#78 Strong Clinical Relevance
High-quality evidence with meaningful patient or clinical significance.
Parents and young people should understand that cannabis use during adolescence is not a low-stakes decision, because the developing brain processes cannabinoids very differently than an adult brain does, with potential consequences for long-term mental health.
Adolescent cannabis use carries meaningful psychiatric risks because the developing brain, particularly the endocannabinoid system, is uniquely vulnerable to disruption from exogenous cannabinoids during the years of active neurodevelopment that extend into the mid-twenties. Exposure during this window has been associated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and psychosis, with higher-potency THC products amplifying these concerns considerably. Clinicians working with young patients and their families need to communicate these risks clearly, since the cultural normalization of cannabis has outpaced public understanding of its developmental consequences.
“We cannot keep treating adolescent cannabis exposure as a social footnote while the potency of available products has increased by orders of magnitude over the past two decades.”
🧠 Dr. Silver raises important considerations about adolescent cannabis exposure during critical neurodevelopmental windows. The endocannabinoid system’s role in brain maturation means timing of exposure matters significantly for long-term psychiatric outcomes. While cannabis has legitimate therapeutic applications in adult populations, the evidence increasingly suggests adolescent use carries distinct risks that warrant cautious, individualized assessment. ️ Clinicians should engage families in conversations about these developmental vulnerabilities when discussing cannabis in younger patients. Age-appropriate risk stratification remains essential to responsible cannabis medicine practice.
Dr Caplan’s review of the JAMA Health Forum paper, including what the methods do and do not allow us to conclude: Adolescent Cannabis Use and Psychosis Risk – Study Review
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