“Psychotic episodes have become increasingly common to the point that they’re actually kind of characteristic features to the psychosis these kids are getting from the weed,” said addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky in an interview with Fox’s “The Bottom Line” last week.
He was referencing a growing body of research that indicates marijuana use is linked to mental health disorders.
Back in May, Audacy reported on a study that revealed “young men with cannabis use disorder, the inability to stop using marijuana even though it causes health and social problems in their lives, have a higher chance of developing schizophrenia.”
That study was completed by researchers with the National Institutes of Health, and was published in Psychological Medicine. It analyzed the detailed health records of more than 6 million people over the course of five decades.
Last month, a University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlighted the “urgent need for doctors to screen for and treat patients who are experiencing symptoms of cannabis use disorder,” according to a press release from the university.
Per the study, the widespread use of marijuana – which has been legalized in many states – is associated with a rise in cannabis-related psychiatric conditions. This may also be tied to the increased potency of the drug compared to previous decades.
“Particularly in the states where it’s legal for recreational use, the concentration of the cannabis is so spectacular, it’s approaching 100% that, literally, it’s a different drug, it has a different effect on people,” Dr. Pinsky said.
Nearly one in five Americans ages 12 and older used cannabis in 2021, said the University of Maryland article. More than 16 million met the criteria for cannabis use disorder as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Health Disorders (DSM-5-TR), with young adults ages 18 to 25 disproportionately affected.
“There is a lot of misinformation in the public sphere about cannabis and its effects on psychological health with many assuming that this drug is safe to use with no side effects,” said David A. Gorelick, Professor of Psychiatry at UMSOM and lead author of the review article. “It is important for physicians and the public to understand that cannabis can have addictive effects and to recognize signs and symptoms in order to get properly diagnosed and treated.”
Researchers from the college also looked into emergency room statistics and found that cannabis use accounted for 10% of all drug-related emergency room visits in the U.S. Cannabis use is also associated with a 30 to 40% increased risk of car accidents.
Just this month, research firm Truveta revealed results of a study regarding the rate of cannabis-induced disorder emergency department visits and cannabis-involved emergency department visits. It found that, between 2019 and 2020, there was a nearly 50% increase in the rate of both types of visits.
“The rate of cannabis-induced disorder emergency visits continued to increase through 2023,” it said.
Marijuana use has been linked to depression, social anxiety, thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, and suicide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to psychological issues, studies have also linked cannabis use to risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and an increased risk of death during surgery. Dr. Pinsky said that hyperemesis, or uncontrolled vomiting episodes, are also associated with the new potent cannabis available in the U.S.
With legalization, acceptance of marijuana use is also high. Audacy reported last year that more than half of Americans are fine with people openly using marijuana socially, that around half had already used it and that seven out of every 10 Americans believed recreational marijuana should be legal for all adults.
A study published this month in the Journal of Cannabis Research also found that there was “substantial and persistent non-compliance,” with advertising regulations on social media posts from recreational dispensaries in Illinois.
“The findings from this study suggest that systematic monitoring and enforcement is needed to ensure compliance with advertising regulations,” it said.
While marijuana is becoming legal and more accepted, experts still advise caution in using it.
“Approximately one in 10 people who use cannabis will become addicted, and for those who start before age 18, the rate rises to one in six,” explained Mark T. Gladwin, the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean, UMSOM.
Pinksy told “The Bottom Line” that many people believe that cannabis might be safer or healthier than other substances, such as tobacco and alcohol.
“But cannabis is also bad,” he said.