The Current More young people being diagnosed with psychotic disorders
Feb 3, 2026
Dr. Oyedeji Ayanrinde, psychiatrist focused on youth mental health and cannabis risk messaging, and Dr. Marco Solmi, psychosis researcher and clinician, discuss rising psychosis diagnoses in 14–20-year-olds. They cover study findings on increased new cases, links between cannabis use and first-episode psychosis, THC potency and commercialization, brain vulnerability in adolescence, and the need for clearer public warnings.
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Consistent Research Links Cannabis And Psychosis
- Multiple study designs consistently link cannabis use with psychosis, strengthening the association.
- Consistent cross-study signals warrant clinical counseling and policy consideration even if causality isn't definitively proven.
Clinic Experience: Cannabis Common In First Episodes
- Marco Solmi describes seeing cannabis involvement in the majority of first-episode psychosis patients at his clinic.
- He notes over half of first-episode psychosis cases globally have a cannabis use disorder, with higher rates in Canada and the U.S.
Cannabis Effects Mirror Schizophrenia Brain Changes
- Neuroimaging shows cannabis increases dopamine in brain areas similarly implicated in schizophrenia.
- This neurochemical overlap helps explain why cannabis exposure may precipitate psychotic symptoms in susceptible youth.