Cannabis Affects the Brain Differently Depending on Your Age
A narrative review found that cannabis poses the greatest neurological risks during prenatal development and adolescence, while rising use among older adults introduces a different set of health concerns.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Recent epidemiological data suggest a potential reversal in escalating cannabis use rates among pregnant women and adolescents, but use among older adults continues to climb with low risk perception. Preclinical and clinical evidence supports high risk during prenatal and adolescent brain development.
Key Numbers
NSDUH data from 2002-2023 analyzed; three life stages examined: in utero, adolescence, and late adulthood; data collected during 2020 and since 2021 used different methods than earlier years.
How They Did This
Narrative review synthesizing preclinical and clinical studies across three life stages (in utero, adolescence, late adulthood), supplemented with updated NSDUH data from 2002-2023 on cannabis use rates and risk perceptions.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis access expands, understanding age-specific risks is critical for tailored public health messaging. The finding that older adults now represent the fastest-growing user group with the lowest risk perception is a relatively new concern.
The Bigger Picture
This review connects the dots between developmental neuroscience, changing cannabis policies, and shifting demographics of cannabis use. The trend of declining youth use alongside rising senior use represents a demographic shift that public health systems need to track.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review methodology is less rigorous than systematic review. NSDUH data collection changed in 2020-2021, limiting direct comparisons across years. Much of the prenatal and adolescent evidence comes from preclinical models.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are the declining use trends among pregnant women and adolescents sustained or temporary?
- ?What specific risks do older adults face from cannabis use that differ from younger populations?
- ?How should public health messaging differ by age group?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Older adults now show the fastest-rising cannabis use rates with the lowest risk perception
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: Synthesizes a broad body of preclinical and clinical evidence with updated national survey data, though the narrative review format involves less systematic methodology.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 with NSDUH data through 2023.
- Original Title:
- Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain and Behavior.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research (2025)
- Authors:
- Murray, Conor H(5), Cassarino, Joshua, Cooper, Ziva D(28)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07213
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Which age group is most at risk from cannabis use?
Based on the evidence reviewed, individuals exposed in utero and during adolescence face the greatest neurological risks, as cannabis can interfere with brain development and increase susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Why are older adults a growing concern?
Cannabis use rates among older adults are escalating while risk perception remains low. This population may face unique health risks from cannabis use that interact with age-related health conditions and medications.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07213APA
Murray, Conor H; Cassarino, Joshua; Cooper, Ziva D. (2025). Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain and Behavior.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. https://doi.org/10.1177/25785125251372061
MLA
Murray, Conor H, et al. "Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain and Behavior.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/25785125251372061
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Age-Related Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain an..." RTHC-07213. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/murray-2025-agerelated-effects-of-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.