Smoking pot has long been linked to forgetfulness. Yet until recently, evidence for this idea was scant at best. As more people investigate cannabis’s effects on human health, scientists are learning more about the drug’s impact on the brain and whether or not it impairs memory.

There is both short-term and long-term memory. The present events are preserved in short-term memory for a limited time, whereas knowledge is retained forever in long-term memory.

Having your short-term memory constantly interrupted can have a negative effect on your education. Some evidence suggests that being high on cannabis can distort or affect short-term memory. Cannabinoid chemicals that bind to memory-related receptors in the brain are thought to be to blame for this effect.

Is weed bad for your brain?

Cannabidiol (CBD), a possible medicinal ingredient found in cannabis, may help reduce anxiety in certain people. However, it’s not up for debate that consuming marijuana (the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant) can cause temporary impairments in one’s ability to think, remember details, plan, and control one’s motor skills, like physical actions that require conscious thought. The hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex—all of which play essential roles in memory formation—are all parts of the brain where THC binds to receptors to produce its psychoactive effect. It is unclear whether and to what degree long-term marijuana usage (for either medicinal or recreational reasons) causes permanent impairments in cognitive function.

New data suggests that after cannabis use is discontinued, any memory loss related to it may be restored. People who used cannabis at least weekly were likelier to have this effect.

Higher cannabis dosages or more regular use may lead to memory impairments in the long run, including difficulties learning new things and maintaining focus. This is analogous to how heavy alcohol use may harm the brain. The negative influence on memory may be amplified when alcohol and cannabis are used together, as is the case for some persons.

New research also points to cannabis, rather than alcohol, as the primary cause of harm to growing adolescent brains. Even while fewer young people are using both cannabis and alcohol, those adolescents who use cannabis do so at double the rate of those who use alcohol. In contrast to the destruction or severe damage to brain neurons and their signaling processes caused by alcohol, this research found that cannabis alters the neural brain tissue, which is essential for memory. Abstinence, however, may restore this effect within a few weeks.

How To Reverse Memory Loss From Weed

Intake of nutritious foods is essential. Eating foods rich in choline has been shown to improve memory by building connections between neurons in the brain. The diet should include pure chocolate, peanut butter, soybeans, wheat germ, brussels sprouts, and peanuts. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are not exclusive to fish and are also crucial for brain protection. Foods rich in Omega acids include flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, spinach, and, of course, another cannabis product: hemp powder. Likewise, you may find that eating more vitamin E and B12-rich foods helps you feel better.

Get a good night’s rest.

A well-rested brain can far better consolidate recent memories into long-term storage. It’s considerably harder to remember information when you’re sleepy and tired, as opposed to when you’re well rested.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly is essential for your physical and mental health because it promotes neurogenesis (the development of new neurons). Aerobic exercise (regularly) has been shown to increase the size and complexity of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory formation and storage.

New studies suggest that common medicines like ibuprofen may help counteract the memory loss associated with cannabis use. To prove this, further study is required.

Choose the right strain.

Remembering things is difficult under the influence of THC, as discussed before. To prevent this, you should try out cannabis varieties that are either low in THC and rich in CBD or have an equal ratio of these two cannabinoids. 

Additionally, it is well-documented that pinene-rich strains are softer on working memory. Several popular cannabis varieties, including Jack Herer, Romulan, Strawberry Cough, Island Sweet Skunk, Blue Dream, and Dutch Treat, are known for their abundant pinene content.