Northwell Health Lab to Open as Study Links Cannabis to Brain Volume

New York Laboratory to Conduct Controlled Cannabis Research

A Northwell Health laboratory, located on the Queens-Nassau County line, is preparing to begin human trials on cannabis and psychedelics. The lab features specialized ventilation for smoke, a room for psychedelics with a reclining lounge chair, and a bar set up with stools facing a one-way mirror.

The facility’s opening follows a period where research on cannabis and psychedelics has been limited because of tight federal restrictions on their use in studies. Because these drugs were categorized as the nation’s most tightly regulated drugs, deemed to have no currently accepted medical use, research into the drugs has been limited.

Brain Volume and Cognitive Outcomes in Adults

While the Northwell lab prepares for its first subjects, other researchers are analyzing existing data on cannabis consumption. A recent study involving 26,362 participants—with an average age of 55—found that lifetime cannabis use was associated with larger volumes in specific brain regions, particularly those with high densities of cannabinoid (CB1) receptors. These regions, including the hippocampus, are often critical for memory and typically shrink with age and dementia.

“The big-picture, overall finding was that greater lifetime cannabis use among middle aged and older adults (a total of 26,362 participants ages 40 to 77, with an average age of 55) was generally associated with larger brain volumes and better cognitive function.”

Anika Guha, CU Anschutz

However, the researchers caution that the data is limited. According to Anika Guha, a clinical psychologist and faculty research associate in the Department of Psychiatry at CU Anschutz, the constituents and potency of the cannabis products study subjects used were unknown. Guha emphasized that cannabis use studies are difficult with often unknown variables.

“We’re really interested in thinking about both the benefits and risks and understanding this drug in the context of mental health, dementia and more… There’s so much more to explore.”

Anika Guha, CU Anschutz

The Scientific Shift from Plant to Biology

The broader scientific conversation surrounding cannabis has evolved since 1964, when Israeli researchers Raphael Mechoulam and Yechiel Gaoni identified THC. The focus has shifted from the physical plant—the leaf, smell, and smoke—to the body’s endocannabinoid system. This biological network, which helps regulate appetite, mood, sleep, pain perception, memory, inflammation and other functions, was discovered in the late 20th century.

This shift in focus has created a complex regulatory environment. This contradiction highlights the ongoing tension between policy and emerging clinical research.

Risks and Variable Effects of Substances

While cannabis studies explore potential neuroprotective benefits, researchers emphasize that other substances carry clearer, evidence-based risks. For instance, recent reviews regarding alcohol have challenged the notion of health benefits for moderate drinkers. A 2024 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which tracked over 135,000 drinkers aged 60 and older, found that even moderate alcohol intake was linked to higher death rates, particularly concerning cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Experts like Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, point out that people with poor health tend to drink less, which can make moderate drinkers look healthier by comparison. The upcoming Northwell lab studies aim to provide controlled environments where researchers can observe the participants after they consume marijuana, as well as psychedelics and alcohol, to glean information that surveys and other methods cannot obtain.

For those considering these substances, clinical experts advise that individual risk varies based on factors including age, genetics, body size and existing health conditions.

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