Top 3 Side Effects of Cannabis in Young Adults
As weed continues to be legalized across the country, parents need to be more educated on what their children are consuming. While cannabis is widely viewed as a low-risk substance, frequent or heavy use during emerging adulthood carries distinct physical and psychological side effects due to the developing brain. I hate to say it, but the expression “weed isn’t what it used to be rings true.” Weed back in the 70’s 80’s, 90’s was all flower - basically, all natural. The weed young adults are consuming now is often synthetic. So when they’re smoking or vaping, they may not realize it’s all chemical-based.
If your young adult is smoking weed, here are three side effects you’re likely seeing or going to see:
Executive Function and Memory Impairment: Regular use affects short-term memory, processing speed, and task completion. If your young adult has ADHD, they likely already struggle with executive functioning deficits. You compound that with smoking and it’s no wonder they can’t get anything done. The brain's prefrontal cortex which governs planning, decision-making, and focus continues maturing into the mid-twenties, making young adults particularly susceptible to cognitive lag and "brain fog."
Heightened Anxiety and Paranoia Although many use weed to unwind, high-THC strains frequently backfire by triggering panic attacks, racing thoughts, and paranoia. Over time, regular use can increase baseline anxiety, creating a cycle where the user relies on the substance to soothe the very stress it exacerbates. Sometimes this is where the paranoia escalates into psychosis. Catching it early will help curtail any long-term effects, but continued use is like playing with fire except it your brain that’s at-risk.
Motivation Drops and "Amotivational" Cycles Frequent use alters the brain's reward system by flooding it with dopamine, making everyday achievements and long-term goals feel less rewarding by comparison. This often shows up as apathy, difficulty initiating tasks, and a retreat from academic, career, or personal pursuits.
If you’re wondering why you’re young adult is “stuck” or struggling to launch yet you know they smoke weed, let’s focus on stopping the use. With stoppage time, a lot of the issues listed above can dissipate. They can show signs of moving forward with life, with less anxiety, and no longer struggle with executive functioning issues. If they were self-medicating, we’ll need to find other ways to address the reasons they were using in the first place. But in order to get there, we need to stop smoking first. And if you need help figuring out how to help your young adult stop, or where to go to treatment - if that’s what they need - then reach out, as I can be of assistance.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
