Cannabis in adolescence linked to higher risk of psychosis and bipolar disorder

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By Olivia Bowthorpe

Even occasional cannabis use in adolescence is linked to a doubled risk of clinically diagnosed psychotic or bipolar disorders within a few years, according to one of the largest youth studies.

The cohort study of 463,396 adolescents aged 13 to 17 years, found that those reporting cannabis use in the past year had a 2.2-fold higher risk of developing psychotic disorders and a 2-fold higher risk of bipolar disorder, compared with non-users.