Marijuana – Page 6 – Family Council

Researchers Express Concerns Over Contaminated Marijuana Products

Jun 24, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaHemp, Marijuana

A recent journal article highlights concerns about contaminants in “medical” marijuana and other cannabis products.

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 shows there are serious health concerns surrounding marijuana.

Researchers writing in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases say there are no standards for testing “medical” marijuana and other cannabis product for microbes and other contaminants.

The article says “microbial contamination” may happen “during cultivation, harvesting, processing, storage, and distribution, allowing potentially pathogenic organisms to persist in final consumer products.”

In other words, contaminants in marijuana may be harmful to the people who use it.

This is not the first time experts have warned about marijuana products being contaminated.

In 2024, lab testing from California found many marijuana products contained “concerning” levels of pesticides. Other research found marijuana often was contaminated with arsenic, lead, or mold, and that marijuana users may have higher levels of heavy metals in their blood.

Last year, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission tested 51 samples of industrial hemp flowers as part of the commission’s “Operation Clean Leaf” initiative. All 51 samples contained more THC than federal law allows, and authorities said some were tainted with dangerous pesticides.

Marijuana products are easily contaminated by pesticides and mold spores, because the marijuana plant itself easily absorbs toxins in the soil as well as chemicals or other substances sprayed on the plant.

These contaminants are passed along in marijuana products — posing serious health risks for marijuana users.

There are other concerns about marijuana besides the dangers from mold, pesticides, and other contaminants.

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

In fact, researchers now say marijuana use doubles a person’s risk of death from heart disease. That ought to give everyone pause.

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.

Study Shows Marijuana May Interfere with Adolescent Brain Development

Jun 10, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

A study published this month suggests marijuana use during adolescence may interfere with brain development.

In a study published by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers from Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island found marijuana use during adolescence is linked to differences in brain regions related to motivation and reward. Experts say the brain is more sensitive to the effects of marijuana during teenage development, which raises serious concerns about the long term effects of using marijuana during adolescence.

We have written before how high-potency marijuana is linked to psychotic disorders and may be especially harmful to children and teens.

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.

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

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

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

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.

New Study Finds Genetic Links Between Marijuana and Psychosis

May 20, 2026Jerry CoxMarijuanaMarijuana

Research continues to link marijuana use with psychosis.

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.