Cannabis—referred to by its many names of marijuana, pot, weed, etc—is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant. Its relationship to mental health is deeply complex, as it can help some people while harming others. As the drug is legalized in more places, particularly in the U.S., the mental health implications will become increasingly important to observe, understand, and address.
The Science of Cannabis
Cannabis is comprised of two components: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component, and cannabidiol (CBD) which is not psychoactive. Marijuana produces effects on the brain by activating cannabinoid receptors, which in turn activate the brain’s reward system.
Cannabis is surprisingly diverse—it is categorized as a depressant, a stimulant , and a hallucinogen due to the wide variety of effects it can produce. (It is not classified as an opiate.) Cannabis can slow brain functions and lead to relaxation and sleepiness, as depressants do, but it can also speed up brain functions and lead to anxiety or paranoia, like stimulants, and lead to altered perceptual experiences, like hallucinogens.
Scientists don’t have a complete understanding of what happens in the brain during a high, but the process involves the brain’s reward pathways. A recent neuroimaging study examined the effects of THC in healthy young adults with a limited history of cannabis use. Subjects who received THC demonstrated greater connectivity between two regions in the reward system—the right nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex. The higher subjects rated themselves, the greater the connectivity. The THC in cannabis may stimulate cannabinoid receptors on GABA neurons, turning off the continuous inhibition of dopamine and leaving users feeling a euphoric high.
Does cannabis prevent weight gain or induce weight loss?
Explore More About Cannabis
For a comprehensive understanding of cannabis, read our complete guide: