alertness, coping with stress, and managing anxiety.

16. One study on the effects of cannabis on adolescent brain development showed that chronic weed exposure can affect one's cognitive impairment.

17. Scientists compared the attention maturation of people who use weed with that of participants who had not used weed. People who used weed had “less age-expected improvements on tests assessing sustained attention, visuospatial working memory, and executive functioning” than nonusers.

18. Weed may affect the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in regulating stress and emotions, and may affect a person’s ability to process emotions.

19. This study showed that THC use is associated with changes in how these regions are organized at a microscopic level, possibly affecting the function of the amygdala.

20. One study demonstrates that consistent cannabis users exhibit reductions in their amygdala, which is associated with dysfunction in underlying emotion processing.

21. Research shows that cannabis exposure can impact specific neural circuits within the basal ganglia including circuits that manage motivation, learning, memory, and recognizing visual features.