Teens who use marijuana are more likely to suffer from psychotic disorders, according to a new study published Wednesday.
Researchers at the University of Toronto study found that teenagers who used cannabis had an 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder, and among those who went to the emergency room or were hospitalized, the risk was 27 times higher.
Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, a child psychiatrist and chair of the psychiatry department at Indiana University, told NBC News:
"It would be unusual to see someone present with psychotic symptoms to a hospital and not have smoked cannabis."
While most teenagers who use cannabis won't develop psychotic disorders, McDonald emphasized that the findings are concerning because these conditions can be very debilitating.
The Biden administration is working to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, recognizing its medical benefits at the federal level.
The potential change is expected later this year, and cannabis is currently legal in 24 states for recreational use.
Marijuana use among high school students has remained stable in recent years.
According to the 2023 Monitoring the Future Survey, nearly 1 in 3 12th graders reported using marijuana in the previous year.
The survey tracks drug and alcohol use among adolescent students nationwide annually.
Of the teens who were hospitalized or visited emergency rooms for psychotic disorders, roughly 5 in 6 had reported previous cannabis use.
