Cannabis Addiction and Brain: A Comprehensive Report

This report provides an overview of cannabis addiction and its neurobiological effects, referencing the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology (2018) article. It discusses the increasing prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and the need to assess the addictive potential of cannabis. The report applies the neurobiological model of addiction, breaking down the process into three stages: the binge/antitoxin phase, the withdrawal/negative affect stage, and the preoccupation/anticipation stage. Each stage affects specific brain regions and neurocircuits, influencing impulse control, reward pathways, and relapse. The report emphasizes the impact of cannabis on the brain and behavior, highlighting the parallels between CUD and other substances of abuse. Key findings include the effects on the basal ganglia, extended amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, all of which play a role in the cycle of addiction.

Running head: CANNABIS ADDICTION AND THE BRAIN 1
Author’s Name
Professor’s Name
Student Affiliation
Date

CANNABIS ADDICTION AND THE BRAIN 2
Cannabis Addiction and the Brain
Cannabis sativa is one of the currently abused drugs after alcohol and tobacco in the USA.
Individuals believe that the use of marijuana does not affect brain activity despite the recent
increased cases of disorders related to the use of Cannabis Sativa. Statistically, there was an
increase from 1.5% to 2.9% increase prevalence for cannabis use disorder (Zehra et al., 2018).
Between 2001 and 2002 and 2012-2013, there was increased use of marijuana, a figure which
shot from 4% to 9.5%. Since 2001, teenagers have been using marijuana, an issue which has
further increased the incidences of cannabis use and the CUD cases across the globe. (Vergara et
al., 2018). Consequently, the shift in mentality has generated intergenerational repercussions.
Notably, the children whose parents previously used cannabis Sativa risk being victims of
marijuana consumers in the future. An individual who has a chronic problem with cannabis use
has a high chance of developing a condition known as substance use disorder (SUD). 9% of
these people develop symptoms of dependence, and the chronic incidences of relapse have
caused neurophysiological changes linked to reward, and stress (Vergara et al., 2018).
The addiction affects the neurocircuits in three steps. The first stage is the binge/ antitoxin
phase, which is characterized by an impact on the basal ganglia. The region is associated with a
lot of impulsion and compulsion to use drugs despite the negative implications of the use (Zehra
et al., 2018). The mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic is usually hyperactive. It is a reward pathway
in the brain linked to reinforcing the reward effects of the drug positively. Secondly, there is the
withdrawal/ negative affect stage, which is majorly affected by the extended amygdala, and it is
an antagonist of the binge episodes. Lastly, there is the preoccupation, which is coupled with the
anticipation that is influenced by the cannabis effect on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) (Zehra et al.,

CANNABIS ADDICTION AND THE BRAIN 3
2018). This stage reinstates substance use after a period of abstinence. The PFC plays a
significant role in helping the individuals to control cravings in this stage
Reference

CANNABIS ADDICTION AND THE BRAIN 4
Vergara, V. M., Weiland, B. J., Hutchison, K. E., & Calhoun, V. D. (2018). The impact of
combinations of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis on dynamic brain connectivity.
Neuropsychopharmacology, 43(4), 877–890.
Zehra, A., Burns, J., Liu, C. K., Manza, P., Wiers, C. E., Volkow, N. D., & Wang, G.-J. (2018).
Cannabis addiction and the brain: A review. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 13(4),
438–452.