Neuroanatomical alterations in people with high and low cannabis dependence

We aimed to investigate whether severity of cannabis dependence is associated with the neuroanatomy of key brain regions of the stress and reward brain circuits.

To examine dependence-specific regional brain alterations, we compared the volumes of regions relevant to reward and stress, between high-dependence cannabis users (CD+, n = 25), low-dependence cannabis users (CD-, n = 20) and controls (n = 37).

Compared to CD- and/or controls, the CD+ group had lower cerebellar white matter and hippocampal volumes, and deflation of the right hippocampus head and tail.

These findings provide initial support for neuroadaptations involving stress and reward circuits that are specific to high-dependence cannabis users.