Pediatricians warn about cannabis use disorder, kids’ easy access to the drug – YouTube
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Pediatricians are increasingly concerned about cannabis use disorder (CUD) in children and adolescents, citing growing evidence of developmental harm and the ease with which youth can access cannabis products in states where the drug is legal. As cannabis legalization expands across North America, pediatric clinicians report rising rates of CUD diagnoses, with particular concern about high-potency products and edibles that are often indistinguishable from regular candy, making accidental and intentional pediatric exposure more likely. Regular cannabis use during critical developmental periods has been associated with cognitive impairment, mental health complications, and potential effects on brain maturation, yet many parents and youth underestimate these risks compared to other substances. The accessibility of legal cannabis and marketing strategies that appeal to younger users have created a public health challenge that extends beyond traditional substance use education. Clinicians should screen adolescent and young adult patients for cannabis use, educate families about developmental risks and product potency, and remain alert for signs of CUD including behavioral changes, academic decline, and social withdrawal. Pediatricians and primary care physicians play a key role in preventing early cannabis exposure through anticipatory guidance and identifying problematic use patterns before they cause lasting developmental harm.
“We’re seeing adolescents present with genuine cannabis use disorder at rates we didn’t observe fifteen years ago, and the clinical presentation is often more severe than we expect because today’s products are fundamentally different from what their parents used, with THC concentrations that can trigger psychotic symptoms or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in susceptible teenagers.”
🧠 As pediatricians increasingly encounter cannabis use disorder in adolescent patients, the ease of access to high-potency products—particularly edibles and vaping devices that appeal to youth—presents a significant clinical challenge. The developing adolescent brain remains vulnerable to cannabis’s effects on memory, attention, and impulse control, with evidence suggesting that early and frequent use may elevate risk for dependence and psychotic symptoms. However, clinicians should recognize that cannabis use exists on a spectrum, and distinguishing developmentally normative experimentation from problematic use disorder requires careful assessment of functional impairment, frequency, and context rather than mere detection of use. The confounding influences of peer pressure, mental health comorbidities, trauma, and family dynamics complicate both prevention and treatment, and addressing these underlying drivers is essential to any intervention. Practically, pediatricians should routinely screen adolescents for cannabis use in confidential settings, educate families
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