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Published: 14 January 2026

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There is abundant scientific literature on the harms of marijuana use that will be discussed in this report. More than 20,000 peer-reviewed research articles have linked marijuana use to adverse mental health outcomes, ranging from depression to psychosis, as well as consequences for physical health and even negative outcomes for neonates exposed in utero. The connections between marijuana use and negative consequences for mental and physical health, among other risks, are often 2 3 lost in the debate surrounding legalization. The distinction between medical and recreational marijuana has been deliberately blurred by an industry with significant investments in both markets. A study found that despite evidence that lower THC dosage is more appropriate for medical purposes, the medical marijuana products that are advertised in retail stores contain around the same amount of THC as recreational marijuana products, which generally contain upwards of 15% THC (Cash et al., 2020). And a 2022 study suggests that the risk of developing a cannabis use disorder (CUD) increases as marijuana’s THC level increases (Petrilli et al., 2022).

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Published: 23 December 2025

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New research spanning three decades has revealed how experiences during childhood and adolescence significantly influence patterns of cannabis consumption well into adulthood. The French TEMPO cohort study, which followed 622 cannabis users over 30 years (1991-2021) from age 15 to 46, offers crucial insights for understanding and preventing sustained substance use.

Three Distinct Patterns Emerge

Researchers identified three clear trajectories amongst those who had tried cannabis during their teenage years. The majority—69.9%—showed declining consumption over time, naturally reducing their use as they matured. However, 13.7% demonstrated fluctuating consumption, characterised by an initial increase followed by a decrease around ages 27-30, whilst 16.4% exhibited persistent consumption throughout adulthood.

Understanding these childhood cannabis risk factors is essential for developing effective prevention strategies, particularly as the persistent use group began with the highest initial levels of consumption during adolescence.

Early Life Experiences That Matter

The study examined numerous early-life influences to determine which childhood experiences most strongly predicted long-term patterns. For those following the persistent consumption trajectory, three factors stood out prominently.

Academic difficulties emerged as a powerful predictor, with affected individuals 2.47 times more likely to maintain cannabis use into adulthood. This connection works both ways: struggling students may turn to substances as a coping mechanism, whilst cannabis use itself can impair thinking skills, attention and motivation—creating a cycle that perpetuates both academic challenges and continued use.

Early initiation proved particularly concerning. Young people who began using both tobacco and cannabis early were 3.07 times more likely to follow a persistent use path, whilst those who started cannabis early alone were 2.31 times more likely. The study defined early use as age 14 or younger for tobacco and age 16 or younger for cannabis. This finding underscores how the developing teenage brain responds differently to substances, with early exposure potentially changing the brain’s reward systems and increasing the risk of long-term dependency.

Gender also played a significant role, with males 3.66 times more likely to maintain persistent use patterns. This aligns with broader substance use trends, though the gap between males and females has been narrowing in recent years.

Family Environment and Fluctuating Use

For those showing fluctuating consumption patterns—the group that increased use initially before reducing it in their late twenties—family dynamics during childhood proved particularly influential as childhood cannabis risk factors.

Individuals who experienced parental conflict, stress or frequent parental absence before age 17 were 1.93 times more likely to follow this pattern. The family environment serves as a crucial foundation during formative years, and disruption to that stability appears to increase the risk of substance experimentation during adolescence and early adulthood.

Parental smoking also increased the likelihood of fluctuating use patterns significantly—children of smoking parents were 2.18 times more likely to follow this trajectory. Children naturally copy behaviours they observe at home, and parents who use substances—even legal ones like tobacco—may inadvertently signal acceptance of substance use to their children. Research shows that parental substance use not only directly influences children’s behaviour but also shapes their fundamental attitudes towards drugs and alcohol.

Additionally, males were 2.15 times more likely to follow the fluctuating pattern compared to females.

The eventual decline in use amongst this group around ages 27-30 likely reflects major life transitions: entering stable employment, forming committed relationships, pregnancy and parenthood. These milestones often prompt individuals to reassess their substance use, particularly when considering workplace responsibilities and family wellbeing.

Prevention Implications

These findings carry significant implications for prevention efforts. Rather than waiting until problems develop, identifying early cannabis use risk factors allows for targeted intervention during childhood and adolescence—when patterns are still forming.

Schools represent a crucial frontline for prevention. Supporting students who struggle academically, rather than viewing them solely through a disciplinary lens, may help prevent the turn to substances as a coping mechanism. Early screening for behavioural difficulties can identify at-risk young people before substance use begins.

Family support services prove equally vital. Families experiencing conflict, stress or instability need accessible resources to strengthen their functioning. When parents recognise how their own substance use—including seemingly benign behaviours like smoking—influences their children’s choices, they become powerful agents of prevention.

Understanding Childhood Cannabis Risk Factors for Better Outcomes

Education programmes must convey accurate information about cannabis risks, particularly concerning brain development. Many young people underestimate the dangers, believing cannabis to be relatively harmless. Correcting these misperceptions during the crucial window before first use can shift attitudes and delay or prevent initiation.

The study found that individuals born after 1980 were 37% less likely to engage in heavy cannabis use—suggesting that evolving social attitudes, policy changes and prevention programmes can make a difference. This offers hope that sustained prevention efforts targeted at early cannabis use risk factors can continue to shift patterns positively.

For young people who have already begun experimenting, early intervention remains critical. The research confirms that early, regular use dramatically increases the likelihood of persistent consumption. Catching use early and providing support to stop can alter the trajectory before patterns become entrenched.

The Broader Context

Whilst approximately 70% of adolescent cannabis users naturally reduce consumption as they mature, the 16.4% who maintain persistent use face significant long-term consequences. Extended cannabis consumption correlates with reduced educational attainment, lower income levels, higher unemployment rates, relationship difficulties, and both mental and physical health challenges.

The impact extends beyond individual users. Communities bear the costs through healthcare systems, lost productivity, and the ripple effects on families. Preventing persistent use patterns thus represents not just an individual health priority but a broader societal imperative.

Understanding that these patterns often originate in childhood experiences—academic struggles, family instability, parental substance use, early first use—shifts the focus towards prevention rather than dealing with problems after they emerge.

Looking Forward

This comprehensive research reinforces a fundamental principle: the earlier we can identify and address risk factors, the greater our chance of preventing long-term substance use patterns. Childhood and adolescence represent windows of both risk and opportunity.

At risk because developing brains respond differently to substances, early use can change brain connections, and formative experiences shape lifelong behaviours. Yet these years also offer opportunity—the chance to provide support before patterns become fixed, to strengthen protective factors, and to equip young people with skills and knowledge that serve them throughout life.

For parents, educators, healthcare providers and communities, the message is clear: attention to children’s wellbeing during formative years—their academic success, family stability, behavioural health and delay of substance initiation—represents our most powerful tool for preventing sustained cannabis use.

By identifying childhood cannabis risk factors early and responding with appropriate support, we can help ensure that the natural trajectory towards reduced use, followed by 70% in this study, becomes the norm rather than the exception. The goal isn’t simply preventing experimentation—adolescents will be curious—but preventing that experimentation from becoming a persistent pattern that compromises their health, opportunities and futures.

The three-decade span of this research demonstrates that choices and experiences during childhood genuinely matter for decades to come. That reality should inform how we prioritise prevention, early intervention and support for young people and families navigating these critical years.

(Source: WRD News) 

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Published: 15 December 2025

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The therapeutic application of cannabis has become increasingly prevalent across developed nations, yet the scientific evidence supporting its medical use remains surprisingly limited. A recent JAMA Clinical Reviews podcast featuring Dr Kevin Hill from Harvard Medical School reveals critical information that healthcare professionals and patients need to understand about the therapeutic use of cannabis and its associated risks.

According to recent data, approximately 27% of adults in the United States and Canada have used cannabis for medical purposes, whilst just over 10% have tried cannabidiol (CBD) for therapeutic reasons. This widespread adoption has occurred despite minimal regulatory approval and mounting evidence of significant health risks.

Understanding Cannabis and Its Components

Cannabis is a complex plant containing hundreds of chemical compounds, including flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids. Whilst over 140 cannabinoids exist within the plant, medical discussions typically focus on two: delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis use and can also trigger psychotic episodes. CBD, conversely, is not intoxicating, though it does affect how users feel.

The complexity of the therapeutic use of cannabis stems partly from its numerous formulations. People can smoke cannabis flower, consume edible products, vaporise the substance, or apply topical ointments. Each formulation delivers different potencies and onsets of action, with THC content being the critical variable across all forms.

Limited FDA Approvals for Therapeutic Use of Cannabis

Currently, only three cannabinoid medications have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Dronabinol (pure THC) and nabilone (a CB1 receptor agonist) are approved for treating nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, as well as appetite stimulation in conditions like HIV. In 2018, one particular CBD formulation gained approval for treating two paediatric epilepsy conditions (Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome) and seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis in adults.

These limited approvals stand in stark contrast to the numerous conditions for which people currently use cannabis, often without solid scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.

Rising Potency and Escalating Risks

One of the most concerning trends in medicinal cannabis use involves dramatically increasing potency levels. During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, typical cannabis contained three to four percent THC. Published research from the University of Mississippi now shows typical potency hovering near 20 percent THC. This fivefold increase has profound implications for both acute and chronic health effects.

Acute risks associated with cannabis use include impaired judgement, motor skill deficits, elevated heart rate, and transient psychosis. These immediate effects can compromise driving ability and decision-making, posing risks not only to users but to those around them.

Chronic Health Effects and Medicinal Cannabis

The chronic effects of cannabis prove particularly problematic for individuals using daily or near-daily. Dr Hill emphasised that most adverse effects relate to THC rather than CBD, though CBD can cause problems as well. Brain-related complications include addiction, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (severe cyclical vomiting), and worsening of various psychiatric conditions.

Recent epidemiological research published in JAMA Psychiatry revealed a striking statistic: 34.8% of adult cannabis users develop cannabis use disorder. This represents a significant increase from previous estimates of 10 to 30 percent. For those using cannabis for medical purposes specifically, approximately 29% develop use disorder.

Physical health impacts have become increasingly well-defined through research. Cardiovascular adverse effects, pulmonary complications, and chronic neurocognitive deficits all occur with regular cannabis use. These risks accumulate over time, particularly amongst daily users.

Therapeutic Use of Cannabis and Addiction Risk

Cannabis use disorder represents a significant concern that clinicians must monitor carefully. Warning signs include tolerance (requiring increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect), withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, and spending excessive time obtaining or using cannabis at the expense of work, school, or relationship responsibilities.

Diagnostic criteria specify that experiencing two or more of eleven specific factors within a 12-month period indicates cannabis use disorder. Healthcare professionals working with patients considering the therapeutic use of cannabis must remain vigilant for these signs, as addiction can develop even when use begins for legitimate medical reasons.

Particular Concerns for Young People

The developing brain faces unique vulnerabilities to cannabis exposure. Human brains continue developing into the mid-20s, and research demonstrates that early and regular cannabis use can significantly impair cognitive abilities. A 2012 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that young people using cannabis daily or near-daily experienced up to an eight-point decline in IQ over time. This represents more than one standard deviation, a statistically and clinically significant reduction.

These findings underscore the importance of preventing cannabis use amongst adolescents and young adults, whose neural development remains incomplete and particularly susceptible to disruption.

The Evidence Gap in Medicinal Cannabis Use

A critical issue confronting healthcare professionals involves patients using cannabis for conditions lacking solid scientific support. Whilst people suffering from chronic medical conditions naturally seek relief, the evidence base for the therapeutic use of cannabis remains limited primarily to the FDA-approved conditions mentioned earlier.

Dr Hill emphasised the importance of clinicians engaging in evidence-based conversations with patients. When patients express determination to use cannabis despite limited evidence, healthcare professionals face the challenging task of providing informed guidance whilst acknowledging the significant risks involved.

Concerns About Concurrent Substance Use

Cannabis use becomes particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol or benzodiazepines. These combinations amplify impairment and increase risks of accidents, respiratory depression, and poor decision-making. Healthcare professionals must clearly communicate these dangers to any patients considering medicinal cannabis.

Changing Legal Landscape and Public Health Implications

As of the podcast recording, 38 US states had implemented medical cannabis policies, with 24 states legalising recreational use. This shifting legal landscape has contributed to increased cannabis use overall, creating what Dr Hill described as a situation where “the train’s left the station.”

However, legal availability should not be confused with medical safety or efficacy. The rise in cannabis use has coincided with increases in cannabis use disorder, emergency department visits related to cannabis, and various other adverse outcomes.

Clinical Guidance for Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals must balance acknowledging patient autonomy with providing evidence-based guidance about the therapeutic use of cannabis. Key points for clinical discussions include the limited scope of FDA approvals for cannabinoid medications, the lack of robust evidence for most conditions people treat with cannabis, the significant risk of developing cannabis use disorder (affecting roughly one-third of users), the particular dangers for young people whose brains are still developing, and the inadequacy of current treatments for cannabis use disorder.

Dr Hill noted that whilst many adverse effects exist, addiction itself is on the rise, and the medical community lacks effective treatments for cannabis use disorder. This reality makes prevention all the more critical.

Understanding the Risks

The therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids represents a complex intersection of patient demand, limited scientific evidence, changing social attitudes, and concerning health risks. Whilst three FDA-approved cannabinoid medications exist for specific conditions, widespread cannabis use for medical purposes extends far beyond these narrow indications.

The dramatic increase in cannabis potency over recent decades, combined with rising rates of cannabis use disorder, creates a public health challenge that demands attention. Healthcare professionals must remain informed about both the limited evidence supporting medicinal cannabis and the well-documented risks associated with regular consumption.

For young people in particular, the potential for lasting cognitive impairment and the high risk of developing addiction make cannabis use a serious concern. As legal barriers continue falling, the importance of education about risks becomes paramount.

Understanding these realities allows healthcare professionals to engage patients in meaningful, evidence-based discussions about the therapeutic use of cannabis. Such conversations must acknowledge patient suffering and desire for relief whilst honestly presenting the limited evidence base and substantial risks that accompany cannabis consumption.

(Source: WRD NEWS)

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Published: 03 December 2025

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Recent national policy changes have made cannabis increasingly available for medical purposes across numerous conditions. Yet a significant gap exists between what’s approved for cannabis therapeutic use and what scientific evidence actually supports. Understanding this distinction is crucial for public health and informed decision-making.

The FDA Approval Reality for Cannabis Therapeutic Use

Despite widespread availability of medical cannabis in dispensaries, the FDA has approved only three cannabis-related medications. Two are synthetic forms of delta-9-THC (dronabinol and nabilone), approved since the 1980s for treating nausea and appetite loss in AIDS and chemotherapy patients. The third, Epidiolex, contains highly purified cannabidiol (CBD) and treats severe childhood epilepsy.

These medications underwent rigorous randomised, placebo-controlled trials—the gold standard required of every prescription medicine. In contrast, the cannabis available at dispensaries has bypassed this scientific process entirely. Notably, even these FDA-approved medications have extremely narrow, specific applications and are not appropriate for the broad range of conditions for which dispensary cannabis is marketed.

Medical Cannabis Research: Significant Limitations

Dr Margaret Haney, director of Columbia University’s Cannabis Research Laboratory, highlights a critical problem: “Our societal changes have far exceeded placebo-controlled evidence.” Researchers face substantial barriers when studying cannabis therapeutic use due to its Schedule 1 classification, which requires extensive licensing and restricts available products for research.

This means scientists cannot simply purchase products from dispensaries to study their effectiveness. Instead, they’re limited to federally approved sources, creating a disconnect between what researchers can study and what patients actually use.

The Placebo Effect Challenge

Pain, anxiety, and sleep difficulties—the most common reasons people seek cannabis for medicinal purposes—are also the conditions most susceptible to placebo effects. When expectations are high, the brain can produce genuine symptom relief regardless of treatment content.

Studies examining cannabis therapeutic use consistently show this pattern. In one trial of women with chemotherapy-induced nerve pain, both the cannabis group and placebo group showed identical improvements. Pain ratings decreased significantly over eight weeks in both conditions, yet cannabis provided no additional benefit beyond placebo.

Cannabis Use Disorder: An Underestimated Risk

Approximately 5.8% of the population meets criteria for cannabis use disorder. When used daily for medical purposes, risk factors multiply. Users seeking cannabis therapeutic use develop higher rates of cannabis use disorder compared to those without chronic conditions, particularly when treating pain, anxiety, or depression.

Individuals with existing psychiatric diagnoses face double the risk of developing cannabis use disorder. Moreover, concurrent cannabis use worsens treatment outcomes for both the psychiatric condition and the substance use disorder itself—yet anxiety and depression remain leading reasons people seek medicinal cannabis despite minimal supporting evidence.

The therapeutic dose often produces intoxication, and repeated daily use increases dependency risk. Over 80% of medicinal cannabis users also use it recreationally, blurring the line between medical necessity and problematic use.

Cannabis Withdrawal: A Real Phenomenon

Daily cannabis users experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping, including:

• Severely disrupted sleep with increased nightmares
• Dramatic decrease in appetite
• Increased anxiety and irritability
• Depressed mood and restlessness

These symptoms can last weeks, with sleep disruption being particularly persistent. Many users believe they “need” cannabis to sleep or eat, when they’re actually experiencing withdrawal symptoms from dependency.

Anaesthesiologists report concerning patterns amongst daily cannabis users undergoing surgery. Patients arriving in acute withdrawal often experience heightened anxiety and increased pain sensitivity, requiring additional anxiolytic medication even before entering the operating theatre. Yet no evidence-based protocols exist for managing pre-surgical cannabis cessation—some physicians recommend stopping the morning of surgery, others suggest a month beforehand, but no data guides these decisions.

The State-by-State Confusion

Unlike other medications, cannabis regulations vary dramatically by state. The same condition deemed treatable with cannabis in one state may not qualify in a neighbouring state. This political approach to medicine means elected officials, rather than scientific evidence, determine what constitutes effective treatment for cannabis therapeutic use.

Healthcare providers face an impossible situation. They lack dosing guidelines, delivery method recommendations, or evidence-based protocols for different conditions. There’s no reliable information about THC-to-CBD ratios, appropriate concentrations, or how to address risks in vulnerable populations.

What We Actually Know

Whilst laboratory studies suggest cannabis may affect pain sensitivity and appetite under highly controlled conditions, these findings have consistently failed to translate into real-world clinical benefits.

The body possesses its own endocannabinoid system—natural cannabis-like compounds that regulate stress, pain, mood, and appetite. Cannabis overwhelms this delicate system in ways the body’s natural compounds never would. When people use cannabis daily, the brain attempts to adapt by reducing cannabinoid receptors, leading to tolerance.

Crucially, tolerance develops differently across effects. In studies with HIV patients, cannabis initially increased caloric intake significantly, but by day nine, this therapeutic benefit disappeared entirely—whilst intoxicating effects remained unchanged. This creates a troubling scenario where users must increase doses to maintain symptom relief, yet continue experiencing intoxication.

Some studies reveal cannabis worsening targeted symptoms. Research on obsessive-compulsive disorder found both high-THC and high-CBD cannabis increased anxiety rather than reducing it. The neuropathic pain trial showed sleep quality was actually worse in the cannabis group compared to placebo.

Route of administration significantly impacts risk. High-potency THC oils in vaporisers and “dabs” (over 85% THC) carry substantially greater dependency risk than traditional cannabis flower. When Dr Haney began her research, cannabis contained approximately 2% THC; today’s dispensary products reach 25-30% THC.

Sex differences also matter significantly. Women show greater sensitivity to cannabis’s pleasurable effects and withdrawal symptoms, yet demonstrate reduced pain relief compared to men at equivalent doses. This suggests optimal dosing may differ substantially between sexes, though current guidance doesn’t account for this.

The Path Forward

Evidence-based medicine requires randomised, placebo-controlled trials with products of known composition. Until such evidence exists, claims about cannabis therapeutic use effectiveness remain largely unsubstantiated.

The current situation represents a billion-dollar industry operating without the scientific foundation required of every other medication. Medical benefit has become whatever marketers claim it to be, with no obligation to prove effectiveness through controlled trials.

Much of what’s marketed as medicinal cannabis relies on expectation rather than pharmacology. The public deserves accurate information about both potential benefits and genuine risks, including cannabis use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, tolerance development, and the lack of dosing guidance. Making informed decisions about cannabis therapeutic use requires understanding what science has—and hasn’t—proven, and recognising that current evidence does not support the widespread medical claims being made.

(Source: WRD News)