Neurodevelopment Under the Influence: Cannabis and Its Long-Term Consequences
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Yasmin Hurd, PhD
Professor, Neuroscience
Professor, Pharmacological Sciences
Professor, Psychiatry
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. Yasmin Hurd is the Ward-Coleman Chair of Translational Neuroscience and the Director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Hurd's multidisciplinary research investigates the neurobiology underlying addiction disorders and related psychiatric illnesses. A translational approach is used to examine molecular and neurochemical events in the human brain and comparable animal models in order to ascertain neurobiological correlates of behavior. A major focus of the research is directed to risk factors of addiction disorders including genetics as well as developmental exposure to drugs of abuse such as cannabis. The group also conducts human clinical trials in developing novel therapies for opioid use disorder.
Summary
There has been a dramatic shift in the sociopolitical landscape surrounding cannabis in recent years raising important questions about its potential health impact. One significant concern involves vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and adolescents, due to the potential effects of cannabis on neurodevelopmental processes linked to psychopathology risk. This talk will provide insights about biological processes disrupted as a consequence of exposure to cannabis and THC, and the protracted effects relevant to mental health risk later in life. The research presented will highlight translational and multidisciplinary approaches, including molecular, epigenetic, and behavioral studies in animal models, as well as findings from human research.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the long-term effects of prenatal and adolescent cannabis exposure on brain development and behavior, with a focus on psychiatric vulnerability.
2. Differentiate the impacts of specific phytocannabinoids—such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—on brain function and behavior in relation to psychiatric risk and potential therapeutic implications.
3. Identify moderating factors, such as dose/potency and biological sex, that can influence the developmental effects of cannabis and cannabinoids.
This page was last updated on Friday, March 6, 2026