UK Psychiatrist Warns Cannabis Damages Adolescent Brains, Increases Psychosis Risk

Dr. Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK, has issued a serious warning about the dangers of cannabis use among teenagers, emphasizing that it causes long-term brain damage and significantly increases the risk of psychotic illnesses. She highlighted that starting cannabis use at ages 14 or 15 exposes the developing brain to harmful effects, likening it to "growing your brain in a cannabis soup." Research indicates that adolescents who use cannabis are 11 times more likely to experience psychotic episodes later in life, with high-THC cannabis (20-40%) being particularly harmful. Despite cannabis being the most used illegal drug in England and Wales, with 2.3 million users reported, many parents underestimate its risks, partly due to an aggressive pro-cannabis lobby. Dr. Smith called for better public health messaging and government action to educate parents and youths about the mental health risks, including anxiety, depression, paranoia, and psychosis linked to cannabis. She also noted that severe cases of psychotic illness linked to cannabis use have been observed even in affluent populations, underscoring the drug's profound potential to ruin lives.