Jodi Gilman, PhD

Using Neuroimaging to Understand Risks and Benefits of Cannabis and Cannabinoids on Brain Function

Addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease that exacts a heavy toll on individuals, families and society. By studying the processes within the brain that lead to addiction, we can gain insights into how drugs interact with the brain’s reward and decision-making circuits. This knowledge not only helps us understand the biology of addiction but also provides a foundation for the development of evidence-based treatments for patients with addiction.

I run an integrated research program using MRI, fMRI, fNIRS and PET imaging to discover acute and long-term effects of cannabis on the brain. My research program is united by a central aim: to understand the neural, behavioral, and clinical dimensions of cannabis use in a range of populations, from adolescents to adults with depression and chronic pain.

Our work on the effects of cannabis on the brain has informed state and national cannabis policies.

While tremendous progress has been made in addiction neuroscience, we continue to address 4 major challenges that will be important for successfully understanding the role of cannabis and cannabinoids on the brain: (1) Advance clinical interventions for cannabis use disorder (CUD) that address specific brain pathways involved in addiction; (2) Investigate cannabis use in vulnerable individuals, such as those with psychiatric illness; (3) Enhance methods for diagnosing THC impairment, potentially aiding in developing legal and clinical frameworks in contexts like driving and workplace safety; and (4) Explore therapeutic potentials of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (CBD), using PET and MRI to assess effects of CBD on the brain in patients with chronic pain or mental health symptoms.

Cannabis is widely used for medical and recreational purposes; these four aims will ultimately help patients by advancing a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of cannabis use and its impacts, with the goals of reducing harm, maximizing potential therapeutic benefits, and strengthening public health messaging by providing scientifically grounded evidence that challenges common misconceptions about cannabis. The MGH Research Scholar award will provide valuable support to allow my lab to flourish. With the MGH Research Scholar funds, my research program is poised to drive innovations in understanding mechanisms of cannabis addiction, and treatment efficacy in CUD and potentially discover mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids.