{"id":36929,"date":"2024-10-24T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/?p=36929"},"modified":"2026-03-27T08:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T12:48:13","slug":"cannabis-across-life-teens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veriheal.com\/blog\/cannabis-across-life-teens\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis Across Life: Teens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adolescent and teenage years are essential times for learning, forming social bonds, and discovering your earliest identities. At this stage, peers heavily influence each other’s habits, activities, feelings, moods, and opinions. The distinction between teens using cannabis recreationally or medicinally is important, but it relies on complex socioeconomic factors, demographics, appropriate medical attention, and compassionate parenting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Introducing minors to cannabis should only be done with medical supervision, requiring at least one or even two doctors\u2019 recommendations in your state. There are many legitimate health reasons for minors to use cannabis. However, \u201crecreational\u201d use for teens isn\u2019t just about having fun since there are still some deeply complicated health and social angles to consider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll closely examine the fine line between therapeutic cannabis applications and problematic cannabis use in adolescents. If you\u2019re a teen reading this, you\u2019ll learn more about cannabis\u2019 health effects and what problems you may be dealing with or run into. Learning how to live a balanced lifestyle with or without cannabis is essential for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commonality<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cannabis is the most <\/span>widely-used, illicit drug<\/span><\/a> in children and adolescents. The <\/span>2013-2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey<\/span><\/a> reports that in 2023, 17% of high school students used cannabis in 30 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, you may be surprised that this percentage is actually down from 25% over the last decade since 2013. It may be <\/span>thanks to states\u2019 decriminalization<\/span><\/a> and regulation efforts to keep cannabis out of kids\u2019 hands, but this <\/span>isn\u2019t definitively proven yet<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compare these figures to Veriheal’s demographic data, which indicates that only 221 qualified minors were certified for medical cannabis use in 2023, accounting for less than 1% of Veriheal’s total official medical cannabis patients that year. T<\/span>hat\u2019s still likely an underestimation for the entire US. Regardless, all this means there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re a concerned parent looking for reassurance and information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you just found out your teen uses cannabis, or if you find weed, edibles, or a vape pen in their room, you may be reasonably concerned. Without rushing to judgment or anger, there are several key considerations for tactfully approaching this delicate and complicated situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Peer Pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s actually normal that most cannabis users are <\/span>introduced to cannabis by peers<\/span><\/a> relatively early on, most often in late adolescence. However, the context is critical.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social media enables self-made content to spread faster and more efficiently than ever before, with about 77% of high school students using social media several times a day. But the developing brains of teens are particularly susceptible to its influence, misinformation, and addicting principles. Teens\u2019 underdeveloped sense of delayed gratification is a biological contributing factor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important consideration is the <\/span>increasingly reduced perception of harm<\/span><\/a> from relaxed policies and peers. Seeing friends openly using cannabis online or in person <\/span>influences teens more dramatically<\/span><\/a>. Close friendships and relationships may be threatened or bullied if one goes against the grain of their social circle or partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same CDC survey, 25% of LGBTQ+ high school students reported currently using cannabis. This is largely a reflection of heavier stigma, bullying, and isolation of a marginalized and disproportionately bullied community causing worse mental health outcomes. Nearly 3 in 10 were bullied at school, and 2 in 10 attempted suicide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the report also says LBGTQ+ students are more likely to be victims of violence, threats, sexual trauma, bullying, and more. These create significant health disparities like increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicide attempts, and abuse of alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and other substances. Acknowledging teen cannabis use as a desperate <\/span>attempt to ease anxiety, depression<\/span><\/a>, or an overwhelming social situation also alleviates judgment and enhances compassion and understanding.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Effects of Cannabis Use in Teens<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Medicinal Uses<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cannabis use in adolescence isn’t all harmful. If medically supervised and dosed properly, the right dose, frequency, route, and selection of cannabinoids make a world of difference for many children and adolescents. It actually isn\u2019t surprising then that the most commonly reported conditions in medical cannabis recommendations for minors mirror that of adults, except with a greater prevalence of cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the <\/span>most common diagnoses<\/span><\/a> for pediatric cannabis recommendations include:<\/span><\/p>\n