CANNABIS is far more toxic to the brains of young people who are
exposed to the drug, than it is to adults, according to
ground-breaking new Irish research.

The unpublished work, by scientists at Trinity College, Dublin,
includes technology which actually takes photographs of subjects' brains.

Studies into cannabis, running in tandem, point to a difference in
the way the brain operates for cannabis users and non-cannabis users.

But the research also suggests that the drug is more toxic to youngsters.

Dr Hugh Garavan, who is leading one of the studies is examining the
prefrontal cortex which is used for decision making, and the
hippocampus which is used for memory.

"We are finding differences with cannabis users. The hippocampus is
being driven to work harder, perhaps to overcompensate for the drug."

Memory loss, psychosis and paranoia are some of the symptoms that
might be linked to these skewed "brain pictures".

Dr Garavan added that the hippocampus is one of the last regions to
develop properly. "Adolescents are more likely to experiment but
their brains may not yet be mature."