Teenagers who use marijuana may be far more likely to develop serious mental health conditions as they move into adulthood, according to a major study released in JAMA Health Forum.
The study tracked 463,396 young people aged 13 to 17 years and followed them until age 26. Investigators found that teens who reported using cannabis within the previous year faced roughly twice the risk of being diagnosed later with psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder. They were also more likely to develop anxiety and depression.
The research team reviewed electronic health records collected during routine pediatric appointments from 2016 through 2023. On average, marijuana use was reported about two years before a psychiatric condition was diagnosed. By examining data over time, researchers were able to observe how substance use and mental health outcomes unfolded, strengthening the argument that adolescent exposure to marijuana may play a role in later illness.
According to one of the study’s authors, Lynn Silver, the results highlight growing concerns as marijuana products become more potent and widely promoted. She noted that bipolar and psychotic disorders are among the most severe psychiatric illnesses and said the data support calls for stronger public health measures.
Those steps could include limiting product potency, restricting marketing aimed at young people, and expanding prevention efforts. She added that marijuana use among teens should be viewed as a health risk rather than dismissed as harmless experimentation.
Marijuana remains the most commonly used illegal substance among U.S. teenagers. A long-running survey shows that use increases as students get older, climbing from about 8% of eighth graders to 26% of high school seniors. Moreover, a 2024 national survey showed that more than one in ten teens aged between 12 and 17 reported using cannabis in the last year.
At the same time, the potency of available products has increased sharply. In California, average THC concentrations in cannabis flower now exceed 20%, far above levels seen decades ago. Concentrated products can reach more than 95% THC.
Unlike earlier research that often focused on heavy consumption or marijuana use disorder, the new study included any self-reported use within the past year. Screening was conducted universally during regular pediatric visits, allowing researchers to capture occasional users as well.
The study also found higher rates of marijuana use among teens covered by Medicaid and those living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Researchers cautioned that expanding commercialization could widen existing mental health gaps if preventive measures are not strengthened.
These findings make a strong case for the control of black market cannabis sellers while allowing licensed companies like TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) that implement age-verification checks to prevent minors from accessing regulated products to flourish.
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