Medical marijuana

April 2005     View PDF     En español

Impact on mental status

The question of the neurological (change in mental status) effects of marijuana has been addressed by several studies in recent years. Marijuana use has been shown to have short-term impact on a person’s ability to think, learn, judge and perform tasks. Moreover, marijuana use has short-term effects on memory. It’s less clear if marijuana has any long-term effects on mental status or mood. It is also less clear whether the effects noted are perceived as “good” or “bad” by those who experience them. Some people feel smoking marijuana offers relief from depression, while others say it increases their anxiety levels.