New Study Links Teen Cannabis Use to Higher Risk of Serious Mental Health Disorders | SmartHER With Dr. Lynn Silver
SmartHER NewsShow Notes
Jenna interviews Dr. Lynn Silver, a pediatrician and co-author of a new large California study examining how adolescent cannabis use relates to later mental health outcomes. Using Kaiser Permanente screening data from 463,000 teens ages 13–17 and following them up to seven years (or until age 25), the study compared youth who reported past-year cannabis use with those who did not, excluding those with prior diagnoses. Teens who reported cannabis use were about twice as likely to later be diagnosed with psychosis/schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, about one-third more likely to develop depression, and about one-quarter more likely to develop anxiety. The discussion also covers barriers to cannabis research, rising THC potency and new products, how genetics and environmental triggers may interact, and why decriminalization differs from for-profit legalization and youth marketing. 00:00 Why Cannabis Risks Matter 00:41 Meet Dr Lynn Silver 03:00 Why Research Lagged 03:34 THC Potency Revolution 05:58 Inside the Kaiser Study 08:40 What the Study Found 11:20 Correlation vs Causation 14:35 How Cannabis May Trigger Illness 18:37 Real World Psychosis Stories 20:30 Decriminalize vs Legalize 24:02 Forms of Use and Family Rules 25:58 Closing Thanks and Takeaways Read the study here.
More from SmartHER News
Some describe this exchange as the "most viral moment" fo the 2026 election cycle.
The latest on a rare owl nest in NYC, the shortest White House press secretary tenure in recorded history and how much the war in the Middle East has cost the average American household. Your news update in 15 minutes! Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan. SmartHER.
What do the cases of Lindsay Clancy, Nolan Wells and Cornell have in common? They highlight the importance of a legal procedure often forgotten in our justice system that's critical to whether or not a case heads to court: a grand jury. Join a wide-ranging conversation with attorney and founder of Unbiased, Jordan Berman, who uses her legal expertise to explain the importance of the grand jury process, why it matters and what it means in these 3 stories. 00:00 The Missing Link in Three Legal Cases 00:57 Finding Common Ground in Nonpartisan News 03:20 Meet Jordan Berman, Founder of Unbiased 06:12 What Gets Lost in the Headlines 08:37 Why Grand Juries Matter 09:45 Inside the Grand Jury Process 14:15 Nolan Wells: What No Indictment Means 18:29 Lindsay Clancy: Indictment vs. Trial 22:32 Cornell: The Decision Not to Pursue Charges 30:07 How Media Coverage Shapes Public Opinion 33:04 Ilhan Omar: Questions About the Search Warrant 37:17 What We Don't See Behind the Headlines
Your catch-up on news after a holiday weekend! **As we published this report, news broke of Ambassador Guilfoyle's resignation.
What does justice look like—and who decides? Jenna and podcast host Mary Katharine Ham discuss Christa Pike's case in Tennessee and the broader questions it raises about the death penalty, including the time between sentencing and execution. They also reflect on three years since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the changing Middle East and the words news organizations use to tell these stories. Along the way: the court of public opinion, a brief look at media coverage of the Cornell case, and how the information we receive shapes our understanding. Plus, parenting styles, a favorite hydration drink and making more time to read with our kids. Want to go beyond the headline? Become a SmartHER News Insider and join the conversation — with our private community, exclusive podcast feed and more. In this episode: 00:00 Welcome to SmartHER News 01:03 Real Life, Parenting & Consequences 04:34 What Does Justice Look Like? 07:01 Christa Pike & the Death Penalty 12:21 Fort Hood & the Execution Debate 14:45 The Eighth Amendment: Cruel & Unusual Punishment 16:29 Public Opinion, Cornell & Media Coverage 19:57 Three Years After Oct. 7 23:49 How the Media Describes Hamas 26:51 Israeli Politics & the Language of War 28:52 The Nova Exhibition & Remembering the Victims 32:01 Marco Rubio's Speech in Greece 35:24 Iran & the Ripple Effects Across the Middle East 37:08 Something SmartHER: Hydration 39:49 Less Scrolling, More Reading 43:11 Wrap-Up Show Notes: Jocko Fuel Hydrate (commissionable link)