Marijuana – Family Council

New Study Finds Genetic Links Between Marijuana and Psychosis

May 20, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

Research continues to link marijuana use with psychosis.

Nationwide, many states have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and the Trump Administration has moved to ease federal restrictions on the drug. But while policymakers push for more marijuana, scientific evidence continues to show that’s a bad idea.

Researchers at King’s College London recently published a study identifying the genetic pathways that connect marijuana use to psychosis.

The researchers identified 553 genetic markers associated with psychosis, and their analysis showed that far more biological pathways overlap between cannabis use disorder and psychosis than would be expected by chance.

Importantly, the study found marijuana use may be driving psychosis — not simply appealing to people who are already prone to psychosis.

We have written before how high-potency marijuana is linked to psychotic disorders. Modern marijuana can contain 15% to 30% THC — sometimes even 60% THC — compared to just 3% THC in marijuana from the 1960s. The higher the potency, the greater the risk there is to users.

We have also reported that cannabis use among people with a history of psychosis “sharply increased” in states where recreational marijuana was legalized. Teen psychiatric emergencies spiked in Massachusetts after marijuana commercialization began there as well.

In Arkansas, “medical” marijuana use has skyrocketed in recent years, and post-traumatic stress disorder is now the most common reason cited for “medical” marijuana use. But if marijuana is actually hurting people’s mental health, then it’s deeply concerning that so many Arkansans have been approved to use it for PTSD.

All of this simply underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Marijuana Hurts Teens’ Mental Health: Study

May 4, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

A recent study shows once again that marijuana is harmful for teens and young adults.

Nationwide, many states have legalized marijuana to varying degrees, and the Trump Administration has moved to ease federal restrictions on marijuana. But while policymakers push for more marijuana, scientific evidence continues to show that’s a bad idea.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine analyzed medical records from nearly 12,000 teens over the course of a decade.

The study found adolescents who started using marijuana showed slower gains in memory, attention, and cognitive skills compared to non-users over time.

Again and again, scientific evidence has shown that marijuana is dangerous — especially for teens and young adults.

Addiction experts note that marijuana can trigger mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and psychosis.

A recent study from Columbia University found even “casual” marijuana use is linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and impulsive behavior in teenagers.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found teen psychiatric emergencies spiked after marijuana commercialization began in the state.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied repeatedly to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

And instead of decreasing crime, marijuana’s legalization has actually emboldened drug cartels and increased the flow of illegal drugs across America.

All of this underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

Federal Government Moves to Reschedule Marijuana

Apr 28, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

The federal government took a major step last week toward loosening restrictions on marijuana.

Across the U.S., many states have legalized marijuana either for “medical” or “recreational” use, and the Trump Administration has signaled that it wants to change U.S. policy on marijuana. But a growing body of evidence shows marijuana is actually much more dangerous that many people realize and needs to be restricted.

On April 23, the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced they are placing FDA-approved marijuana products as well as marijuana products legalized under state “medical” marijuana programs on Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Schedule III drugs are considered to have accepted medical uses and a lower potential for abuse than Schedule I or II substances. The announcement also kicks off an expedited hearing process, beginning June 29, to consider moving all marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal law.

Rescheduling marijuana sends the wrong message.

For years, marijuana advocates have used the push for “medical” marijuana as a stepping stone toward full legalization. Rescheduling marijuana may not legalize marijuana outright, but it will create more confusion about marijuana’s legal status and make it much easier for people to grow, sell, and use marijuana.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied again and again to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects. In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease.

Yale reports roughly 30% of current cannabis users now meet the criteria for addiction, and researchers writing in JAMA found nearly one in three “medical” marijuana users may suffer from cannabis use disorder.

A major study by The Lancet recently found marijuana fails to effectively treat anxiety, depression, or PTSD. The findings raise serious concerns, because PTSD is the most common qualifying condition listed among “medical” marijuana users in Arkansas.

All of this underscores that marijuana is dangerous.

Legalization has not made marijuana safer — in fact, it has made things worse.

States like California and Colorado legalized marijuana with promises of regulation, oversight, and tax revenue.

Instead, legalization has emboldened drug cartels and spread illegal marijuana on the black market. California alone has seized more than $1.2 billion in illegal cannabis since 2022.

And law enforcement has alleged that 40% of America’s illicit marijuana has come from legal grow sites in Oklahoma.

All of this matters for Arkansas.

Major drug trafficking corridors pass through our state. Arkansas State Police routinely intercept marijuana from other states that appears to be intended for the black market. As Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said recently, “Arkansas sits at the heart of major drug-trafficking corridors.” That’s a serious problem, and softening our federal policies on marijuana will only make that problem worse.

As we have said time and again: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.