New research is sounding the alarm on teen cannabis use and mental health risk. Here’s what you need to know: Study tracked teens through age 26 Results showed doubled risk for psychosis and bipolar disorder in teen users ️ The developing brain is uniquely vulnerable to THC exposure ️ This is why cannabis medicine physicians distinguish between adult therapeutic use and adolescent recreational use ️ Age-appropriate care matters As a physician who has treated over 30,000 patients, I firmly believe cannabis has real medical value for adults. But that belief comes with a responsibility to be honest: the teen brain is still under construction, and we need to protect it. Talk to your kids. Talk to your doctor. Get the facts. New research links teen cannabis use to doubled psychosis and bipolar risk by age 26. The developing brain deserves different rules than the adult brain.
Kaiser Study Finds Higher Risk of Psychiatric Disorders in Teens Who Reported Cannabis Use
New research from Kaiser Permanente highlights psychiatric risks tied to teen cannabis use. Here’s what clinicians and families need to know: The adolescent brain is still developing its endocannabinoid system, making it more vulnerable to disruption ️ Association does not equal causation, but the signal is strong enough to warrant caution ️ Adult medical cannabis under supervision is a very different scenario than unsupervised teen use Age-appropriate protocols, dosing, and monitoring are critical for any adolescent cannabis consideration Open conversations between parents, teens, and clinicians are the best harm reduction tool we have Cannabis is powerful medicine. That’s exactly why it deserves respect, especially when young brains are involved. New Kaiser study links teen cannabis use to higher psychiatric risk. The adolescent brain is not the adult brain, and our approach to cannabinoid medicine must reflect that.