WHY IT MATTERS: 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. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: 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.
Lynn Silver, MD, MPH, FAAP, warns of psychiatric risks with adolescent cannabis use
WHY IT MATTERS: Teenagers and parents should know that cannabis use during adolescence is not simply a lifestyle choice but a neurological exposure that may meaningfully increase the risk of serious, lifelong psychiatric conditions. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Adolescent cannabis use carries meaningful psychiatric risk, particularly for conditions like psychosis and bipolar disorder, during a developmental window when the brain is especially vulnerable to THC’s effects on dopaminergic and endocannabinoid signaling. The association between early cannabis exposure and a doubling of risk for these disorders reflects both biological susceptibility and the potency of today’s high-THC products compared to earlier decades.