New results from a large-scale study indicate that marijuana use by teenagers significantly increases the risk of developing mental disorders, including psychosis. The risk of developing psychosis is said to be even twice as high among adolescents who use cannabis, compared to those who have never used it. Scientists emphasize that the teenage brain is particularly susceptible to the long-term effects of psychoactive substances. The study is particularly significant in the context of debates about the liberalization of marijuana laws and the growing availability of this substance among young people.
Increased Psychosis Risk
Research results indicate that marijuana use in adolescence can double the risk of developing psychosis. This applies especially to intensive and regular use of the substance. This effect persists even after accounting for other factors, such as genetic or environmental predispositions.
Sensitivity of the Teenage Brain
The brain of a person in adolescence undergoes intense development, particularly in areas responsible for emotional control and cognitive processes. The action of psychoactive substances, such as THC, can permanently disrupt this process, increasing susceptibility to mental illnesses, including anxiety disorders and depression.
Doubts About Safety
The study challenges the popular belief about the relative safety and mildness of marijuana, especially in the context of its recreational use by young people. Scientists point out that potential medicinal benefits do not translate to safety of use in healthy individuals, especially young ones.
Context of Legal Debate
The publication of the results fits into the ongoing discussion in Poland and worldwide about the liberalization of marijuana laws. The study provides arguments for opponents of full legalization, emphasizing the need to protect public health, particularly among the youngest.
A new, large-scale scientific study provides strong evidence of a significant link between marijuana use in adolescence and a significantly increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. The results indicate that young people who use cannabis are up to twice as likely to experience psychosis compared to peers who have never used the substance. This risk increases with the intensity and frequency of use. Scientists emphasize that the teenage brain, being in a crucial phase of development, is exceptionally sensitive to the long-term effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance in marijuana. THC can disrupt neuroplasticity processes, leading to permanent changes in structures responsible for emotions, thinking, and perception. Research on the impact of cannabis on mental health has been conducted for decades, and its results have sometimes been ambiguous. A breakthrough in the debate came with advances in neuroimaging, which enabled a better understanding of how psychoactive substances affect the developing brain. Contemporary epidemiological studies increasingly point to a strong link between early initiation of contact with marijuana and subsequent mental health problems, challenging the myth of its complete harmlessness. The study sheds new light on the popular belief among young people about the mildness and relative safety of marijuana as a recreational drug. As experts indicate, potential medical applications of cannabis in strictly controlled doses and for specific diseases in adult patients should not be confused with the safety of its recreational use, especially by young and healthy individuals. The mechanism of action involves disrupting the delicate balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can become a trigger for the first psychotic episode in individuals with a genetic predisposition, but also increase the overall risk in the population.
The publication of these results has significant implications for the public debate on drug policy. In Poland and many other countries, discussions are ongoing about the decriminalization or legalization of marijuana. The new data provides strong arguments for parties advocating caution and prioritizing public health, especially the protection of young people. According to some commentators, any liberalization of the law should be accompanied by strong, evidence-based educational campaigns that transparently inform about real, long-term risks, particularly for the developing brain. The lack of such reliable education, coupled with increasing availability and social acceptance of the substance, could lead to negative health consequences on a generational scale.