A UC San Diego study reveals that cannabis use during adolescence restricts cognitive development, especially in verbal memory and learning. The research tracked over 11,000 children for seven years.
- Cannabis users showed no improvement in verbal memory over time. - Frequent use was linked to slower growth in learning, attention, and processing speed.
- Hair-based toxicology tests detected frequent use over three months. - Researchers caution that observational data cannot prove direct causation.
The findings underscore the real risk of cannabis for teenagers, as the brain undergoes dramatic changes during this period.