At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center in Oxford, Mississippi, we’re seeing the effects of teenage marijuana use daily. Young men who are regular users of THC are coming into our behavioral health treatment program with symptoms that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Modern cannabis products—especially vapes, concentrates, and edibles—contain levels of THC far beyond anything previous generations encountered. The landscape has changed—and parents need to know how, and why.

A False Sense of Safety: How Legalization Has Shifted Perception

As proponents of marijuana use have cheered on its legalization across the country, mental health experts are noticing the unintended cultural perception that legalization means harmless. Many teens, and even some parents, assume that if cannabis is legal, it must also be safe. This is not the case. Especially for adolescents. Quite the contrary in fact, legalizing marijuana has led to greater access, more potent THC products, and more normalization. 

“Legalization sometimes translates to people as safety,” says Elizabeth Fikes, co-founder of Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center. “You have to look at it as a totally different substance—one that is far more dangerous and can have much longer-lasting effects.”

This misconception is one of the most damaging aspects of today’s cannabis culture. Parents may see their child struggling but second-guess their concern, assuming it’s just a phase or that marijuana can’t be the root cause. 

Today’s Marijuana Is Not What You Think

Potency is the major factor when it comes to the changes between the weed of yesteryear and what teens are consuming today. In the 70s, marijuana typically contained around 3–5% THC. Today, many cannabis products boast THC levels of 80–90% or more. These products are engineered for intensity and marketed in sleek, concealable formats that are easy for teens to access and hide. Just because they’re accessible to teens, doesn’t mean they’re for teens. 

The New York Times recently reported that daily marijuana use has been linked to an increase in the risk for developing psychotic disorders among adolescents. According to the article, emergency rooms and psychiatric units are seeing a sharp uptick in cannabis-related mental health crises, often with symptoms that persist for weeks or months after use has stopped. 

At Stonewater, we’ve seen this play out firsthand. “We used to see marijuana-induced psychosis symptoms last maybe a week or two,” Fikes explains. “Now we’re seeing adolescents who still experience hallucinations 60 to 90 days after use. And we don’t always know if they’ll return to baseline.”

Why the Teen Brain Is So Vulnerable

Science tells us that the male brain continues to develop until around the age of 25. The teenage years are fundamental in the growth of areas related to emotional regulation, impulse control, and decision-making. Introducing high-potency weed into the body disrupts all these neural systems and these changes can be long-lasting.

Thanks to neural plasticity, with the right treatment and time away from substances, adolescents can and do heal. “The wonderful thing about the adolescent brain is that it is resilient,” says Fikes. “Once they stop using and we equip them with other tools to address anxiety, depression, or psychosis, we see tremendous progress.”

Real Treatment, Real Results at Stonewater

Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center offers a clinically sophisticated, emotionally supportive residential program specifically designed for teenage boys. We understand the complex intersection of cannabis use and mental health, including how to treat marijuana-induced psychosis, withdrawal symptoms, and co-occurring disorders.

Our goal isn’t just abstinence—it’s transformation. We help teens rebuild confidence, reconnect with family, and return to their lives with clarity, purpose, and support.

Start the Conversation

If you’re seeing changes in your teen and wondering whether marijuana could be part of the problem, don’t wait for things to get worse. Early intervention can be the difference between a crisis and a comeback.

Reach out to Stonewater today to speak with an admissions specialist. We’re here to answer your questions, walk you through next steps, and help your family get their child back, better.