Recommendation to reconsider examining cannabis subtypes together due to opposing effects on brain, cognition and behavior

Kristine Rømer Thomsen, Mette Buhl Callesen, Sarah W. Feldstein Ewing

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cannabis use represents a major public health issue throughout the globe. Yet, we still lack the most fundamental knowledge on long-term effects of cannabis on neural, cognitive, and behavioral function. Part of this stems from how cannabis has been measured historically. To this end, most empirical examinations of cannabis have consolidated all types of cannabis collectively. However, this approach obscures differences in how cannabinoids operate. In this commentary, we address the contrasting properties of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) and their opposing effects on cognitive function. In addition, we address the increase in cannabis potency throughout the past two decades and how that impacts generalizability of early data to evaluations of contemporary public health. We underscore the urgent need for future research to disaggregate examination of THC from CBD, along with the importance of measuring cannabis potency to more effectively unravel its influence on cognitive function and other health issues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)156-158
Number of pages3
JournalNeuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Volume80
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2017

Keywords

  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Cognition
  • Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
  • Learning
  • Memory
  • Potency

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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