Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents

• When other drugs would occasionally come up, I didn’t understand some of the slang terms they used for these drugs.
• Many people may have that feeling now when the topic of cannabis comes up – especially in its different and newer forms.
• A major change during my time in research is the legalization and explosion of cannabis availability across the U.S.

A shifting landscape

• It also serves as a catch-all term for any substance with chemical compounds from cannabis plants and addresses concerns that the word marijuana has some long-standing racist overtones.
• Cannabis now comes in a larger variety of forms than it used to.
• These include oils that can be vaporized by vape or dab pens, waxier substances and even powders.

How cannabis derivatives interact with the brain

• Each one interacts with the brain in different ways, producing different perceived effects.
• The differences between THC and CBD come from how they interact with cannabinoid receptors – the proteins onto which these drugs attach – in the brain and body.

The changing nature of cannabis products

• By increasing the amount of THC, concentrated products can increase blood levels of THC rapidly and more strongly than nonconcentrates such as traditional smoked cannabis.
• Cannabis concentrates also come in many different forms that range from waxy or creamy to hard and brittle.
• They are made in a variety of ways that may require dry ice, water or flammable solvents such as butane.
• The myriad names for cannabis concentrates can be confusing.

Cannabis use and adolescents

• A 2021 systematic review found that past-year cannabis vaping nearly doubled from 2017 to 2020 in adolescents - jumping from 7.2% to 13.2%.
• In addition, a 2020 study found that one-third of adolescents who vape do so with cannabis concentrates.
• Cannabis use by adolescents is scary because it can alter the way their brains develop.
• Adolescents who use cannabis are also more likely to experience symptoms of schizophrenia, struggle more in school and engage in other risky behaviors.
• This article is part of Legal cannabis turns 10, a series examining the impact of a decade of recreational cannabis use.

Ty Schepis receives funding from US Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. His research is also supported by a faculty fellowship from the Texas State University Translational Health Research Center.