Cannabis Vaping Linked to Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Teens
Among nearly 70,000 U.S. adolescents, THC vaping was linked to depressive symptoms while CBD-only vaping was associated with higher anxiety — challenging the notion that CBD is purely calming.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Adolescents who vaped THC only (aOR=1.40) or dual CBD/THC (aOR=1.51) were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Those who vaped CBD only had higher odds of anxiety symptoms (aOR=1.74) compared to non-vapers, and higher anxiety than THC-only vapers (aOR=1.51).
Key Numbers
69,899 adolescents surveyed. THC-only vapers: 40% higher odds of depressive symptoms (aOR=1.40). Dual vapers: 51% higher odds of depressive symptoms (aOR=1.51). CBD-only vapers: 74% higher odds of anxiety (aOR=1.74). 51.3% of sample was male.
How They Did This
Analysis of three years (2021-2023) of the nationally representative US National Youth Tobacco Survey using a stratified three-stage cluster design, with logistic regression adjusting for covariates. Total sample: 69,899 adolescents aged 11-18.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis vaping is increasingly common among teens. This large national study suggests different cannabinoids may have different mental health associations — THC linking to depression and CBD to anxiety — which challenges simple narratives about either compound.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that CBD-only vaping was associated with MORE anxiety symptoms than THC vaping is counterintuitive, since CBD is marketed as anxiolytic. It may reflect reverse causation (anxious teens seeking CBD for relief) or unknown factors in CBD vaping products.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation — anxious teens may seek CBD products, not the reverse. Self-reported cannabis vaping. Cannot verify actual CBD/THC content of vaped products. No information on dose or frequency.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are anxious teens self-selecting CBD products, creating reverse causation?
- ?What are the actual contents of products teens report as CBD-only?
- ?Would longitudinal data confirm these associations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative sample across three years, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, using the most recent available NYTS data (2021-2023).
- Original Title:
- Cannabis vaping and mental health: The association of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol with anxiety and depressive symptoms-Findings from the United States National Youth Tobacco Survey (2021-2023).
- Published In:
- Addiction (Abingdon, England), 121(3), 617-628 (2026)
- Authors:
- Chung, Jack(3), Stjepanović, Daniel(11), Cheng, Brandon, Lim, Carmen C W, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason P, Chan, Gary C K
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08174
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBD vaping cause anxiety in teens?
This study found an association, not causation. CBD-only vapers had 74% higher odds of anxiety symptoms, but it's possible that anxious teens seek out CBD products rather than CBD causing anxiety.
Is THC or CBD vaping worse for teen mental health?
Both showed concerning associations: THC vaping linked to depressive symptoms (40% higher odds) and CBD vaping linked to anxiety (74% higher odds). The safest option for adolescents remains avoiding cannabis vaping altogether.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08174APA
Chung, Jack; Stjepanović, Daniel; Cheng, Brandon; Lim, Carmen C W; Hall, Wayne; Connor, Jason P; Chan, Gary C K. (2026). Cannabis vaping and mental health: The association of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol with anxiety and depressive symptoms-Findings from the United States National Youth Tobacco Survey (2021-2023).. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 121(3), 617-628. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70218
MLA
Chung, Jack, et al. "Cannabis vaping and mental health: The association of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol with anxiety and depressive symptoms-Findings from the United States National Youth Tobacco Survey (2021-2023).." Addiction (Abingdon, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70218
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis vaping and mental health: The association of Δ-9-te..." RTHC-08174. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chung-2026-cannabis-vaping-and-mental
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.