Marijuana's Impact: CNS Damage, Fetal Risks, and Developmental Issues

This essay examines the adverse effects of marijuana, particularly focusing on its impact on the central nervous system (CNS) and pregnancy. It details how phytocannabinoids in marijuana can cause significant damage to the CNS, especially in developing brains, leading to cognitive impairments and increased risk of schizophrenia. The essay highlights the dangers of marijuana use during pregnancy, including the potential for interference with neuronal wiring, overstimulation of cannabinoid receptors, and the transfer of harmful substances to the fetus, potentially leading to neurobehavioral deficiencies and abnormalities in offspring. It also discusses the impact of Δ9-THC and other psychoactive ingredients on the developing CNS, and the risks associated with early-onset marijuana use, emphasizing the need for further research on the detrimental effects of gestational exposure to marijuana's psychoactive components.

Marijuana and its effects
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Effects of Marijuana
Marijuana contains various phyto-cannabinoids which induce extreme damage to the CNS and
its cell. The phytocannabinoid are seen to impact the neonatal and immature CNS to more extent
as compared to a normal adult brain. On a prolonged exposure to the phytocannabinoid of during
the neonatal period, cognitive impairments can be exposed the offspring. Especially, during the
pubertal period, the phytocannabinoids can have their utmost damaging effects along with the
cognitive deficits. Further, the use of marijuana can lead to a greater risk of schizophrenia.
Further, when undertaken during the pregnancy period, the marijuana interferes with the
endocannabinoid induced neuronal wiring and leads to the overstimulation of the endogenous
cannabinoid receptors especially at the important stages of the neural development. Therefore,
the brain structure in the initial years of the postal natal life is seen to be affected severely.
This leads to damaged nervous system functioning. Marijuana can easily be transferred from the
mother to their offspring during gestation or milk lactation and can lead to immaturity of the
blood brain barrier at the young age. With the early-onset use of marijuana, the brain
composition can be damaged severely. Various researches have reported the structural
abnormalities in corpus callosum and reduced hippocampal and amygdala volumes. The
excessive use of the phytocannabinoid also leads to death. (Psychoyos, D. and Vinod, K.Y.,
2013)
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Harm caused by marijuana on pregnant woman.
The use of marijuana by the pregnant women might lead to adverse effects on the prenatal and
natal life. The predominant psychoactive constituent Δ9 –tetrahydrocannabinol crosses the
fetoplacental barrier and gets accumulated in the fetal tissues of the developing brain. This
further causes potential to harm the overall development of the central nervous system (CNS).
The development of the brain and the overall central nervous system (CNS) on being exposed to
the marijauan is affected by the Δ9 -THC and other cannabimimetics, which include the
psychoactive ingredients of the branded product ’Spice’ branded products. The developing CNS
has an endocannabinoid (eCB) system which is important for proliferation, migration as well as
differentiation of the neurons which is impacted by the interference of these exocannabinoids.
With the high peri-conceptional exposure to the marijuana, there is an increased risk for
anencephaly in the humans. This risk is estimated to increase in the following years due to the
number of childbearing women who are potentially exposed to marijuana along with the Δ9 -
THC content found in marijuana preparations. Further the gestational marijuana exposure is seen
to be related to the various neurobehavioural deficiencies like the visual behavioural alternations
in the neonates: motor, mental and related neurobehavioural deficiencies, aggressive issues and
behavioural issues.
Finally, when the gestation is exposed to the Δ9 –THC, the ontogeny of various neurotransmitter
systems is interfered and impacts the catecholaminergic and opioidergenic systems, leading to
the abnormal neuronal circuitry when the centres are developed which required these
neurotransmitters are required (Downer, E.J. and Campbell, V.A., 2010). This leads to
consequent neurobehavioural abnormalities in the offspring. Therefore, a potential risk has been
posed for the fetus of the pregnant ladies and the teens as there is a limited information on the
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detrimental effects of the gestational exposure to the psychoactive constituents of Spice blends
and to cannabinoid research chemicals.
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References
Psychoyos, D. and Vinod, K.Y., 2013. Marijuana, Spice'herbal high', and early neural
development: implications for rescheduling and legalization. Drug testing and analysis, 5(1),
pp.27-45.
Downer, E.J. and Campbell, V.A., 2010. Phytocannabinoids, CNS cells and development: a dead
issue?. Drug and alcohol review, 29(1), pp.91-98.
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