Cannabis use - The effects

The active ingredient in cannabis, delta‐9‐ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is only found in small portions of the cannabis plant, in the flowering tops and in some of the leaves.

After consuming cannabis, users typically report the feeling of euphoria and relaxation.As those effects subside, some users report feeling sleepy or depressed, and others may feel anxious or panicked, or have paranoid thoughts or experience acute psychosis depending on pharmacogenetic characteristics and vulnerability.

Cannabis use is linked to deficits in tasks of executive functioning. It has negative effects on memory, including the ability to form new memories, and on attention and learning. These effects can last up to 28 days after abstinence from the drug.

Functional imaging of brain shows adults who use cannabis heavily often exhibit deficits in executive functioning, attention, learning, and memory within a few days following use.

Science confirms that the adolescent brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex, is not fully developed until the early to mid‐20s, with research indicating that developing brains are much more susceptible to all of the negative effects of marijuana and other drug use.