Could smoking marijuana change the way the brain works? That’s what researchers are finding.

Brain imaging scans of heavy marijuana smokers have revealed changes in blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory and attention. Researchers have also noted differences in the size and shape of the thalamus, the part of the brain that’s involved in consciousness and information processing.

Heavy pot smokers in studies score lower than non-users on tests of memory, attention, and learning. The more they smoked, the worse they did.

The effects of smoking pot may be even more pronounced in teenage smokers than adults, because teens’ brains are still developing.

Regular users are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, especially when they have a family history of the condition. from WebMD.com