Cannabis and the brain

Objective: The aim of the paper is to review the effects of Cannabis sativa on the human brain. Method: A selective literature review was undertaken. Results/Conclusions: Cannabis sativa causes an acute and, with regular a heavy ingestion, a subacute encephalopathy. There is no evidence of irreversible cerebral damage resulting from its use, although impairment of information processing might be a long-term consequence of heavy prolonged use. The precise relationship of cannabis to the functional psychoses such as schizophrenia has yet to be clarified.