2026-04-01 12:06:03
Regular cannabis use could reshape the brain, scientists have warned.
A new study suggests long-term users may experience “thinning” in the frontal cortex – the area responsible for decision-making, planning and self-control.
The research, led by the Fidmag Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation in Spain, found structural differences in people who used cannabis heavily over long periods.
This thinning could indicate a loss of brain cells or weaker connections between them, potentially affecting how the brain handles complex tasks.
Lead author Ana Aquino-Servin said: “Executive functions are really complex processes and it includes planning, decision making, working memory. They are processes that we need every day to deal with daily problems.”
She added: “Maybe they [regular cannabis users] don’t have a big struggle to do [tasks], but maybe the brain needs to do more work to do it. We can probably find degrees in productivity, also, in doing work tasks.”
The study also pointed to a possible motivation dip among regular users.
Aquino-Servin said: “I think another issue that can be going on here is the relation between [cannabis] use and a decrease of motivation. There’s some evidence that cannabis users have less motivation … So this can also lead to a reduction of starting tasks.”
Researchers analysed 46 adults, with an average age of 31, who had used cannabis daily for at least five years – many for a decade. Their brain scans were compared to people who had used the drug fewer than 10 times.
While cannabis is often seen as low-risk and can be prescribed in the UK for some conditions, experts say the findings raise important questions.
Dr Julian Beezhold, secretary general of the European Psychiatric Association, said: “As cannabis policies and public attitudes evolve, robust imaging studies like this are important for informing public health discussions with objective data.”
However, scientists stress more research is needed to determine whether the brain changes are permanent – or if they could be reversed.
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