Study: Marijuana and Tobacco Use Increases Memory

Marijuana and tobacco have always been believed to cause decreased memory function. But according to a recent research study published in the Behavioral Brain Research Journal, the opposite is true when marijuana and tobacco are consumed together.

Dr. Francesca M. Filbey PhD found that as the hippocampus (an area of the brain associated with memory and spatial navigation) got smaller from marijuana and tobacco use, memory improved.

“We expected the opposite,” stated a researcher. The study also mentioned that with people who use marijuana and tobacco: “smaller hippocampal volumes were linked to relatively higher memory scores.”

It is estimated that about 70% of marijuana users also use tobacco, which is why these researchers decided to research the combined effects of marijuana and tobacco use.