Teenagers who begin using marijuana before the age of 15 face a significantly greater likelihood of using the drug more frequently later in life and of developing physical and mental health issues as young adults, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open.
The study, conducted by researchers in Montreal, draws on data from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a decades-long project tracking more than 1,500 participants from birth into early adulthood. The goal was to understand how early cannabis habits might influence long-term health outcomes.
Researchers found that 60 percent of teens in the study never used marijuana during adolescence. Of those who did, half began experimenting in their later teen years and reported occasional use by age 17.
The remaining 20 percent, who started using before turning 15, were far more likely to use marijuana regularly by the time they reached 17. This group also showed higher rates of medical visits for physical and psychological concerns once they reached adulthood.
“The risk is concentrated among those who begin early and use often,” said Massimiliano Orri, a psychologist at McGill University and the study’s lead author.
According to the study, early marijuana users were more likely (51%) to seek mental health care in young adulthood, even after accounting for factors such as family conflict, peer relationships, and parental supervision. They were also 86 percent more likely to need treatment for physical health issues, with respiratory problems, accidents, and injuries among the most commonly reported conditions.
Previous studies have also linked early marijuana use to mental health challenges. Columbia University psychiatrist Dr. Ryan Sultan, who has conducted related research, found that adolescents who use marijuana recreationally are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders. Other studies have connected early use to psychosis, poor school performance, and truancy.
Experts note that the adolescent brain continues to develop well into the mid-twenties, particularly in regions responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Regular marijuana use during this stage, they say, can interfere with that process.
Sultan added that teens who rely on cannabis to manage anxiety or mood may weaken their natural coping abilities over time, which can increase the risk of developing chronic mental health disorders. For that reason, he advises young people and their parents to delay cannabis use until around age 25, when the brain has matured further and the potential health risks are lower.
The policy changes made to legalize the substance and license companies like Curaleaf Holdings Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) could provide an avenue through which teens and younger adults can be prevented from accessing marijuana through age-verification checks conducted at retail outlets so that the risks indicated in this research are minimized.
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