Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Administration of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Adolescent and Adult Mice
Published on: August 1, 2025
Cannabis exposure during adolescence: A uniquely sensitive period for neurobiological effects
K Z Peters1, N E Zlebnik2, J F Cheer3
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Sussex Neuroscience, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Adolescence is a crucial developmental period where neural circuits are refined and the brain is especially vulnerable to external insults. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system undergoes changes during adolescence which affect the way in which it modulates the development of other systems, in particular dopamine circuits, which show protracted development into adolescence. Given the rise of cannabis use by adolescents and young people, as well as variants containing increasingly higher concentrations of THC, it is now crucial to understand the unique effects of adolescent exposure to cannabis on the developing brain and it might shape future adult vulnerabilities to conditions such as psychosis, schizophrenia, addiction and more. Here we discuss the development of the eCB system across the lifespan, how CB1 receptors modulate dopamine release and potential neurobiological and behavioral effects of adolescent THC exposure on the developing brain such as alterations in excitatory/inhibitory balance during this developmental period.
Related Concept Videos
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Hallucinogens and Psychedelics
Marijuana, derived from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, contains...
Cognitive Development During Adolescence
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis

