Tejal Somvanshi
People who can’t stop using cannabis even when it hurts their lives face serious health risks, new research shows. Two recent studies from Canada paint a concerning picture of heavy cannabis use, especially among young adults.
The first study looked at over 100,000 people in Ontario who went to hospitals for cannabis-related problems between 2006 and 2021. What they found was startling – these patients were nearly three times more likely to die within five years compared to others their age. Even more worrying, they had ten times the risk of dying by suicide.
“Many people think, ‘Oh, cannabis is not harmful – it’s organic, it’s natural; how great,'” says Dr. Laura Bierut, who studies addiction at Washington University. “But the marijuana sold today is far more potent, and more harmful, than what baby boomers smoked in the 1960s and 1970s.”
Similar Posts:
The second study found that more people are developing serious mental health problems after heavy cannabis use. Before Canada made cannabis legal, about 4% of new cases of severe mental illness were linked to heavy cannabis use. After legalisation, this percentage increased to 10%.
Young adults face the biggest risks. Hospital visits for cannabis problems increased by 270% after legalisation, from about 1.3 to 4.6 cases per 1,000 people needing urgent medical help. Dr Daniel Myran, who led the research, points out that these numbers only show part of the problem. “For every person treated for CUD there are another three who didn’t seek care,” he explains.
The research team looked at the health records of 13.5 million people in Ontario over 17 years. While they couldn’t track everything – like people’s income or family history of mental health problems – the findings show clear patterns of risk, especially for young people aged 19 to 24.
These studies matter because many countries are watching Canada’s experience with legal cannabis. The results suggest that while many people can use cannabis without problems, those who develop heavy use patterns face serious health risks.
The research appears in JAMA Network Open, one of medicine’s most respected journals.
