The pro-legalization movement shouldn’t ignore studies like this one. But this is also precisely why we recognize a practical need for regulation. Developing brains are especially at risk of being affected by any kind of substance use.
Are there any comparable studies out there on adolescent alcohol consumption and mental health?
🧠 Major Study Links Adolescent Cannabis Use to Increased Risk of Serious Mental Health Disorders
A large 2026 study published in JAMA Health Forum followed 463,396 adolescents ages 13–17 through young adulthood. Researchers found that adolescents who reported cannabis use had a significantly higher risk of later developing psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety. ScienceDaily
Of particular concern, the risk of developing psychotic and bipolar disorders was approximately doubled among adolescents who reported cannabis use. Cannabis use was typically reported 1.7–2.3 years before the psychiatric diagnosis. The study adjusted for prior mental-health conditions and other substance use, though as an observational study it cannot by itself establish causation. ScienceDaily
IASIC believes parents, young people, healthcare professionals, and communities deserve accurate, evidence-based information about the potential mental-health risks associated with adolescent cannabis use.
🔗 Read more:
https://t.co/4vIWNIw0ZI
#IASIC #Cannabis #Marijuana #YouthPrevention #Psychosis #BipolarDisorder #MentalHealth #AdolescentHealth #BrainHealth #CannabisResearch #PublicHealth
“Certainly indirectly” needs to go up in the Louvre. Does that also accurately describe your compensation package’s ties to the pharmaceutical industry?
If cannabis is “certainly indirectly” a cause of many deaths, how would you describe the causal connection between “pain management” prescriptions and overdose deaths?
It’s important to note that nobody seriously contends cannabis is without any risk of harm. And the cigarette analogy proves a bit too much—adults can legally purchase cigarettes despite the proven link to lung cancer, et cetera. Meanwhile, “we can’t say it’s completely safe” passes for a reason to continue criminalizing cannabis.
Let me pull up a chair. I need Big Pharma’s useful idiots to hear this.
Speaking for *myself* and not my donor-less PAC: In low doses, cannabis definitely settles my mind down. (Late-diagnosed autistic with ADHD.) It does not make thoughts disappear for me. And it’s made otherwise unbearable social situations manageable, allowing me to be present instead of shutting down. That’s invaluable medicine to me, whether the FDA has gotten there yet or not.
@Thansued@Sonderisfon I’m sorry my earnestly held opinion — that it would be … checks notes … not good to lose all women — makes some feel inferior. It wasn’t my intention at all.
That’s not to say the responses of joy and predictions of utopia aren’t deserving of mockery. They definitely are.
@HeyAliux Highly dependent on what you’re using it for. I was once required to use Opus (High Reasoning) for a job. Sonnet would have made much more sense for 90% of the work.
@EveryBrainMatt How about caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol? Any of those also present in a significant number of overdose deaths? How many overdose deaths occur within a month of the victim eating a cheeseburger? We need answers.