WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent or caregiver of a teenager, this research underscores why adolescent cannabis use should only occur under direct medical supervision with careful psychiatric screening, and why recreational or unsupervised use during brain development carries meaningful risk. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Research continues to explore the association between adolescent cannabis use and the development of psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, depression, and bipolar spectrum conditions. While these correlational findings are important to acknowledge, clinicians must also consider confounding variables such as pre-existing mental health conditions, adverse childhood experiences, genetic predisposition, and the role of self-medication that may drive early cannabis use in vulnerable youth.