HealthDay (2/23, Thompson) reports a study suggests that “teens who use weed are twice as likely to develop psychotic or bipolar disorders,” and are also “more likely to have depression and anxiety.” Researchers stated in background notes that “more than 10% of 12- to 17-year-olds in the U.S. have used weed within the past year,” and that “by their senior year in high school, about 26% of U.S. teenagers have tried it.” Furthermore, “today’s weed has THC levels that exceed 20%, far higher than in previous decades.” For the study, “researchers analyzed health records of more than 463,000 teens aged 13 to 17 who were screened for past-year weed use at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 2016 and 2023.” Tracking the teens through age 26, researchers observed “that weed use was associated with a doubled risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders; a 34% increased risk of depression; and a 24% increased risk of anxiety.” The study was published in JAMA Health Forum.
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— “Teens Using Weed Have Doubled Risk For Psychosis, Bipolar Disorder,”Dennis Thompson , HealthDay , February 23, 2026