Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Marijuana is the most highly abused illegal substance during pregnancy and in adolescence and yet, many people are not aware that it is addicting to the user and toxic to the developing nervous system. This talk will present the scope of the problem, an outline of the role of cannabinoids in normal brain function and an illustration of how marijuana causes chaotic neuronal growth early in development. The speaker will review the longitudinal human studies, from both maternal and adolescent smoking, and show some data on the effects of early stress on marijuana responses in animal models and as well, illustrate the role of natural cannabinoids in stress responses. With Canada considering legalization of marijuana, the goal is to better understand the role of cannabinoids in development and how smoking marijuana during sensitive periods can permanently alter the developmental trajectory of important neuronal circuits. Speaker: Diana Dow-Edwards, PhD Dr. Dow-Edwards