Is marijuana really a "soft" drug? A top UK psychiatrist has warned young people that smoking marijuana poses serious risks to mental health and brain function. Some might be tempted to dismiss the risks.
‘Don’t grow your brain in cannabis soup’
Risky high: Cannabis is classified as a Class B drug in the UK — the maximum penalty for possession is up to five years in prison. Glossary
BCE - Before Common Era. Used as a non-religious alternative to BC (Before Christ).
Cannabis - A tall plant. When parts of it are smoked or eaten, it can have a mind-altering effect.
Steppes - Large areas of flat unforested grassland.
BBC - The British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster.
Psychosis - A serious mental health condition in which sufferers are severely detached from reality.
Psychiatrists - Doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.
Cognition - The mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding.
Dopamine - A hormone and neurotransmitter that plays several important roles in the brain and body, providing us with positive sensations, rewarding us for evolutionarily good behaviours like eating food.