Marijuana on the Brain
According to new research smoking marijuana regularly distorts the brain’s natural risk and reward circuitry which, in turn, can affect people’s decision-making as well as their ability to maintain relationships. In this way, the study suggests it is possible to distinguish between recreational and chronic marijuana users by monitoring their brain activity. It also found a positive correlation between changes in the reward system as a result of marijuana use and the frequency of other problems an individual may be experiencing in his/her personal life. The authors claim that continued usage despite such issues is a key indicator of marijuana drug-dependency.