In interviews with 13 parents, most described their children's cannabis use either worsening or appearing to trigger severe mental health crises, while healthcare providers frequently minimized cannabis-related risks.
Parents concerned about youth cannabis use, pediatric mental health clinicians, and public health professionals developing cannabis education materials.
What the researchers found
Parents reported four themes: cannabis use worsened or triggered mental health crises; it created emotional and financial burdens on families; healthcare providers often minimized cannabis risks during treatment; and parents called for better public health warnings and regulatory oversight.
Why it matters
Parents are often the first to observe cannabis-related mental health deterioration in their children, yet they report encountering healthcare providers who dismiss the connection. Their perspectives highlight gaps in clinical training and public health messaging.
The numbers in context
13 parents interviewed. Four themes identified. Parents described encounters with healthcare providers who minimized cannabis-related risks.
How the study worked
Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 13 parents who reported their children used cannabis and experienced mental health issues. Deductive-inductive thematic analysis used to generate themes.
What this study cannot tell us
Small purposive sample (13 parents) likely skewed toward those with the most severe experiences. No objective verification of cannabis use or mental health diagnoses. Parent perspectives may not capture the full clinical picture.
How to read the evidence
Small qualitative study providing rich descriptive data but limited generalizability. Purposive sampling likely captured more severe cases.
When this study was published
2025 publication.
The bigger picture
As cannabis potency increases and normalization accelerates, parent experiences provide a ground-level view of how high-potency cannabis is affecting young people's mental health. The gap between parental observations and clinician responses suggests a training deficit.
Questions still open
- How can clinician training better incorporate cannabis-related mental health risks?
- What public health messaging strategies would be most effective for families?
Common questions
Does cannabis cause psychosis in young people?
Why did healthcare providers minimize cannabis risks?
Read the original research
Parent Perspectives on Youth Cannabis Use and Mental Health: Impacts, Challenges, and Recommendations.
The journal of behavioral health services & research, 52(2), 249-262
Citation
Gerhardt, T Freeman; Carlson, Melissa; Menendez, Kimberly; Moore, Kathleen A; Rodill, Zena. (2025). Parent Perspectives on Youth Cannabis Use and Mental Health: Impacts, Challenges, and Recommendations.. The journal of behavioral health services & research, 52(2), 249-262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-025-09932-8
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