#78 Strong Clinical Relevance
High-quality evidence with meaningful patient or clinical significance.
With cannabis potency at historic highs, this study underscores that adolescent brains are uniquely vulnerable to THC exposure, and parents should understand the psychiatric risks before dismissing cannabis as harmless.
Data from a JAMA Health Forum study of nearly half a million teenagers demonstrates that adolescent cannabis use doubles the risk of psychotic and bipolar disorder diagnoses by early adulthood. The association persisted across demographic subgroups and was temporally consistent, with cannabis use preceding psychiatric diagnoses by roughly two years on average. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that the developing adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to THC-related psychiatric effects, especially in an era of dramatically increased cannabis potency.
“The convergence of rising THC potency and developing adolescent brains is a public health equation we can no longer afford to ignore, regardless of where you stand on adult legalization.”
A landmark JAMA Health Forum analysis of nearly 500,000 teenagers reveals a sobering temporal association: adolescent cannabis use correlates with a doubled risk of psychotic and bipolar disorder diagnoses in early adulthood. What makes this research compelling is its consistency across demographic subgroups and the dose-response relationship observed. This week, we examine what this means for clinical practice and adolescent mental health policy.
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Want a more critical, methods-focused read of the JAMA Health Forum paper itself? Dr Caplan published a full review is here: Adolescent Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk – Study Review.