Even though THC in marijuana has not been proven to help with any psychological condition, my son obtained a marijuana card at age 18 to try to help his anxiety. He had just graduated high school with honors, participated in Cross Country and Track, volunteered at a local hospital, and worked full-time during his gap year due to the pandemic.
During his Junior year at university, he had his 1st psychotic break, resulting in a two-week stay in the Psych ward. Before admission, he lost his job, had 2 car accidents, and experienced delusions and manic behavior. Lab results showed only THC, despite suspicions of stronger substances. He was discharged with diagnoses of Schizophreniform and mood disorder.
The next week, a mom told me about the Facebook page “Parents of Children with Cannabis-Induced Psychosis.” There, I learned about the harmful effects today’s marijuana has on the growing brain until age 30. Known as wax, budder, dab pens, carts, which can be up to 100% THC, it’s more than just a plant now. These concentrates can increase the risk of developing anxiety, paranoia, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, and cannabis-induced psychosis. Frequent high potency THC use can lead to serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
My 23-year-old son had his second psychotic break 18 months after his first and is now homeless, sleeping in his car. During his second episode, he became more aggressive, called 911 about cartel involvement, paced the house, and picked fights with us.
My son is applying for services with the county for medical services and homeless shelters as he is working part-time and currently looking for full-time work. His father, siblings and I are constantly learning about addiction and mental illness and hope that he gets the help and support he needs for a better future.
Please educate yourself on today’s marijuana. Cannabis Induced Psychosis is real. It happened to my child. Educate your child on the harms of THC at Johnny’sAmbassadors.org.
If you’re concerned about your child’s THC use, visit https://JohnnysAmbassadors.org/parents and join our private Parents of Children with Cannabis-Induced Psychosis (POCCIP) group at / poccip .