The effect of weed on your short term memory has long been a
standard in any cannabis-comedy routine. Now, researchers are
unlocking the effect of cannabis on memory. A new study
published in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that
variations in the chemical makeup of different strains of
marijuana are associated with different levels of cognitive
impairment while high. Tetrahydocannabinol (THC) is commonly
recognized as the ingredient in marijuana that causes a “high”
in users, but researchers have long known that pot contains
other active substances as well. While THC can cause the widely
advertised hallucinations and paranoia, another chemical found
in marijuana, cannabidiol (CBD), is believed to be responsible
for the calmer, sedating part of the experience. The two
chemicals have opposing effects on one of the brain receptors
affected by cannabis, the CB1 receptor. Some clinical studies
have proposed that CBD acts as a balancing force to regulate the
strength of the psychoactive agent THC. Mariju