Persistent Use

This is a description of the content of the video on this page: words appear on the screen as the narrator says, “Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife.” As images of a marijuana plant and a human brain appear, the narrator describes a recently released research study about the association between persistent marijuana use and neuropsychological decline. A graphic appears showing 1037 participants who were followed from birth to age 38 in the study from 2012. Text appears on the screen as the narrator explains that when marijuana is used over a long period of time, it may cause lasting damage to brain functions. A higher level of damage has been found when individuals use marijuana more frequently, have used over a longer period of time, and start using at a younger age. Graphics appear with two individuals representing people who start regular use as adults and people who start before the age of 18. The graphics move and demonstrate as the narrator continues to explain that people who started to use before age 18 had a larger drop in IQ than those who started using marijuana as an adult. People in the study who persistently used marijuana showed more impairment in executive functioning, such as their ability to pay attention, change focus, and switch among problem-solving strategies. Friends and family said that they noticed those who have a habit of marijuana use are easily distracted, can’t concentrate, and tune out instead of focusing. As the graphics are animated to demonstrate various results of persistent marijuana use, the narrator continues to explain that users have difficulty organizing tasks that have many steps, and they have problems with memory. For example, they misplace their wallet, keys, eyeglasses, or paperwork. They also forgot to do errands, return calls, and pay bills. Words appear on the screen saying that regular marijuana use before the age of 18 can have harmful, long-lasting effects on brain functioning. The narrator continues as the graphic illustrates that persistent marijuana use during adolescence evidenced an eight-point decline from childhood to adulthood.