Cannabis blunts the brain’s reward system

Regular cannabis use over many years lowers levels of dopamine, which plays a key role in how the brain processes motivation, pleasure and reward. This can reduce motivation and inducenegative emotions, which may help to explain why cannabis is associated with mental illness. In a review of the state of current research published in the journal Nature , scientists examined the action of dopamine through detailed analysis of multiple studies involving brain scans of long-term cannabis users. They say there is now conclusive evidence that cannabis blunts dopamine levels, and that it's critical to understand exactly how this happens and what it means for the health of users. We urgently need to better understand how cannabis affects the brain, to help policy makers and individuals make informed decisions. If it turns out that it's bad news to take cannabis then we need to know now, before people take the gamble. Professor Oliver Howes Cannabis is a widely used recreational drug across the globe.