Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley on young men, THC, psychosis, and CBD

”This is your brain on drugs” became something of a joke in the DARE generation, as weed came to be seen as harmless.

That was wrong. But legalization and normalization (“it’s just a plant”) became a runaway train.

Cannabis is now king, raking in nearly $47 billion domestically in 2025, Statista reports.

26% of high school seniors report using cannabis in the previous year, which was a slight decline.

Boys seem to be at particular riskof early exposure to THC morphing into heavy use and mental illness, like psychosis.

The National Institute on Drug Abusenotes that, ”regular, heavy cannabis use in adolescence is associated with negative effects on working memory, processing speed, verbal memory, and academic functioning.”

Young users are also more likely to struggle in educational attainment, earnings and employment.

So if most users appear unscathed, what are the real effects and risks of THC on developing brains?

Neuroscientist Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley and Chance Seales explore the effects of cannabis, particularly THC, on adolescent male brains, discussing the risks associated with early use, the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, and the differences in effects between genders.

It also delves into the potential of CBD and other cannabinoids as alternatives to THC, emphasizing the need for caution in loose public discourse about cannabis legalization and use.

Resources

• Monitoring The Future study (Univ. of Michigan)

• Is the Adolescent Brain at Greater Vulnerability to the Effects of Cannabis? A Narrative Review of the Evidence (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2020)

• Cannabis effects data (NIDA)

• Cannabis use stats (NIDA)

Biography

Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley is a neuroscientist with over 10 years of experience specializing in the neuropsychopharmacology of cannabinoids and psychedelics. She completed her PhD in Neuroscience at King's College London. Currently, she serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at NWPharma Tech and the Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, a charity supporting combat veterans with mental health challenges resulting from trauma. Additionally, she is an officer in the British Army Reserve. Grace is also the founder of Hystelica, a company dedicated to researching, advocating for, and educating about the safe and effective use of psychedelics for women.

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of THC on Brain Function

10:29 Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk

19:20 Gender Differences in Cannabis Effects

22:07 The Risks of Cannabis and Alcohol in Adolescence

27:48 Social Influences on Drug Use

30:52 The Need for Serious Conversations about Cannabis

33:09 Exploring Alternatives to THC

36:11 The Promise of CBD and Other Cannabinoids

53:20 All Boy.mp4

Takeaways

• Adolescents are more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis due to ongoing brain development.

• Heavy cannabis use in adolescence is linked to negative cognitive outcomes.

• THC acts as an inhibitor of neuronal activation, affecting memory and learning.

• There is a significant risk of developing cannabis use disorder, especially in adolescents.

• High THC levels are correlated with an increased risk of psychosis.

• CBD may provide neuroprotective effects against the harmful impacts of THC.

• Public perception often trivializes the potential harms of cannabis use.

• Gender differences exist in cannabis use patterns and effects, with young men at higher risk.

• Synthetic cannabinoids pose greater risks due to unknown effects and lack of research.

• Research into cannabinoids is ongoing, with potential therapeutic applications for CBD.

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