Yasmin Hurd, PhD

Cover art from the Road to Resilience podcast, featuring Dr. Yasmin Hurd in the lab.

Adolescents are gaining access to #cannabis at a younger age, have a plethora of ways to ingest it, and are consuming dangerously high concentrations of THC. This greatly impacts young, developing brains 🧠

Learn more on Mount Sinai's Road to Resilience: www.mountsinai.org/about/newsro...

Selfie of Yasmin & Amanda.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting tennis player Amanda Anisimova! 🤩 🎾

I'm so inspired by her persistence & resilience. As scientists, we can learn a lot from her on how to handle victory & defeat. Win or lose in the research game, let’s grow with grace & keep showing up.

Screenshot of the podcast episode, showing the podcast artwork & the episode title.

The #cannabis landscape has changed. High THC concentrations in today's products have profound effects on the brain 🧠

I spoke with Doug Bopst on The Adversity Advantage about the risks of cannabis consumption. #Neuroskyence

🎧 Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/bb/podcast/c...

Screenshot of the title & abstract of the article.

🧠 We know that #cannabis use can disrupt adolescent brain development and behavior, but individual differences and THC potency can impact that trajectory 🤔

Read about current cannabis findings and future directions for research here: psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/...

A card saying "CONGRATULATIONS" with cartoon images of a party popper and a graduate cap and diploma.

We recently celebrated the graduating cohort from our CARES youth program. The commitment and strength this group has shown demonstrates how life trajectories can change with the right motivation and support and how our program impacts the lives of those seeking help.

Congratulations graduates 🎉

Screenshot of the article title ("What to know about the changing marijuana landscape") from the APA Report.

We are long overdue for more research on the benefits and risks of #cannabis use. However, the urgency for better policies for product standards and public education cannot be overstated. We need to act.

Read more in the American Psychological Association's June Report: www.apa.org/monitor/2025...

Our research shows how #cannabis affects the developing brain. I spoke to Dr. Delaney Ruston about how #THC exposure in adolescent rats alters cell communication vital for cognitive function.

Watch more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2Eb...

Image showing a photo of Yasmin Hurd, her talk title ("Cannabis - The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly"), and the talk time and location

I'm looking forward to speaking at @canacn.bsky.social's annual meeting tomorrow! I’ll be talking about all things #Cannabis, including our current preclinical and human research that is relevant to policy and expanding consumer knowledge.

Come say hello! #Neuroskyence

To all those descending onto Toronto for the @canacn.bsky.social annual meeting, as program chair I hope you have an exciting meeting and enjoy our featured speakers @franklandlab.bsky.social
@yulonglilab.bsky.social @neurovoice.bsky.social @turrigiano.bsky.social and Kerry Ressler #CAN2025

Image of a cannabis leaf from the article, with the Washington City Paper logo at the bottom.

🤔 Today’s #cannabis products are shaped largely by commercial interests, which means consumer health & wellbeing isn’t always the top priority.

I encourage consumers to evaluate these products & know the potential risks.

Read more in @wcp.bsky.social: washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7624...

Image of the podcast episode artwork, episode title, and name of the podcast.

Today’s #cannabis has much more potent THC than in the past. How we think about & approach cannabis needs to change with this in mind - from policy & consumer perspectives.

🎧 Listen to my discussion with Julie Rose on Top Of Mind here: open.spotify.com/show/5P43AGN...

Image thanking attendees of the event. There is a list of the scientists and clinicians who spoke at the event, and an image taken from the event.

Our AIMS event last week was a hit 🎉

So warmed by the incredible feedback! Attendees shared how much they appreciated learning about #cannabis across clinical care, translational research & preclinical work.

Special thanks to the expert speakers who made this event possible!

Event poster featuring the meeting topic, "Cannabis Across the Lifespan," the date, time, and location details, information about the speakers and a photo of Dr. Garavan.

📣 Next week, the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai is hosting the Annual Dr. Robert Newman Lecture, featuring the topic "Cannabis Across the Lifespan."

Join us for a Keynote by Dr. Hugh Garavan and panel discussions with leading #cannabis researchers.

RSVP today: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

In a recent episode of @issuesinst.bsky.social, I talked about the complexity of #cannabis regulations and the need for better policies and education for the public.

Check it out here 👇🏾

Unraveling The Role of CBD in Anxiety Regulation

✒️ I wrote a Behind the Paper post for @springernature.com about my lab's latest paper. Learn all about our exciting new work on how #CBD can mitigate #anxiety. #Neuroskyence

Read the post here: communities.springernature.com/posts/unrave...

Image of the title, authors, and abstract of the linked paper.

New Hurd Lab translational study used machine learning to identify the Shisa7 gene’s role in opioid addiction. This exciting work contributes to our understanding of the neurobiological basis of addiction. #Neuroskyence

📚 Read more: www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S000...

Despite cannabis policy having a direct effect on how the public interacts with #cannabis products, we have very little data on the public health implications of cannabis policies that have been instated over the past few decades.

🎧 Listen to the discussion 👇🏾

Thank you for reading through some of my favorite posts. I’m looking forward to sharing more exciting work with everyone here! (9/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post about the Scientific American article, with a photo of the top of the article.

#Cannabis policy must evolve to reflect the cannabis of today and its health effects. I shared my thoughts in a @sciam.bsky.social op-ed.

📘 Read the article here: www.scientificamerican.com/article/we-n... (8/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post linking to the episode of Freakonomics Radio.

I spoke with Freakonomics about the complexity and nuance of modern #cannabis.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: freakonomics.com/podcast/is-a... (7/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post highlighting the importance of solidarity, support & belonging, and linking to a video about allyship.

🌈 Allyship is crucial for scientific innovation and progress. As a leader in neuroscience, I strive to make sure everyone is seen and heard because science thrives when we all contribute.

🎥 Watch the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbhH... (6/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post of the American Journal of Psychiatry paper, including a picture of the paper's title "The Developmental Trajectory to Cannabis Use Disorder."

As #cannabis use changes, so should our approach to cannabis research & treatment. We need new research methods & improved treatment options to address cannabis use disorder effectively.

Read the paper here: psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/... (5/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post showing my lab members and myself at Sinai's Annual Neuroscience Retreat.

I’m so proud of my lab members and all the incredible work they do @sinaibrain.bsky.social. These brilliant scientists inspire me every day 🧑‍🔬 (4/9)

A screenshot of the Twitter/X post with a photo of when I was elected to the National Academy of Sciences at the 2023 Meeting.

The @nasonline.org is such an important organization. The work they do to advance and promote research is key to scientific progress. I’m honored to be a member. (3/9)

Screenshot of the Twitter/X post about the JAMA Psychiatry paper, showing the paper's title, authors, and a paragraph about its importance.

A key part of my research is understanding the effects of #cannabis on the adolescent brain. My lab’s JAMA Psychiatry paper found that adolescent rats exposed to high doses of THC demonstrated risky decision-making & impulsivity in adulthood.

Read the paper: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... (2/9)

Bluesky, you’ve been so welcoming and positive so far 🦋 I want to share some of my favorite posts from “the bad place,” so everyone here can get to know me a bit better. Check them out below ⬇️

I’d love to see YOUR favorite posts, feel free to share them here!

#Neuroskyence #WomenInSTEM 🧪 (1/9)

Photo of Dr. Yasmin Hurd and a member of her lab. They are in the lab wearing lab coats, masks, and gloves and are handling lab equipment.

As the public's relationship with cannabis changes, so should national policy. Again, we call on public health officials to do more to educate the public on the potential harms of #cannabis use 🧠 #Neuroskyence

Read about the @nationalacademies.org report here: reports.mountsinai.org/article/psyc...

🎉 Thank you to everyone who worked on this study, especially first author Jacqueline-Marie Ferland! Great work, team! (7/7)

This study provides insights into how CBD acts on a molecular level. Our findings ​​suggest CBD could be useful for treating anxiety disorders, especially those linked to traumatic events or specific triggers. (6/7)

Gene network analysis, showing the correlations between the gene targets of CBD and the anxiety and lipid networks in the NAcSh.

In the NAcSh 🧠, we found that CBD normalized molecular signatures that were altered by cue-induced anxiety, restored cellular energy balance at a mitochondrial level & reversed changes elicited by anxiety in specific lipid networks. (5/7)