For families who have loved ones struggling with mental illness or addiction linked to heavy cannabis use, the warning signs can be painfully clear. But new data suggests that many Massachusetts residents still don’t recognize the potential mental health risks associated with regular marijuana use. A survey released Friday by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission found that wide gaps in public knowledge remained years after the state legalized recreational marijuana. The survey, which asked more than 11,000 Massachusetts residents between 2019 and 2023, shows that most people are not aware that frequent marijuana use can increase the risk of serious mental illness. One question asked participants whether regular marijuana use could increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Only 20% answered correctly – that there is a risk. Doctors who treat young patients say the findings reflect what they see in clinical practice. Scott Hadland, director of adult and young adult medicine at Mass General Brigham for Children, treats many patients suffering from the serious effects of heavy cannabis use. “The survey found that one in five people know that marijuana can cause psychosis or schizophrenia, which is something that we see all the time clinically and which we are very concerned about. In recent years, we have really seen an increase, especially among young people who use marijuana, in the rates at which they develop this syndrome, where they end up in our emergency department with celibacy. Hadland said that legalization may contribute to misunderstandings, because many people assume that substances that are legal are also harmless, he said: “It’s really important that people understand that marijuana has all these risks when young people use it in large quantities. I think we really need broader public health messages to get that information out to the public.” The Cannabis Control Commission’s report also calls for broader public education. State law calls for “science-based public awareness campaigns” about the health risks of marijuana use, but lawmakers have not funded such campaigns in recent years. In its latest report, the commission calls for dedicated funding for public education or coordinated statewide efforts to educate residents about the potential mental health risks associated with cannabis. Good news about.
For families who have loved ones struggling with mental illness or addiction linked to heavy cannabis use, the warning signs can be painfully clear. But new data suggests that many Massachusetts residents still don’t recognize the potential mental health risks associated with regular marijuana use.
A survey released Friday by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission found that wide gaps in public knowledge remained years after the state legalized recreational marijuana. The survey, which asked more than 11,000 Massachusetts residents between 2019 and 2023, shows that most people do not know that frequent use of marijuana can increase the risk of serious mental illness.
One question asked participants whether regular marijuana use could increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia. Only 20% answered correctly – that there is a risk.
Doctors who treat young patients say the findings reflect what they see in clinical practice.
Dr. Scott Hadland, director of adult and adolescent medicine at Mass General Brigham for Children, treats many patients who suffer from the serious effects of heavy cannabis use.
“The survey found that one in five people know that marijuana can cause psychosis or schizophrenia, which is something that we see all the time clinically and which we are very concerned about. In recent years, we have really seen an increase, especially among young people who use marijuana, in the rates at which they develop this syndrome, where they end up in our emergency department with celibacy. Marijuana,” he said.
Headland said legalization may contribute to misunderstandings, as many people assume substances that are legal are also harmless.
“It’s really important that people understand that marijuana has all these downsides when young people use it in large amounts. I think we really need broader public health messages to get that information out there,” he said.
The Cannabis Control Commission report also calls for greater public education. State law calls for “science-based public awareness campaigns” about the health risks of marijuana use, but lawmakers have not funded such a campaign in recent years.
In its latest report, the commission calls for either dedicated funding for public education or coordinated statewide efforts to better inform residents about the potential mental health risks associated with cannabis.
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