Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine concluded regular use of Marijuana by teens could lead to psychiatric problems and increased risk of schizophrenia.

According to an article in the National Post, researchers came to this conclusion after studying the effects of marijuana on lab mice. After subjecting young lab mice to low doses of marijuana for a 20 day period, they discovered their test mice had significant damage to their “cortical oscillations” which impaired brain functions.

The researchers said, “The striking finding is that, even though the mice were exposed to very low drug doses, and only for a brief period during adolescence, their brain abnormalities persisted into adulthood.”

The concern is during human adolescence, the front part of the brain is still developing and that marijuana usage would similarly affect brain development of teens.

“Previous research has shown that children who started using marijuana before the age of 16 are at greater risk of permanent cognitive deficits, and have a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.” said the researchers.

Sources:

• Marijuana use by teens linked to permanent brain abnormalities later in life, increased schizophrenia risk: study
• Adolescent Cannabinoid Exposure Permanently Suppresses Cortical Oscillations in Adult Mice