Abstract

Cannabis is the most frequently used drug worldwide. Its use is often associated to socioeconomic, academic and professional impairment. Although there are several damages resulting from its consumption, there are currently no studies which broadly explore why these performance impairments happen. This study is a narrative review, based on articles selected from Embase, Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science databases. This study aims at exploring the performance deficits associated with Cannabis use, as well as the possible cognitive-behavioral, emotional and motivational alterations which may explain them. Chronic Cannabis use leads to central nervous system changes, involving the endocannabinoid system (cerebral reward and cortical functioning system), resulting in deficits i several cognitive, behavioral, emotional and motivational domains. There is significant impairment in learning, attention, memory, decision making and inhibitory control, as well as an increase in depressive, anxious and dysphoric symptoms. These symptoms may be associated to poor academic performance, reducing chances of obtaining a degree, higher levels of study evasion, unemployment and work absence, lower salaries and higher need of financial aid. These results suggest that performance impairments related to chronic Cannabis use may be due to biopsychosocial factors, which are interrelated and contribute to losses in several domains of the users lives.