During the several recent decades of cannabis (marijuana) prohibition, usage of the plant was often associated with negative brain effects in the propaganda pushed forth by those who profited from making the plant illegal. “Frying your brain” is one phrase that comes to mind.
At the extreme end of the spectrum are those who will try to say that marijuana will cause schizophrenia, an extreme mental disorder affecting how one thinks, feels and behaves. But is there any truth to this at all?
In this study the authors performed a systematic review including structural magnetic resonance imaging studies comparing high risk and schizophrenia patients both with and without marijuana use.
They were forced to concede that there was inconclusive evidence, and specifically stated that there was no evidence to support that any brain changes seen in such patients came before the schizophrenia itself (i.e. from marijuana use).
It is important to note that the authors were referring to cannabis ABUSE, not cannabis USE, making the implications even safer for responsible medical marijuana patients.
