An Update on the Behavioral and Neurobiological Effects of Cannabis Use in Adolescents: A Translational Perspective.
American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20250444 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Argues that early, frequent, high-THC cannabis use can disrupt adolescent brain development and raise risks for psychosis, schizophrenia, cannabis use disorder, anxiety, and depression, though not all users are affected. Cites translational neuroimaging and animal evidence suggesting some THC-induced changes may be reversible, supporting prevention and early intervention during adolescence. |
Abstract
The convergence of early initiation, increasing product potency, and widespread availability has reshaped the contemporary cannabis landscape, heightening concerns about its impact on adolescent mental health. Translational research combining longitudinal human neuroimaging and animal models provides compelling evidence that cannabis use-particularly with high-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and frequent use-can disrupt adolescent brain development and behavior. This vulnerability is especially relevant to trajectories leading to psychosis, schizophrenia, and cannabis use disorder, while also elevating risks for anxiety and depression. Although not all adolescents who use cannabis will experience adverse outcomes, a susceptible subset may face lasting consequences. These risks underscore the urgent need for targeted public education and innovative clinical research to mitigate cannabis-associated harms. Encouragingly, emerging neurobiological findings suggest that not all cannabis-induced brain changes persist into adulthood. Epigenetic mechanisms implicated in the long-term effects of THC exposure further indicate that some neural and behavioral alterations may be reversible. Given the high plasticity of the adolescent brain, this evidence points to a critical window for prevention and early intervention strategies capable of altering the course of cannabis-related psychopathology and supporting more resilient developmental outcomes.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 7
- Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol: a scoping review and commentary. Addiction June 1, 2023
- A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies of Youth Cannabis Use: Alterations in Executive Control, Social Cognition/Emotion Processing, and Reward Processing in Cannabis Using Youth Brain Science September 23, 2022
- Consensus paper of the WFSBP task force on cannabis, cannabinoids and psychosis The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry March 22, 2022
- The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study The Lancet Psychiatry May 1, 2019
- Adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alters the transcriptional trajectory and dendritic architecture of prefrontal pyramidal neurons. Molecular Psychiatry April 2019
and 2 more in the library