WHY IT MATTERS: If you are a parent or caregiver of a teenager, this research reinforces why cannabis medicine should only be considered for adolescents under direct physician supervision with clear medical necessity, and why recreational teen use carries real psychiatric risk. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Adolescent cannabis use has consistently been associated with increased risk of psychiatric disorders in the clinical literature, and new large-scale data continues to reinforce this concern. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to exogenous cannabinoids, and early exposure during critical neurodevelopmental windows may alter endocannabinoid signaling in ways that predispose teens to conditions like psychosis, anxiety disorders, and depression.
Study: Teen Cannabis Use Linked to Double Psychosis Risk
This is one of the largest studies ever conducted on teen cannabis use and psychiatric outcomes, and it reinforces that age restrictions and youth prevention should be central to any legalization framework. A JAMA Health Forum study of 463,396 adolescents ages 13 to 17 found cannabis use was linked to a twofold increase in psychotic and bipolar disorder risk by age 26. The study represents one of the largest longitudinal investigations of this association, drawing on clinical health records rather than self-reported data.
When Legalization Meets Reality: High-THC Cannabis and Psychosis Risk
Scientists have proven that cannabis-triggered appetite is a real brain response—not just a stereotype—which could lead to life-saving treatments for patients with HIV/AIDS and cancer who can’t eat. Psychology Today analysis examines the tension between cannabis legalization and emerging mental health research. THC potency has risen dramatically since the 1990s, with vape cartridges now near-pure levels.