Behavioral Effects, Cognitive Effects, and the Physiology of Marijuana Use

Marijuana is one of the most abused and misunderstood illicit drugs in many countries including the United States [1]. Since the 1960s, marijuana use has steadily increased over the years particularly among teenagers and young adults [2]. With an estimated 36 to 38 percent of high school seniors reporting ever having used the drug, this type of drug abuse is an issue that cannot be ignored [3]. One possible explanation for the increase in marijuana use is the confusion about the actual impact that the drug has on the user's health. Different and sometimes biased interpretations of the same data can cause confusion among even the top researchers in the field, not to mention the general public and policy makers [4]. Even though research in the area is increasing, little is still known about the underlying physiological basis for some of the most common behavioral and cognitive effects associated with marijuana use. In order to understand exactly what consequences are associated with marijuana use, researchers must first recognize the basic physiological systems that are affected. Many of the affected systems can cause a disruption in the normal cognitive and behavioral functioning of an individual, leading to questions about the individual's ability to perform certain tasks at their job and the operation of automobiles. Therefore, this manuscript will serve as an objective literature review on the behavioral and cognitive consequences of marijuana use. Furthermore, an attempt will be made to relate the underlying physiology to the behavioral and cognitive consequences of marijuana use