According to a recently published study, CBD has no proven effect in offsetting the effects of delta-9 THC on brain connectivity and may enhance it.
In contrast to previous studies that suggested that CBD may suppress the psychoactive effects of THC, this study found that adding CBD to THC not only fails to alleviate disruptions in neural connections, but in some cases It was found that neural connections were strengthened.
The study, carried out by researchers at the University of Bath and University College London and published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, shows that a mixture of THC and CBD may enhance the disruption of brain networks that are active during rest. It turned out that.
The research team used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the effects of cannabis on brain networks in adolescents and young adults. The study found that cannabis significantly disrupted functional connectivity in key brain regions responsible for daily functioning, decision-making, and memory, as well as areas responsible for processing emotions and important sensory information.
“Our findings suggest that CBD does not attenuate the effects of THC,” the study reports.
“THC+CBD significantly reduced connectivity compared to THC alone,” the researchers observed.
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A total of 46 people participated in the study: 22 young people aged 16 to 17 and 24 young adults aged 26 to 29. Participants inhaled vaporized cannabis containing THC, a combination of THC and CBD, or a placebo before undergoing an MRI scan. Both THC and THC+CBD combinations led to a significant decrease in communication between the major brain networks studied.
Despite rapid brain development during adolescence, researchers found no significant differences in the effects of cannabis between adolescents and young adults.
“Cannabis causes similar disruptions in resting-state connectivity in the brains of adolescents and adults,” the study notes, questioning previous assumptions that adolescents are more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis. did.
These findings suggest that CBD's role in mitigating the effects of THC may depend on dose and other factors that are not yet fully understood. CBD has been marketed as a therapeutic compound with potential benefits such as reducing anxiety and addiction, but this study suggests further research, especially in relation to its interaction with THC at various concentrations. emphasizes the need for
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The implications of this study are important for public health, especially as more countries and regions legalize cannabis products with different ratios of THC to CBD. Many users choose cannabis strains that are rich in CBD, believing that they are safer or have fewer negative effects. However, this study challenges that assumption and highlights the need for consumers to be better informed about the possible risks of combining THC and CBD.
“Given that public health guidelines often recommend the use of cannabis with high CBD:THC ratios, our findings suggest that this advice may need to be reconsidered. ” concluded the authors. As regulators and medical experts develop guidance on cannabis use, understanding the complex effects of THC and CBD on brain connectivity will be important in creating safer consumption habits.
Although CBD is generally considered to be a less harmful component of cannabis, its interactions with THC may be more complex than previously thought. This discovery opens the door to further research into how cannabinoids interact and their long-term effects on the brain, especially during critical developmental stages.
The authors said the study provides important insights into the cognitive and neurological effects of cannabis and aims to inform both medical research and public health policy.
Neuropsychopharmacology is published by London-based Springer Nature on behalf of the American Society of Neuropsychopharmacology.
