It’s becoming clear that adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to cannabis, especially today’s higher-potency products, which put teens at risk for impaired brain development; mental health issues, including psychosis; and cannabis use disorder (CUD).
That was the message delivered by Yasmin Hurd, PhD, director of the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai in New York, during a May 6 press briefing at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2024 annual meeting.
“We’re actually in historic times in that we now have highly concentrated, highly potent cannabis products that are administered in various routes,” Hurd told reporters.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in cannabis products have increased over the years, from around 2%-4% to 15%-24% now, Hurd noted.
The impact of high-potency products and increased risk for CUD and mental health problems, particularly in adolescents, “must be taken seriously, especially in light of the current mental health crisis,” Hurd and colleagues wrote in a commentary on the developmental trajectory of CUD published simultaneously in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
This ain’t yesterday’s weed, folks. Be cautious, be smart, be responsible.