A Systematic Review Found Cannabinoids Can Cause Brain Damage Leading to Psychiatric, Cognitive, and Neurological Disorders | Research

The takeaway

Across 30 human studies, cannabinoid consumption was associated with psychiatric, neurocognitive, and neurological disorders, with high-potency synthetic cannabinoids posing the greatest risks, including rare cases of death from acute consumption.

Neurologists, toxicologists, emergency physicians, public health educators, forensic pathologists.

Synthetic cannabinoid use was linked to brain damage and death in some cases

What the researchers found

Cannabinoid consumption is associated with psychiatric disorders, neurocognitive impairment, neurological disorders, and in some cases of acute consumption of synthetic cannabinoids, death. Synthetic cannabinoids carry the greatest risks, but phytocannabinoid use is not devoid of neurotoxic potential.

Why it matters

As cannabis becomes more socially accepted, the neurotoxicity risks are increasingly overlooked. This review serves as a corrective, documenting that brain damage from cannabinoids is a real clinical phenomenon, not just a theoretical concern.

The numbers in context

30 papers included. Risks highest with high-potency synthetic cannabinoids. Phytocannabinoids also carry risks. Acute synthetic cannabinoid use linked to death in some cases.

How the study worked

Systematic literature search through PubMed and Scopus using specific search terms for cannabinoid brain damage/toxicity. Critical appraisal of collected studies. 30 papers included examining toxic brain effects in human subjects.

What this study cannot tell us

Systematic review but limited to 30 studies. Heterogeneous study designs and cannabinoid types. Cannot establish dose-response relationships from included studies. May overrepresent severe cases. Search terms may have missed relevant studies.

How to read the evidence

Systematic review of 30 human studies with critical appraisal. Limited by study heterogeneity.

When this study was published

Published in 2023.

The bigger picture

The review calls for reinforcing toxicological monitoring of new synthetic substances and better public education. The message is not that all cannabis use causes brain damage, but that the risks are real and underappreciated, especially with synthetic products.

Questions still open

What dose thresholds distinguish safe from neurotoxic cannabinoid exposure?
Should synthetic cannabinoid monitoring be integrated with standard toxicology surveillance?

Common questions

Can cannabis damage the brain?

This systematic review of 30 human studies found cannabinoid use is associated with psychiatric, cognitive, and neurological disorders. Synthetic cannabinoids carry the greatest risk, but natural cannabis use is not risk-free.

Are synthetic cannabinoids more dangerous?

Yes. High-potency synthetic cannabinoids were associated with the most severe outcomes, including neurological damage and death in some acute cases.

Read the original research

Cannabinoids and Brain Damage: A Systematic Review on a Frequently Overlooked Issue.

Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, 24(6), 741-757

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Scopetti, Matteo; Morena, Donato; Manetti, Federico; Santurro, Alessandro; Fazio, Nicola Di; D'Errico, Stefano; Padovano, Martina; Frati, Paola; Fineschi, Vittorio. (2023). Cannabinoids and Brain Damage: A Systematic Review on a Frequently Overlooked Issue.. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology, 24(6), 741-757. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389201023666220614145535