| Those who smoke marijuana are familiar with the | | | | Research has shown that marijuana use lowers |
| "high" they feel when they smoke. This article | | | | memory and other mental functions for up to a couple |
| discusses the effects of THC on the brain, as well as | | | | of days after smoking. If you smoke daily, or more, |
| the negative effects of heavy marijuana use on the | | | | you may always be functioning at a below normal |
| mind. | | | | mental level. Studies have also show a link between |
| How does Marijuana Effect the Brain? | | | | weed use and mental problems like anxiety, |
| THC, the active ingredient in marijuana works on | | | | depression and schizophrenia. The jury is out on |
| specific parts of the brains hardware, called | | | | whether marijuana causes, influences, even has any |
| cannabinoid receptors. Activating a cannabinoid | | | | affect on these illnesses. If you have ever had a |
| receptor with THC creates a bunch of cellular | | | | psychotic reaction to marijuana, you are more likely to |
| reactions that eventually create to the "high" that you | | | | have a psychotic break later in life than if you smoked |
| feel when you smoke weed. Cannabinoid receptors | | | | and did not have one. Clarity of mind is one of the |
| exist throughout the brain. They are most common in | | | | greatest benefits of quitting weed. |
| parts The areas of the brain that influence pleasure, | | | | One of the biggest issues I had with my marijuana |
| time, memory, and concentration have the highest | | | | addiction was how lazy and forgetful I was. The term |
| conentration of these receptors. Smoking marijuana | | | | for this is "amotivational syndrome". People who |
| regularly can overwhelm these receptors and cause | | | | smoke a lot of weed and are amotivational are what |
| some negative mental effects. Studies have shown | | | | we refer to as "burnouts". Some people can smoke |
| that frequent marijuana use can rewire the dopamine | | | | frequently and be functional, some can't. Personally, I |
| pleasure receptors in the brain. | | | | believe that amotivational syndrome is |
| What are the Negative Effects of Marijuana on the | | | | marijuana-induced depression. |
| Mind? | | | | |