Exploring the relationship between cannabis use in adolescence and propensity for criminal behaviour

Abstract

In contemporary society, the consumption of cannabis has emerged as a prevalent and widely accepted practice. The trend seems to be that smoking marijuana is not viewed as detrimental. However, it is to be noted that, smoking marijuana at a young age, particularly during adolescence, has several consequences. This study aims to investigate the connection between cannabis use in adolescence and the propensity for criminal behaviour. Furthermore, the literature review will analyse numerous topics to grasp the essence of this undergraduate project. The topics discussed include an overview of how the brain operates to understand the impact marijuana will impose on the central nervous system, the legal framework regarding marijuana, the repercussions of the drug on various bodily organs, and criminal behaviour. Upon reviewing the analysis, it was determined that within the identified academic literature, one could find a correlation between criminal behaviour and adolescence marijuana use. Through this study, an examination of the modifications in the brain is made to investigate the marijuana’s impact on neurological functions. One example revealed a heightened susceptibility of developing schizophrenia. The following phase was the methodology where a systematic review approach was employed to gain an enhanced comprehension on the matter. During the next chapter, which was the findings and discussion section, the researcher conducted a thorough examination of the potential connections identified in the studies and determined their association with criminality. The connection between cannabis consumption and criminality became evident from the findings. In addition, negative patterns in neurodevelopment were detected which increased the likelihood of committing crime. Therefore, the consumption of marijuana during adolescence affects more than one region of the body, including both the physical and psychological aspects.