Cannabis Pharmacology, Teen Neurochemistry: The Science of Risk

Description
This talk explains why adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to the neurochemical effects of modern cannabis. We begin with a clear, accessible overview of THC pharmacology — including its effects on some of the brain’s most important neurotransmitter systems and its lesser-known potential to disrupt the brain’s inflammatory defenses. Attendees will learn how these actions can amplify vulnerability to depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, addiction, and cognitive impairment, particularly in adolescents whose brains are still shaping the circuits responsible for judgment, emotion regulation, and problem-solving.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the pharmacology of THC, including its effects on major neurotransmitter systems (glutamate, GABA, dopamine, serotonin) and neuroinflammatory pathways.
• Explain how THC’s pharmacological actions contribute to increased risk for depression, anxiety, psychosis, addiction, and cognitive impairment.
• Identify developmental features of adolescence that heighten vulnerability to the adverse neurochemical effects of cannabis.