Cannabis is widely used among young people, with 37% of 16 to 19 year olds, and 50% of 20 to 24 year olds reporting use in the past year. Cannabis use can cause psychotic episodes, a loss of contact with reality characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and changes in thinking and behaviour (9).
In many cases, the symptoms associated with psychosis will go away once cannabis use stops. However, research suggests that for some, it can increase the risk of developing a chronic psychotic disorder like schizophrenia, which typically develops later in adolescence or early adulthood when cannabis use tends to peak. The risk of developing psychotic disorders because of cannabis use increases when cannabis is used at a young age, in large amounts, or when high-potency products are consumed. There is still much to understand about the effects of cannabis on the developing brain.
This post was made in collaboration between @cahmnews and @scienceupfirst
For more resources for families supporting youth, check out this video series from CAMH.
- Cannabis Legalization and Regulation | Government of Canada | July 2021
- The impact of cannabis legalization for recreational purposes on youth: A narrative review of the Canadian experience | Frontiers in Psychiatry | September 2022
- Canadian Cannabis Survey 2022: Summary | Government of Canada | December 2022
- About cannabis | Government of Canada | November 2023
- Gone to Pot – A Review of the Association between Cannabis and Psychosis | Frontiers in Psychiatry | May 2014
- Psychotic disorder and cannabis use: Canadian hospitalization trends, 2006-2015 | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Canada – Government of Canada | June 2020
- Emergency department visits for substance use linked to higher risk of developing schizophrenia | Data Discovery Better Health (IC/ES) | September 2023
- Cannabis & Psychosis – Exploring the link | Cannabis & Psychosis
- Psychosis – Overview | NHS
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