Albaugh MD, Ottino-Gonzalez J, Sidwell A, et al. - Alterations in cerebral cortical development, particularly in regions rich in cannabinoid 1 receptors, were recorded in correlation with using cannabis during middle to late adolescence.

• From the community-based IMAGEN cohort study, data of a total of 799 participants were retrieved who were cannabis naive at study baseline and had behavioral and neuroimaging data available at baseline and 5-year follow-up.

• A total of 1,598 magnetic resonance images from these individuals were included in linear mixed-effects model analysis indicating accelerated age-related cortical thinning from 14 to 19 years of age, in predominantly prefrontal regions, in correlation with cannabis use.

• A significant association of the spatial pattern of cannabis-related cortical thinning was observed with a positron emission tomography–assessed map of cannabinoid 1 receptor availability.