WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent or caregiver, this research reinforces that community-wide prevention strategies matter just as much as individual conversations, because when overall teen cannabis use rises even modestly, the number of teens using heavily tends to rise proportionally. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Research examining Swedish adolescents suggests that cannabis use at the population level follows predictable consumption patterns similar to those long observed with alcohol, where changes in average use correlate with changes in heavy use. This finding is clinically significant because it implies that public health strategies proven effective for alcohol, such as population-level prevention rather than solely targeting high-risk individuals, may also apply to adolescent cannabis use.
Do anything, become nothing – The Morning News
WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent, caregiver, or young adult considering cannabis, this study reinforces that adolescent brain development is a critical window where unsupervised use may carry serious long-term psychiatric risks that do not necessarily apply to adult medical patients under clinical guidance. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: A new longitudinal study links adolescent cannabis use to increased risk of later bipolar and psychotic disorder diagnoses, adding to a growing body of evidence that the developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to cannabinoid exposure. While this research does not apply directly to adult medical cannabis patients, it reinforces what clinicians in cannabis medicine have long emphasized: age of onset matters enormously, and adolescent use carries a fundamentally different risk profile than supervised adult medical use.
Teenage Cannabis Users Twice as Likely as Non-Users to Develop Psychosis
A large study found that moderate cannabis use in adults over 40 was linked to larger brain volumes and better cognitive function, though experts caution more research is needed before drawing conclusions. A landmark longitudinal study published in JAMA Health Forum followed 463,396 adolescents ages 13-17 through age 26. Past-year cannabis use during adolescence was associated with a doubled risk of developing psychotic and bipolar disorders, plus elevated risks for depression and anxiety.
Satiety Bypass: How Cannabis Overrides the Brain’s ‘I’m Full’ Signal
A massive study tracking over 460,000 teens found that cannabis use during adolescence doubled the risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders, underscoring why age restrictions and youth prevention are critical. Neuroscience News deep-dive into the WSU/Calgary PNAS study on cannabis-induced appetite. THC activates CB1 receptors in the hypothalamus to override natural satiety signals, creating a feeling of starvation even in recently fed subjects.