Teenage brains may be especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of cannabis, experts believe.
Scientists came to the conclusion after reviewing more than 120 studies looking at the effects of cannabis on adolescents.
Prof Didier Jutras-Aswad from Montreal University, who led the team, said: "Data have repeatedly shown an association between cannabis use and subsequent addiction to heavy drugs and psychosis.
"When the first exposure occurs in younger versus older adolescents, the impact of cannabis seems to be worse in regard to many outcomes such as mental health and delinquency."
Rat experiments had shown how cannabis targets areas of the brain linked to motivation, decision-making and habit-forming that change rapidly during the teenage years.
Taking the drug at this stage in life could greatly affect development of the brain and personality, according to the scientists writing in the journal 'Neuropharmacology'.
Source: John Von Radowitz, Irish Independent, 28/08/2013
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