Does smoking weed kill a persons brain cells?
Theres not a whole lot of evidence out there to either support or discredit the perception. Photo by Camrocker / iStock / Getty Images Plus  Article content Theres plenty of myths surrounding cannabis. From killing brain cells to making people lazy, cannabis has been attributed to a lot of things. Despite how widespread the stereotype is, theres not a whole lot of evidence out there to either support or discredit the perception. Some believe this may have started with that infamous fried egg commercial, which started airing in the 1980s and depicted a fried egg as the encapsulation of a persons brain on drugs. Clearly, moderate use of cannabis will not fry the brain. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video When it comes to evidence, there is a study that shows a connection between a smaller hippocampus and chronic cannabis use. Important for memory and learning, the hippocampus isnt directly related to brain cells, but it does show a negative connection between chronic cannabis use and an some impairment. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Another study, this one conducted over 38 years, has linked cannabis use with cognitive decline. Findings indicated that adolescents who heavily used cannabis and continued to do so as adults lost six to eight IQ points by the time they reached midlife. Those who used heavily and quit later on in their lives didnt regain lost IQ points. But adults who used cannabis heavily didnt lose any IQ points. Other studies show the opposite. A study conducted on mice indicates that low dosages of THC can reverse age-related cognitive impairments. This association was also identified in another study involving people who had Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease, which showed THC and CBD could be therapeutic. Theres no clear answer on cannabis and brain cells. While there have been negative associations between heavy cannabis use and the brain, moderate cannabis use has been linked to therapeutic effects. In order to consume cannabis in a way thats smart and positive for a persons health, moderation is key. Perhaps instead of consuming on a daily basis, it might be better to view cannabis a treat, not a habit. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or The FreshToast.com, a U.S. lifestyle site that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via Skipta, medical marijuana information to The GrowthOp. Subscribe to Weekend Dispensary, a new weekly newsletter from The GrowthOp. Share this article in your social network        Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Weekend Dispensary Sign-up for Weekend Dispensary to get the latest cannabis news and exclusive articles delivered straight to your inbox. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Weekend Dispensary will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again  Trending