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The Effects of Cannabis (Marijuana) on the Brain & Body | Huberman Lab Podcast #92

Andrew Huberman 43 Comments 0 views 0 like



In this episode, I discuss cannabis (aka marijuana), including the biological mechanisms underlying its effects on the mind and body, its known medical applications, its impact on libido, creativity, hunger, hormones and more. I also cover the known adverse health consequences of chronic and even acute (one-time) use and the factors that determine if cannabis is helpful or harmful. Additionally, I detail how the various strains of cannabis: sativa, indica and hybrid strains, can produce such divergent effects depending on the strain type, THC-to-CBD ratio, total dosage, and frequency of use. I review why cannabis can impact speech patterns and one’s propensity to develop anxiety/depression during and after use and, in some individuals, paranoia. As the legal landscape for cannabis is rapidly evolving, this episode should interest a wide audience, including former/current cannabis users, those in the medical, sports, law enforcement, and educational communities and, of course, children, teenagers, and parents.

#HubermanLab #Science #Health

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Articles
Inspired by Mary Jane? Mechanisms underlying enhanced creativity in cannabis users: https://bit.ly/3UWZzqT
Adults with a history of recreational cannabis use have altered speech production: https://bit.ly/3RDBeDS
Individual prolactin reactivity modulates response of nucleus accumbens to erotic stimuli during acute cannabis intoxication: an fMRI pilot study: https://bit.ly/3y9EcZR
Bayesian causal network modeling suggests adolescent cannabis use accelerates prefrontal cortical thinning: https://go.nature.com/3CrNToT
Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: a systematic review: https://bit.ly/3ycIwrg

Other Links and Resources
NSDR Protocol with Dr. Huberman on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AKGrmY8OSHM

Timestamps
00:00:00 Cannabis (Marijuana)
00:04:46 New Huberman Lab Premium Membership
00:07:03 Tool: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), Sleep & Anxiety
00:10:08 Levels, Thesis, InsideTracker
00:14:01 Momentous Supplements
00:15:08 Cannabis Strains, Psychoactive Compounds: THC & CBD
00:19:34 Sativa vs. Indica, Stimulant vs. Relaxation Effects
00:25:55 Hybrid Cannabis Strains, Type 1, 2 & 3 Strains
00:30:41 AG1 (Athletic Greens)
00:31:56 Naturally Occurring Receptors: Nicotinic & Cannabinoid Receptors (CB1)
00:40:35 THC, CBD vs. Endogenous Cannabinoids, Dependence
00:43:14 Endogenous Cannabinoids, Cannabinoid Receptors & Nervous System Function
00:53:07 Biological Effects of Cannabis
00:56:29 Cannabis Sativa & Subjective Effects: Mood, Stress, Alertness, Paranoia
01:04:58 Cannabis Indica & Subjective Effects, Memory, Dosage
01:09:41 Brain Areas Affected by THC & CBD, Side Effects
01:16:08 Creativity: Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking & Dopamine
01:26:41 Does Cannabis Increase Creativity?
01:35:08 Chronic Cannabis Use & Changes in Speech Patterns
01:46:46 Cannabis & Libido, Dopamine & Prolactin
01:56:55 Cannabis & Hormones: Prolactin, Testosterone, Estrogen & Fertility
02:06:53 Smoking/Vaping Tobacco or Cannabis & Negative Health Consequences
02:10:06 Avoiding Cannabis During Pregnancy/Breastfeeding, Fetal Neural Development
02:18:13 Negative Health Consequences of Cannabis, Anxiety & Depression, Tolerance
02:25:57 Cannabis Use & Adolescence/Young Adulthood, Predisposition to Psychosis
02:34:36 Adolescent Cannabis Use: Brain Development & Mental Health Disorders
02:41:44 Cannabis & Pain Management, Divergent Effects of Cannabis
02:44:54 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Premium Channel, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Disclaimer: https://hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac – https://www.blabacphoto.com

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  1. I don’t find that weed itself causes psychosis /schizophrenia mainly because cannabis itself can have levels of cbd which act like antipsychotic but even in high dose of weed I still don’t believe it’s possible unless you have a family history or already predisposed to it
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  2. This was difficult for me to watch. Day three off weed after doing it daily for 3 years. I feel like I want to go back to smoking but I will commit to 30 days without smoking. 12/7/22-1/5/23. Will comment back here if I fail or succeed/ If I feel like my mood and life have improved at all or not. I might try doing it once or twice a week by next year…
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  3. i find that when i quit, while the first 30 days are the toughest (& cravings persist), my mental clarity starts to grow through my anxiety & depression which improves my mental health.
    do prescribers of adhd / anxiety / depression meds evaluate or encourage sobriety first before prescribing? that's never been the case for me & i am now aiming for just being "natural" so i can heal.
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  4. I think you should add sugar to your list of most used drugs
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  5. this video absolutely terrified me I’ve been smoking since like 14 am 16 And I don’t care what anyone has to say you hundred percent can get addicted to weed maybe not physically but mentally Weed has definitely made it harder for me to articulate my thoughts and organize them if that makes sense I have noticed that my cognitive memory has definitely gotten worse as well I find myself forgetting things and paired with my other drug use it’s very scary to think about what the future could hold for me I decided to cut down to once a week just cause I’m very addicted I really hope my brain can heal
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  6. I’m 34 now and I’m struggling with everything you mentioned here .I tried to quit when I turned 30 and I lasted two years and relapsed during quarantine and went back to smoking daily .I had to stop for surgery and I never felt so better so quickly .I haven’t smoked in a week and I feel great and not craving it at all .I’m afraid the damage has been done already as I struggle with bipolar depression symptoms which represented itself during the two years I quit .Major swings and dips in mood throughout the day but for the most part I’m happier sober . I’m also dealing with paranoia and suspicion of others which I never had in my life .Even when I’m sober I get paranoid and worried .I became an anxious person . It’s crazy how weed sucks you in thinking it’s harmless but it really isn’t .Maybe if you smoke after 25 the chances of mental illnesses are very slim.It’s discouraging seeing stoners like Joe Rogan who are coherent,articulate,intelligent and successful ,you think to yourself he’s fine I can do it too .But everyone’s brain is different and when you start using really matters I believe .I abused it since I was 15 and heavily up until 18-28 . If you are going to smoke weed wait until you are a fully grown responsible adult and your brain has developed .Weed tricks you into thinking it makes you happy and lifts you from depression ,but through daily use you get worse over time than before you started or if you were sober .Even my girlfriend noticed how nice I am sober which is shocking because I’m technically withdrawing right now .I was always irritated and angry when I smoked daily .
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  7. Brilliant
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  8. Shoot, I have been an almost everyday smoker for the past 15 years 20-35. I could list multiple benefits, the main one being the CTE issues from concussions in the NFL. I clearly see the effects of my mind slipping away from me. Very scary. This dude kept it real. Thank you, I never thought I would face the day of no longer smoking because it has helped me so much, but I am not ready to lose my mind. Pray God gives me the strength to fight this fight.
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  9. Been using since I was a kid and I’m into my thirties and still using, but starting to get off it. My life has sorta caved in and the weed is not helping.
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  10. twice a week being ‘chronic use’ is SHOCKING!! i didn’t smoke till i was 18 but i knew ppl who smoked younger, im now 21 and most everyone i’ve met smoked once daily or more but never less than over 3times a week. i smoke because i enjoy the vibe, the feeling and what it does to my body/brain. i enjoy the calming, how it helps me rationalize rather than being stuck upset about something and i feel more chill but still in control vs alc
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  11. I stopped smoking weed about 3 weeks ago(have smoked 3 times since than for sleeping purposes but Im done now) after smoking everyday multiple times a day for 5 years and im 20 years old, I have definitely noticed some speech changes like low energy with my words and honestly just not getting the message i want to get out. Anybody know what I can do to help this? Ive also feel like I got a little bit of gyno(fat around my nips) from the cannabis being estrogenic or whatever, will that go away after not smoking for a while? I also workout all the time and have decent muscle mass in my chest
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  12. Awesome amount of super important information.
    Thx so very much
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  13. I have a friend who's mom smoked weed regularly while she was pregnant with her…my friend was born healthy af and still is mentally and physically overall healthy and has a administrative position at the university of Washington and masters degree! what about cases like that? How come she turned out awesome if her mom was stoned af while pregnant?!
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  14. 15 straight minutes of promoting products. This is one reason not to trust people when they already make a TON of money but still can't stop promoting sh*t.
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  15. No problems in the bedroom, wife and I are very active in that aspect 😮
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  16. Sugar is worst then cannabis!
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  17. I’m 55 and been smoking cannabis since I was 15, I love it and use it everyday I can! I have 36 years on the job, raised 2 college graduates, and travelled the world. Currently I am in the best shape of my life because I’m a carnivore and I fast 16 hours every day. I feel the diet and fasting has offset a lot of the negatives caused by cannabis, I used to have a lot of small inflammation issues including a lot of phlegm. Since my dietary changes I have no phlegm and no inflammation problems. That’s my story🤙👍😎
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  18. I smoked weed daily for over 10 years since age 15. I can thankfully say my memory is pretty good. Biggest problem I still struggle with 5 months after stopping is a bad attention span, laziness, and lack of discipline. Trying to build new habits to combat that.
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  19. He forgot to mention .'ALL' Marijuana in the early 1980s ,was 'covertly' genetically changed (better Mind Craft)!!! And the reality is . Humans are on the way out ! And to be truthful . Thank God for that! For many Years trying to help new generations form ''better behaviors .(Than past, present generations '''''destruction'''''.) Has and is failing to catch on. To many destructive Morons have and are now Breeding. The result is Earths ecology since the end of WW2 is dying significantly .
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  20. I believe the unnatural amounts of THC is very dangerous and makes cannibis more like a heavy drug such as heroine and cocaine, and the beginning of the unbeneficial effects of cannibis. It's only been the last 15 or 20 years that we have had such high amounts of THC. Causing imbalance. I am going to definitely be more aware of my use. Not using daily, multiple times a day. Also using lower THC percentage like a one to one ratio like you talked about. CBD is the more balancing compound of the 2.
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  21. I'd have to say this is mostly if not all, stereotypes.
    1.) If one eats weed it will not "come on" in thirty seconds.
    2. ) sativa has very little difference than indica or rudder in talkativeness. saying it's so doesn't make it so.
    3.) The greatest risk of ganja is the law. The next and could be worse is smoking anything is bad for the health. Even Incense from a catholic church or a Hebraic temple
    4.)Next worst is skin color. brown , black and tan go away far deeper and longer. They put me in prison, no weed involved, just a rumor, but, killed my brother on that same day.
    This is for people on-line: Don't try to sell me your Xanex or meth or LSD. My brother is dead because of rumors of this crap so just stop.
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  22. Withdrawal is hell
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  23. OMG!!! What an interesting program and what a subject!!!

    I have never liked any kind cannabis and I feel very uncomfortable being with people high with this… because their true selves are not there where you see them.

    But now I can see how the life of those people close to me that defend the use of cannabis, has been going gradually and progressive to high levels of anxiety and/or depression.

    Oh, and I'm not talking about those that could not stay with cannabis because it wasn't enough for them anymore and now they are in other things and their life are a real waste.
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  24. Why not mention nicotinic acid is a neurotoxin which destroys nerve cells. Big headache.
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  25. Despite the disparity – imploring women to not use cannabis while considering bringing a child into this world while only briefly mentioning the change in male spem I found this video to be informative about a subject that is very confusing with different opinions being presented as fact by the media. Suggestion. Implore men who are considering (sex) not to use cannabis. Thank you..
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  26. Please go sell your green garbage to someone else. I'm here for knowledge.
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  27. The only difference between this guy being a "Doctor" and me is I have an hispanic name and , he is white. My grandfather had a pharmacy. I could have been but I had long hair.that made me a "hippy" and could not be. The great american fascist routine to deny american natives a seat at the table..
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  28. The toxicity diff between alcohol, and cannabis is clear with the difference in hangover effects
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  29. I would like to hear more about cbd. I understand why you suppose to be careful with THC, but does that mean I should be more carefull using CBD as well? I am using it for anxiety due to my work.
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  30. Wow I was surprised to find this by far the best presentation on the subject. Hammered in a ton of nails with greatest accuracy. Most likely will not find a better one. Respect!
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  31. Hi, i was interested in the subject but i lost all my focus. From a technical point of view please please if you see this, focus your words only on one subject when it comes to scientific talk. That 15 minute intro with sponsors drove me nuts. It felt like it was just a long joke. Type it in the description or just say it once but 15 minutes of it c’mon. I cant remember the last time something make me feel this mad.
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  32. does weed have any effect on growth hormone?
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  33. Is it possible that the increase of mass school shooting by younger persons can attributed to the use of canabis ?
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  34. Dreaming comes back with a vengeance, but this is good. It's very healthy to dream, I believe they have a healing aspect to them. For me THC blocks me from dreaming or being able to recall them in anyway. Returning to dreaming is incredibly life changing, at first it will feel like when you first had dreams as a little kid or toddler though. It's honestly one of the most fascinating aspects of this drug and I'm surprised it's not discussed more. If you've recently quit from long term use you're potentially in for some very interesting dreams that will stay with you for awhile.
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  35. Cannabis induced psychosis Is no fun.
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  36. Been an active user for nearly half my life now since 12 yrs old…Watching this while loading up some wax. Hoping to learn more about this wonderful substance. The way you dive into the actual neurobiology and neurological studies is awesome. Keep it up and keep educating.
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  37. I was introduced to cannabis in my late 20s and it saved my life really. I began using it for the purpose of self-inquiry, meditation, and dancing (I dance Argentine tango). And in all of those areas, cannabis enhanced my learning and experience. I am still a regular user and my rate of consumption or the effects have not changed since I began using it. Its potency still feels wonderful and the effects continue to be very profound. The effect of cannabis for me is very calming and focusing, it allows me to zone in and tune into my body and whatever task I am doing with a lot of clarity and presence. I have talked at length about its effects on the body with other tango dancers. For many of us, cannabis is like a performance enhancement tool, allowing us to access very interesting states in the body when we dance. It is easier stay on balance and I feel a heightened sense proprioception. It would be so interesting to understand what role cannabis plays in the brain chemistry to facilitate these kinds of states in a movement practice such as tango or yoga, etc. Learning more about its behavior inside the body, I appreciate the fact that I didn't get introduced to cannabis until later in life.
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  38. I found this video to be a clear explanation on some of the effects of cannabis. I think it has helped me to understand some of the science behind opinions that I have formed. After listening to this I feel inspired to do things that will help my brain to develope well
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  39. I personally believe that there isn't enough studies to give definitive answers. As you kind of explained, it's truly different for everyone. I smoked a lot for a couple years and had a really bad panic attack that messed me up for a long time. I still take an edible every once in a while. I try to keep dosages low and get a feel for my own body. I think anyone using a drug to avoid life problems that need to be faced, it can cause serious issues of dependency. Including serious issues of doctors getting people hooked on man-made medicine instead of addressing the problem. My rule is I don't take it unless I am in a good state of mind and know I am not using it to escape something.
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  40. All right Andrew, you got me bro. I watched the whole dang thing and I guess I have to quit right now.

    Not tomorrow, not a ween off, not on a projected date.

    To me if I'm being honest and if I understood what you told me today this is literally no different than why I stopped video games fapping etc. Can't thank you enough for your work but this is going to be the most difficult change I've ever undertaken because I am one of those people you described who started at 14 years old. I am now 42

    I went through some insane PTSD and some very real challenges with depression and anxiety that only started to get better once I made some major changes in my life.

    But those are other episodes in and of themselves Andrew 🙂 Thanks again

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  41. I have a question. Did I understand it right, that CAnnabis consumption during early age can increase the risk of Alzheimers by attacking your Grey matter?

    Btw. Sorry for the horrible typing.
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  42. I smoked almost daily from the age of 16 to 24. I had a few breaks in between, but overall I can say it was daily chronical use. Additionaly I have ADHD. The biggest issues or differences I see in me, is concentration issues and the fear of loosing control over thinks that have an impact on my life. To me it feels like what I imagine a panic attack feels like. A lot of those problems are connected to ADHD, but I am pretty sure that my consumption had an effect on me. Also I loved smoking after a night out with the boys. Alcohol + Cannabis wont make the risk smaller… I really hope I didn´t cause any long term Brain damage. For the young folks, especially those who are getting ADHD medication, which is an "upper", please don´t start trying to sleep with the use of Cannabis. Its a downward spiral leading to addiction, pain, depression, fear and potential long term damage . I know sometimes it´s like no one understands your struggle but time will make you feel better. Don´t robb yourself of your time.
    One love
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  43. I only smoked weed for 2.5 years, 25 to 28 and I know for a fact, with daily constant usage (stemming from depression) I acquired panick attacks nonstop and because weed was not legal in the state I smoked in, it was subject to being tampered with. Anyone who thinks weed is just this harmless, calming herb is sadly mistaken.
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