Any drug, from caffeine to cocaine, affects your body and brain—and marijuana is no different. Dr Bing, a neurologist and epidemiologist, outlined four ways marijuana impacts the brain.

1. Stroke and heart risks: Marijuana “significantly increases your risk of having any type of stroke under the age of 50.” He added it “also significantly increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia, the most common one being atrial fibrillation.” Cannabis use may double the risk of dying from heart disease and raise stroke risk by 20%.

2. Brain function disruption: Marijuana “can reduce the volume and the function in many parts of the brain and it can disrupt the connections between different regions of the brain.” Areas responsible for attention, memory, problem-solving, and emotional regulation are most affected. Disruption during brain development (up to age 25) can have permanent effects.

3. Schizophrenia and psychosis: Marijuana “increases the risk of developing psychosis and schizophrenia later in life” and worsens symptoms for those who already have the condition. Certain genes, like AKT1 and COMT, may raise this risk further.

4. Pregnancy impact: “Cannabis use in mothers who are pregnant is associated with problems with attention, behaviours, memory, and problem-solving skills in their children,” according to Dr Bing and the CDC.