increased metabolism (Block et al. 2000; Mathew et al. 2002) and activation of alternate neural pathways within these regions (Eldreth et al. 2004; Kanayama et al. 2004). Further adverse effects may result from the pharmacological interaction of alcohol and marijuana, where THC has been reported to markedly enhance apoptotic properties of ethanol. In infant rats, administration of THC alone did not result in neurodegeneration; however, the combination of THC and a mildly intoxicating dose of ethanol induced significant apoptotic neuronal cell death, similar to that observed at high doses of ethanol alone (Hansen et al. 2008).
