Differential effects of cannabis use on event-related potential (ERP)-indexed brain function in males and females

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in Canada and around the world. Despite how commonly cannabis products such as marijuana are used, we still do not fully understand the impact of these drugs on the brain. This is particularly true when it comes to the different effects on males and females. We suspect that cannabis will affect males and females differently: male brains tend to develop more slowly than female brains, yet males tend to start smoking cannabis earlier in this developmental period increasing the potential impact of this drug. Yet despite this, we do not know if there is a difference in the brain function of male and female cannabis users. This project will assess brain activity in male and female cannabis users (and will compare them against non-using peers). Additionally, this project will consider whether starting to use cannabis earlier, or using more of it, has a greater impact on brain function and whether this differs between the sexes. This work will greatly improve our understanding of the consequences of cannabis use, with the potential to inform public policy, education and outreach. This work is particularly timely given the impending legalization of cannabis in Canada.