A large JAMA Health Forum study of 460,000 adolescents finds cannabis use is linked to higher risks of psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, underscoring concerns for the developing teen brain.
Rising cases of psychosis are increasingly being associated with cannabis use among teenagers.
According to the World Health Organisation, psychosis is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality.
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It may involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and unusual behaviour.
The WHO notes that psychosis can occur in disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder or be triggered by substance use or medical conditions.
A new study published in JAMA Health Forum indicates that adolescents who use cannabis face a heightened risk of developing serious mental health conditions later in life, including bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and depression.
Researchers say the findings reinforce growing concerns about the long-term psychiatric consequences of early cannabis exposure. While many young people perceive marijuana as a harmless and natural substance, emerging evidence suggests that assumption may be misguided.
The adolescent brain is still undergoing critical development, and consistent cannabis use may disrupt healthy neural growth. In the study, researchers followed 460,000 adolescents up to the age of 25.
They examined annual substance-use screenings alongside mental health diagnoses recorded in medical records. Importantly, teens who had already exhibited symptoms of mental illness before using cannabis were excluded from the analysis.
“We looked at young people who began using cannabis before showing any signs of psychiatric conditions and tracked whether they were more likely to develop them later,” one of the researchers explained.
The findings revealed that teens who reported cannabis use within the previous year had a significantly higher likelihood of receiving a mental health diagnosis compared to non-users.
Particularly alarming was the doubled risk of developing two severe psychiatric conditions: bipolar disorder, characterised by alternating episodes of depression and mania, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, which involve a break from reality.
Although approximately 4,000 adolescents in the study were diagnosed with each of these disorders, they remain among the most disabling forms of mental illness.
Beyond the profound personal toll, the societal costs are considerable. Treating illnesses like schizophrenia is extremely expensive and places a heavy burden on healthcare systems.
The study also identified elevated risks for more common mental health conditions. Depression rates among teen cannabis users were about one-third higher, while anxiety rates increased by roughly one-quarter.
Notably, the association between cannabis use and depression or anxiety appeared weaker among older adolescents, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of younger teens.
“The brain is still developing,” Silver emphasised. “Cannabis interacts with brain receptors in ways that can significantly influence neurological development and raise the risk of mental health disorders.”
Researchers hope the findings will help counter the growing belief that marijuana is a safe stress-relief option. As legalisation expands, many adolescents view cannabis as benign. However, experts warn that this perception can be misleading.
The study’s structure also addresses a long-standing debate: does cannabis use lead to mental illness, or are teens with early symptoms more inclined to use cannabis?
By excluding adolescents who already showed psychiatric symptoms, the research strengthens the case that cannabis use itself may elevate the risk.
“In clinical practice, we most often see anxiety and depression,” a clinician noted, “but increasingly we are also encountering more severe conditions like bipolar disorder and psychosis.”
Experts stress that mental health disorders are shaped by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and life experiences, and that some adolescents are more susceptible than others. However, when cannabis triggers a psychotic or manic episode, clinicians strongly advise against continued use.
Repeated episodes of psychosis or severe mood instability can make recovery more difficult over time.
“Psychosis and severe mood disorders can act almost like seizures in the brain,” he explained. “They may be neurotoxic and contribute to faster cognitive decline.”
Although more research is needed to fully understand the biological pathways involved, specialists agree on one point: early and frequent cannabis use carries real risks, particularly for the developing adolescent brain.
The WHO notes that cannabis use can produce short-term effects such as altered perception, mood changes, and impaired memory and coordination.
Long-term or frequent use, especially in adolescents, can increase the risk of mental health disorders, dependence, and negative impacts on cognitive development.
Rising cases of psychosis are increasingly being associated with cannabis use among teenagers.
According to the World Health Organisation, psychosis is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality.
It may involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and unusual behaviour.
The WHO notes that psychosis can occur in disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder or be triggered by substance use or medical conditions.
A new study published in JAMA Health Forum indicates that adolescents who use cannabis face a heightened risk of developing serious mental health conditions later in life, including bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and depression.
Researchers say the findings reinforce growing concerns about the long-term psychiatric consequences of early cannabis exposure. While many young people perceive marijuana as a harmless and natural substance, emerging evidence suggests that assumption may be misguided.
The adolescent brain is still undergoing critical development, and consistent cannabis use may disrupt healthy neural growth. In the study, researchers followed 460,000 adolescents up to the age of 25.
They examined annual substance-use screenings alongside mental health diagnoses recorded in medical records. Importantly, teens who had already exhibited symptoms of mental illness before using cannabis were excluded from the analysis.
“We looked at young people who began using cannabis before showing any signs of psychiatric conditions and tracked whether they were more likely to develop them later,” one of the researchers explained.
The findings revealed that teens who reported cannabis use within the previous year had a significantly higher likelihood of receiving a mental health diagnosis compared to non-users.
Particularly alarming was the doubled risk of developing two severe psychiatric conditions: bipolar disorder, characterised by alternating episodes of depression and mania, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, which involve a break from reality.
Although approximately 4,000 adolescents in the study were diagnosed with each of these disorders, they remain among the most disabling forms of mental illness.
Beyond the profound personal toll, the societal costs are considerable. Treating illnesses like schizophrenia is extremely expensive and places a heavy burden on healthcare systems.
The study also identified elevated risks for more common mental health conditions. Depression rates among teen cannabis users were about one-third higher, while anxiety rates increased by roughly one-quarter.
Notably, the association between cannabis use and depression or anxiety appeared weaker among older adolescents, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of younger teens.
“The brain is still developing,” Silver emphasised. “Cannabis interacts with brain receptors in ways that can significantly influence neurological development and raise the risk of mental health disorders.”
Researchers hope the findings will help counter the growing belief that marijuana is a safe stress-relief option. As legalisation expands, many adolescents view cannabis as benign. However, experts warn that this perception can be misleading.
The study’s structure also addresses a long-standing debate: does cannabis use lead to mental illness, or are teens with early symptoms more inclined to use cannabis?
By excluding adolescents who already showed psychiatric symptoms, the research strengthens the case that cannabis use itself may elevate the risk.
“In clinical practice, we most often see anxiety and depression,” a clinician noted, “but increasingly we are also encountering more severe conditions like bipolar disorder and psychosis.”
Experts stress that mental health disorders are shaped by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and life experiences, and that some adolescents are more susceptible than others. However, when cannabis triggers a psychotic or manic episode, clinicians strongly advise against continued use.
Repeated episodes of psychosis or severe mood instability can make recovery more difficult over time.
“Psychosis and severe mood disorders can act almost like seizures in the brain,” he explained. “They may be neurotoxic and contribute to faster cognitive decline.”
Although more research is needed to fully understand the biological pathways involved, specialists agree on one point: early and frequent cannabis use carries real risks, particularly for the developing adolescent brain.
The WHO notes that cannabis use can produce short-term effects such as altered perception, mood changes, and impaired memory and coordination.
Long-term or frequent use, especially in adolescents, can increase the risk of mental health disorders, dependence, and negative impacts on cognitive development.
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