A recent study from Canada has revealed a strong link between marijuana use among young people and psychosis, reigniting debate around the dangers of cannabis use as momentum continues to grow for legalization in the United States.
According to the study, which was conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the University of Toronto, and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, data from more than 11,000 youth revealed that young marijuana users (ages 12-24) are 11 times more likely to experience psychosis or develop a psychotic disorder than non-users.
Five of six adolescents in the study who sought treatment via hospitalization or emergency room visits for psychotic disorders self-reported pot use. While the researchers clarified that cannabis use does not automatically mean one will develop a psychotic disorder, there is a strong correlation between those who suffer from psychosis and marijuana use.
“The study is the first to show an age-dependent association between self-reported cannabis use and subsequent psychotic disorder diagnosis, which adds to a growing body of research on the mental health risks associated with cannabis,” CAMH said in a statement.
The increased potency of popular marijuana strains appears to be a major factor driving increased health risks. In the early 1990s, cannabis only contained five percent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana. But since then, genetic modification has resulted in the THC content of the average plant skyrocketing by more than 300 percent.
“Modern-day cannabis is simply not the same as the plant used in the 1960s through the 1980s or even as recently as 10 years ago,” Carrie E. Bearden, a professor of psychiatry, recently wrote for Scientific American. “New strains of cannabis are highly potent, making them more addictive and potentially more dangerous.”
The CAMH study aims to educate people about the hazards of cannabis use, especially as the stuff becomes more widespread and normalized in popular culture and its potentially deadly side effects are diminished. “Psychotic disorders are associated with many adverse outcomes, including suicide, homelessness, unemployment, and an average life expectancy of 10–20 years less than the general population,” the study reports.
The CAMH study builds on another bombshell report from The Wall Street Journal last year also linking youth marijuana use to psychosis. “Nearly a third of adolescents they [Boston Children’s Hospital] see for checkups say they are using cannabis,” the Journal reported. “About a third of children using cannabis report experiencing hallucinations or paranoia.”
“One young man had nearly crashed his car because he thought demons were chasing him,” the Journal report continues. In another case, “a teenager with cannabis-use disorder had threatened to kill his mother.”
Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states, two territories, and the District of Columbia. Fifteen more states have legalized the medical use of marijuana, meaning 39 total U.S. states have legalized marijuana in some capacity. The CAMH study, however, was conducted in Canada, where marijuana use is legalized throughout the country, with some provinces allowing individuals as young as 18 to purchase it.
Nonetheless, marijuana use is still common among American teenagers, even in states where it is not yet legal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2022, 30.7% of US high school 12th graders reported using cannabis in the past year, and 6.3% reported using cannabis daily in the past 30 days.”
These recent revelations on the growing link between youth marijuana use and psychosis underscore the importance of education on cannabis, especially among young people.
“Why is the increased risk of psychosis so profound in teens? The researchers in my field think it has something to do with the significant rewiring that happens in adolescent brains, which continues into our early 20s, when symptoms of psychotic disorders typically start showing up,” Bearden said. “The same molecules and receptors in our brains that interact with THC (known as the endocannabinoid system) play an essential role in brain development.”
In the CAMH study, even if teens stopped using cannabis, their psychosis often continued. Bearden wrote that she had witnessed this with many of her patients, including some who had completed inpatient treatments. The damage from cannabis was severe and permanent.
“In light of such daunting data, some researchers have begun sounding the alarm,” Bearden said. “But we are struggling to get this information to those who need to hear it most: parents, educators, and legislators.”
While questions about U.S. legalization continue to loom, one Idaho lawmaker is hoping his state won’t follow suit, citing disastrous results in surrounding states that have chosen to legalize the drug.
“Looking around at other states that have legalized marijuana, it’s not improved their states as a place to raise a family, to do business,” said Idaho state Rep. Bruce Skaug, a Republican. “It just hasn’t come through with the promises that we heard years ago for those states.”
While recreational marijuana use, particularly in teens, remains a pressing concern, the drug has increased in popularity, particularly when it comes to medical applications. A Pew Research Center poll revealed that support for marijuana research has doubled in the past 20 years, with 70 percent of Americans saying they support legalization, compared to 31 percent in 2000.
Even for proponents of marijuana legalization, however, it is difficult to ignore the mounting pile of evidence that cannabis use carries far more risks than mainstream culture would lead people to believe. Ongoing research continues to prove that marijuana today is not the marijuana of the 90s – and young people may be the guinea pigs for just how dangerous this far more potent pot is.
Kamden Mulder is a senior at Hillsdale College pursuing a degree in American Studies and Journalism. You can follow her on X @kamdenmulder_.
There is a lot of clearly debunked junk science posted here. Don’t believe every “study” you read. Especially on a site as biased as this.
Biggest load of bullhockey I have read in a couple days. And by today’s standards, that’s alot
Prohibition and Reefer Madness are only pushed and believed by a very small, lunatic-fringe minority of irrational looney-tune Holier Than Thou types that are on a never ending little personal moral-crusade and witch-hunt against relatively benign cannabis and it’s consumers. The rest of us sane, rational, normal Americans just laugh our butts off at and mock utterly desperate lying prohibitionists and their ridiculous Reefer-Madness-Rhetoric as the comedy show they truly are!
There is absolutely no doubt now that the majority of Americans want to completely legalize cannabis nationwide. Our numbers grow on a daily basis.
The prohibitionist view on cannabis is the viewpoint of a minority and rapidly shrinking percentage of Americans. It is based upon decades of lies and propaganda.
Each and every tired old lie they have propagated has been thoroughly proven false by both science and society.
Their tired old rhetoric no longer holds any validity. The vast majority of Americans have seen through the sham of cannabis prohibition in this day and age. The number of prohibitionists left shrinks on a daily basis.
With their credibility shattered, and their not so hidden agendas visible to a much wiser public, what’s left for a cannabis prohibitionist to do?
Maybe, just come to terms with the fact that Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think, and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide!…and Support All Cannabis Legalization Efforts!
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over two trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!
“Cannabis is 114 times safer than drinking alcohol”
“Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say”
“Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought, researchers say New study: We should stop fighting Cannabis legalization and focus on alcohol and tobacco instead By Christopher Ingraham February 23
Compared with other recreational drugs — including alcohol — Cannabis may be even safer than previously thought. And researchers may be systematically underestimating risks associated with alcohol use.
Those are the top-line findings of recent research published in the journal Scientific Reports, a subsidiary of Nature. Researchers sought to quantify the risk of death associated with the use of a variety of commonly used substances. They found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroin and cocaine.”
-Washington Post
“The report discovered that Cannabis is 114 times less deadly than alcohol. Researchers were able to determine this by comparing the lethal doses with the amount of typical use. Through this approach, Cannabis had the lowest mortality risk to users out of all the drugs they studied. In fact—because the numbers were crossed with typical daily use—Cannabis is the only drug that tested as “low risk.”
-Complex
Fear of Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is unfounded. Not based on any science or fact whatsoever. So please prohibitionists, we beg you to give your scare tactics, “Conspiracy Theories” and “Doomsday Scenarios” over the inevitable Legalization of Cannabis Nationwide a rest. Nobody is buying them anymore these days. Okay?
Furthermore, if all prohibitionists get when they look into that nice, big and shiny crystal ball of theirs, while wondering about the future of cannabis legalization, is horror, doom, and despair, well then I suggest they return that thing as quickly as possible and reclaim the money they shelled out for it, since it’s obviously defective.
The prohibition of cannabis has not decreased the supply nor the demand for cannabis at all. Not one single iota, and it never will. Just a huge and complete waste of our tax dollars to continue criminalizing citizens for choosing a natural, non-toxic, relatively benign plant proven to be much safer than alcohol.
If prohibitionists are going to take it upon themselves to worry about “saving us all” from ourselves, then they need to start with the drug that causes more death and destruction than every other drug in the world COMBINED, which is alcohol!
Why do prohibitionists feel the continued need to vilify and demonize cannabis when they could more wisely focus their efforts on a real, proven killer, alcohol, which again causes more destruction, violence, and death than all other drugs, COMBINED?
Prohibitionists really should get their priorities straight and/or practice a little live and let live. They’ll live longer, happier, and healthier, with a lot less stress if they refrain from being bent on trying to control others through Draconian Cannabis Laws.
Cannabis should be absolutely just as legal and easy to obtain anywhere as alcohol currently is. No exceptions. It’s so easy: As legal and easy to obtain/use as alcohol currently is. Why hold relatively benign, often healing cannabis to any sort of irrational, stricter double standard than perfectly legal alcohol?
Legalize federally now. What’s legal to possess and consume in over half of the populated areas of The United States should not make you a criminal in states still being governed by woefully ignorant prohibitionist politicians. Cannabis consumers in all states deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol. Plain and simple! Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
Cannabis consumers deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more harmful, dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Cannabis Nationwide Federally Now!
REEFER MADNESS IS FOR MENTAL MIDGETS! ROFLMAO!
I have done pot since 1966 and I am nowhere near psychotic!
WOW, a study conducted by an agency that makes money off using pseudo shrinks to treat whatever might be deemed addictive this week found that young people using pot are prone to psychosis.
I guess that the 8 out of 10 fellow students I went to public school with, including myself are all psychotics.
Also interesting is that this study done by pseudo shrinks is also Canadian based. A nation of cucked sheep and some outfit of theirs that makes money off the supposed suffering of others is something real people should listen to?
Whats next in this clown world we live in. Canadians need to concentrate on regaining their freedoms, including the right to smoke whatever God provided should they so desire.
Pot became illegal due to the fact too many blacks were enjoying it, it is called prejudice!
Prohibitionists always use terms like “INVOLVED” , “RELATED” or “LINKED” when they tout these horrific sounding statistics and claims. Because they can’t ever prove cannabis impairment alone to be the actual “CAUSE” of any illness nor condition nor anything seriously detrimental.
The whole “Today’s cannabis is so much stronger…” myth is nothing more than prohibitionist fear mongering propaganda, and completely false. Intentionally fabricated in order to desperately try to scare the public away from so strongly supporting the full federal legalization of cannabis, nationwide. There has always been very potent strains of cannabis. Even in the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Ever heard of Acapulco Gold, Maui-Wowie, Panama Red , Colombian Gold, Bubblegum, Train Wreck, Northern Lights and Sour Diesel to name just a few of the many, many potent stains of decades past?
The cause is called school not pot!
agree with Vlad, Anne, Anna, Larry and Leslie, evidence that smoking pot can cause psychosis is seen just in the pro pot commentators here, moreso, as many have observed, the use of harder drugs like heroin or fentanyl, started with smoking pot, and, the huge increase of homelessness, associated with mental illness and drug use, started with smoking pot
Years ago, I asked my psychiatrist (anxiety disorder) about cannabis and if it should be legalized. She nearly exploded and cites the many negative results of using cannabis and psychosis was one of the worst. One wonders how much it has played into the “crazy” and sometimes violent actions by teens — like school shootings, and even suicides. It’s in no way safe. Giving it to patients with cancer, and pain from life-ending illnesses and pain, is a different matter entirely.
Marijuana, like CIGARETTE smoke, gets onto your SKIN, your CLOTHES, and your HAIR.
Smoke ALL you want. What YOU do in the privacy of your home and on YOUR dime is your business. I DON’T want you around ME.
what I find absurd is that the liberals are all in on legalizing marijuana despite the study that it is a drug and can cause irreparable damage to the body. However, these same liberals are steadfastly against any type of tobacco use which also causes irreparable harm to the body. The hypocrisy in liberalism is stunning.
Everything is OK in moderation, if that were possible there would be no addicts of any sorts and no obesity or alcoholism etc.
hence life-long welfare
Very bad idea to legalize Marijuana. The movement to do so should be Weeded out!
Shocker, huh? Students already can’t seem to learn things and now we let them get high and treat it as normal, a mere misdemeanor. I divorced my first husband in 1986 because he couldn’t “study” without being high. I couldn’t stand the smell or how he acted. Now, he’s 70 and his brain is affected. Again, shocker. I voted “no” in Colorado when they legalized weed and now, shocker, rates of people driving stoned are sky high. Oregon legalized all sorts of drugs, now they are re-criminalizing. Our homeless rates here are HUGE, going up every year, we waste 20 million a year NOT fixing the problem, drug use.
The article confirmed my suspicion that this is directly related to the substantial increase in potency.
We should go back to the days of Columbian redbud.
Not any more linked than the Democrat Party.
I know a young man, that was a heavy pot smoker and now has psychosis. He has been dealing with it for the past 5 years. He is now in his late 20’s. Both his parents are in denial about the cause. I have no doubt it was his pot use. He is on very heavy-duty meds.
I can not believe how stupid people are about weed. THC is a drug. If legalized, it should have been put in pharmacists hands. It should be re-classified, so that it can be studied thoroughly. I do believe it has medical uses. I just don’t believe it is harmless.
We put the cart before the horse. Time to really study this plant.
@Brian Kelly et al.
Well, well.
As of this morning 4 days in.
Still gaslighting.
Still stuffing the ballot box.
It’s too bad you and your fraud squad have to resort to disingenuous tactics to get your point across. Of course it speaks volumes about your character.
Have a good week.
Another waste oh taxpayer money, another study ,because the evidence of the past 50 years is not all around us. We need more studying.
Brian and his pot smoking buddies have ganged up on this forum. Let me tell you what I know about pot. I am retired but I once had a girl friend who started out on pot. She moved up and eventually she was shooting up with Heroin. She died at the ripe old age of 53.
@Brian Kelly & John Sechrest et al.
Keep it up.
You’re proving my point quite nicely.
You’re a phony, disingenuous at best.
Have a nice day.
@Brian Kelly & J Sechrest et al.
How convenient.
You’re not fooling anybody with your coordinated comment & voting
@Brian Kelly & John Sechrest et al.
Same M.O. as last time to push your narrative. You’re methods are fake and you know it.
@Brian Kelly, John Sechrest ET al.
So, 3 days in and you’re still gang-banging this site.
The ends justify the means, eh?
Still stuffing the ballot box.
Still stacking the deck.
You’re a fraud.
Have a nice weekend.
@Brian Kelly & john sechrest et al.
You’re full of crap and you’re manipulating the numbers.
Nobody responds all at once.
You did this the last time when cannabis was the subject.
@Brian Kelly, John Sechrest ET al.
Well, well, well. Looky here. Over 40 down votes in less than an hour on a three day old article. Again you have proven my point. Too bad you have to fraudulently coordinate your comments & voting to manipulate the narrative.
You have not educated nor influenced anyone on this site and you have certainly not fooled anybody.
All you and your fake “team” have done is expose yourself for the huckster and charlatan you are. But not to worry, when the subject arises, you’ll be back and I’ll be waiting & watching.
Until then. . . .
Read former NYTimes investigative reporter, Alex Berenson’s, book Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness and Violence.
He exposes truths about this drug which the cannabis industry does not want to become common knowlede. The book evolved from a casual conversation he had with his wife one night. She was a psychiatrist who was responsible for examining any person in New York state claiming an insanity defense.
Turns out many of the most violent criminals had used marijuana prior to committing their crimes.
For many people, the drug’s effects are relatively benign. But for a schizophrenic, it can cause them to go absolutlely berserk.
The rate of birth defects in Michigan took an unexplained jump the year after marijuana use was legalized, and have remained at that level ever since..