Faculty Mentors
Dr. Mandy Jarriel
Abstract
As numerous variations of cannabis become increasingly legalized in the United States, a growing body of research is emerging that reveals the adverse effects of chronic, recreational, and long-term marijuana use on human mental, emotional, and social development, general cognition, and academic and career performance. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the nation and its potency continues to rise (Atkinson, 2016; Beaver, 2010; Gilman, 2015). Addiction scientists have found an association between chronic cannabis use and slowed neurocognitive function and information processing, measurable deficits in memory, learning, motivation, attention, persistent irritability, paranoia, insomnia, anxiety disorders, depression, general malaise, adverse social outcomes, and negative effects on educational and occupational outcomes (Ames, 2018; Ansell, 2015; Aria, 2015; Ashenhurst, 2017; Atkinson, 2016; Brook, 2011a; Brook, 2011b; Brook, 2008; Brook, 1999; Buckner, 2009; Cobb-Clarke, 2015; Derrick, 2018; Doherty, 2017; French, 2014; Gilman, 2015; Homel, 2016; Lac, 2018; Meier, 2018). It is likely that as the legalization of cannabis expands, the social and human cost of this epidemic will rapidly accumulate, calling for prompt public health, clinical, and legislative efforts to manage the consequences.
Recommended Citation
Imhoff, Celia G.
(2020)
"Long-Term Outcomes of Chronic, Recreational Marijuana Use,"
The Corinthian: Vol. 20, Article 16.
Available at:
https://kb.gcsu.edu/thecorinthian/vol20/iss1/16