Neuropsychological & Cognitive Function in Marijuana Users age 16-19 (2 studies)

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NEUROSPYCOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING IN ADOLESCENT MARIJUANA USERES; AFTER A MONTH OF ABSTINENCE.
Journal Of International Neuropsychological Society; 2007
Data collected from 65 adolescent marijuana users 16-18 years of age.
Neuropsychological assessments were conducted after 23 days of monitored abstinence.
Adolescent marijuana users demonstrate neuropsychological deficits compared with nonusers.

RESULTS:
After controlling for lifetime alcohol use and depressive symptoms, adolescent marijuana users demonstrated:
Slower psychomotor speed
Poorer complex attention & story memory
Poorer planning and sequencing ability as compared with controls

CONCLUSIONS:
Even after a month of monitored abstinence, adolescent marijuana users demonstrate neuropsychological deficits compared with nonusers. It is possible that frequent marijuana use during adolescence may negatively influence neuromaturation and cognitive development.


NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE IN ADOLESCENT MARIJUANA USERS WITH CO-OCCURRING ALCOHOL USE: A THREE YEAR LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Neuropsychology, Vol 29(6), Nov 2015, 829-843.

Data collected from a 3-year prospective study to evaluate the long-term neurocognitive effects of adolescent marijuana use. 
49 adolescents who use marijuana (MJ) as well as alcohol (ALC) where compared to 59 teens (control group) with limited substance use histories. 
They were given neuropsychological and substance use assessments when they were ages 16–19 and were then reassessed 18 and 36 months later

RESULTS:
MJ + ALC users performed significantly worse than controls, across time points, in the domains of complex attention, memory, processing speed, and visuospatial functioning

CONCLUSIONS:
Frequent marijuana use throughout adolescence and into young adulthood appeared linked to worsened cognitive performance.
Providing further support for the notion that the brain may be uniquely sensitive to frequent marijuana exposure during the adolescent phase of neurodevelopment. 

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