It’s not uncommon to hear people discussing the negative impacts cannabis can have. While CBD is often regarded as a healthy cannabinoid, there’s a lot more controversy surrounding THC. One of these controversies is how it may impact memory functions, which is where it can get confusing. CBD is being investigated as a potential support for things like Alzheimer’s, while THC seems to have a more negative impact on memory. With so many anecdotal experiences and reports, we thought it was about time we got into it.  

For this post, we’ll be reviewing some of the most important science, information, and discussions surrounding cannabinoids and memory. Hopefully, we’ll be able to offer some clarity on what we know, what we don’t, and everything in between.  

As a note, we’ll be talking about general, day-to-day memory functioning. If you want to learn more about cannabinoids and things like memory disorders or neurocognitive diseases, check out the post we wrote on the topic here.  

About Memory  

To start off, it’s important to establish what memories are and how they work. For the purposes of this post, we don’t need to know a lot, but it’s good to have a baseline of understanding anyways.  

Essentially, as we have experiences, our brains decide which memories to hold onto and which ones to let go. Short term memories are new information stored for a short time. Some memories, however, are deemed important and moved to your long-term memory for storage and future recall. From what we understand now, memories operate within a complex system of neurons, synapses, and neurotransmitters in our brains. Interestingly enough, memories seem to change or alter these pathways, strengthening or adjusting them as we gain new experiences and understandings. Important regions of the brain associated with memory include things such as the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, and the cerebral cortex.  

Turns out, memory is complicated. Not only are there more than one type of memory, but they can be impacted by a whole variety of things such as sleep, aging, diet, or physical and mental health. If you want to learn more about it, check out the articles we’ve linked throughout this section for much more detailed reading.  

Additionally, like this article points out, it seems that different types of mammals have had different responses to cannabinoids and memory functioning. With so many variables and a general lack of research, it can be hard to know anything for certain.  

CBD and Memory 

A lot of conversations about CBD and memory discuss the topic in a larger way – such as how CBD may be able to help restore memory, improve general cognitive functioning, or combat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. While this is all interesting, it strays away from the question about how CBD may impact our day-to-day, short and long term memory. We’ve narrowed the conversation down for the purposes of this post, but unfortunately, there’s not a lot of available research.  

This study found that, compared to a placebo group, orally taken CBD didn’t seem to have an impact (negative or positive) on functions like learning and memory. This study conducted with 600mgs of CBD showed that, while it may not have caused a difference in memory task performance, it did seem to increase cerebral blood flow in the regions of the brain associate with memory, especially the hippocampus.  

In a slightly different direction, this study compared memory functioning results between CBD, THC, and both of them mixed together. While THC was found to impair memory functioning, CBD didn’t seem to have much of an effect. The study also found that impairment effects are minimized when CBD and THC are taken together.  

THC (General Cannabis Use) and Memory  

There’s more research into the effects of THC on memory functioning, but ultimately, questions still remain. This research review highlights the general understanding we currently have on the topic: THC appears to decrease functioning temporarily, but whether these effects last after the high has worn off is less certain. Additionally, it notes that heavy, long-term cannabis use, especially starting at a young age, may have a more permanent impact on memory. However, it notes that the type of cannabis being consumed, especially if it has lower CBD and higher THC content, also appears to make a difference.  

This recently conducted study found something similar, that THC use appears to lower memory functioning in both the short term, and long term. More specifically, through brain imaging and scans, they found decreased activity in areas of the brain associated with important processes such as memory, emotional processing, decision making, and attention. Interestingly enough, these are areas of the brain known for having a greater concentration of CB1 receptors. This is important, because there seems to be a link between CB1 receptors, memory, and learning. One reason why THC may have an impact on memory is due to how it interacts with these receptors.  

This study reiterates that while short-term effects of THC on memory are becoming more understood, long-term effects are still under-researched. This other study found an association between cannabis (THC) use before the age of 15 (including prenatal exposure) and decreased memory functioning into adulthood. Not dissimilar, this article by Harvard discusses the link between long-term cannabis use and decreased attention and memory functioning, while still cautioning the lack of relevant science. Of particular concern in these conversations is often children, and how cannabis use has been associated with memory impairment into adulthood. Concerns about children, brain development, and cannabis use is a popular conversation.  

Other Minor Cannabinoids 

It’s challenging to find research talking about memory and other minor cannabinoids. As mentioned before, most research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases and not general memory functioning. Additionally, research into minor cannabinoids is still quite limited. That said, we’ve put together what we’ve been able to find.  

While not specifically about day-to-day memory, this study found that CBDA and THCA may have potential to support cognitive wellness, including combatting some of the memory challenges brought on by things like Alzheimer’s.  

CBG, more specifically, may also have some potential memory supportive properties. This study, while testing CBG for its mood and anti-anxiety qualities, also found that it appeared to improve memory recollection. 

Finally, this research review concludes that cannabis and ‘all its cannabinoids’ impair memory functioning. However, the full study isn’t available to be read without payment, and what information is available only specifically references THC without going into detail about any other cannabinoids. This makes its validity hard to assess, especially since we know different cannabinoids impact our bodies in different ways.  

In general, much more research is needed before we know more.  

The Role of the ECS 

As we mentioned earlier, memory can be impacted by a variety of factors, including sleep, diet, mental health, physical health, aging, and other factors. This could be important, because cannabinoids work together with a system called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), which helps keep our body in balance. We’ve chatted more about it here.  

All that’s to say, if cannabinoids can potentially help regulate things like sleep, indirectly, that may have an impact on our memory functioning. For more information about how cannabinoids impact our bodies and may support our bodies in specific ways, check the posts linked throughout this section.  

Lastly, this research review investigates the relationship between cannabis, the ECS, and a system called the monoaminergic system, and how this relationship may help support memory functioning. While it finds evidence to suggest the ECS helps “fine-tune” the monoaminergic system in a way that could contribute to memory, it recognizes the lack of research and calls for more studies before anything conclusive can be established.  

TL;DR  

When it comes to cannabis use and memory, there’s a lot we don’t know. We know that in the short-term, it appears that THC can impact memory functioning, but how much these effects last in the long-term is still unclear. While it seems like CBD may be able to help inhibit some of the more negative impacts of THC, the effects of minor cannabinoids are a lot less known. Ultimately, more research is needed before we can develop a deeper understanding of cannabinoids and memory.