Wellness Unmasked Weekly Rundown: Cannabis Risks EXPOSED: Addiction, Mental Health & Teen Brain Impact

2/19/202612 mincomplete

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2:08Welcome to Wellness Unmasked. I'm Dr.

2:10Nicole Sapphire, and this is your weekly rundown.

2:12I want to talk to you about cannabis today, because it seems like everyone's talking

2:16about it, the normalization of it, the commercialization of it, and whether public health is

2:21just keeping up with the science.

2:22Seems to me people are actually starting to pay attention.

2:25If you scream loud enough at the potential harms, it takes a while, but it

2:30sounds like people are starting to listen.

2:32So let's start with reality.

2:34Cannabis is now legal for medical use in most states and recreational use, you know,

2:39for fun in more than half the country.

2:41But the perception of harm is dropping, meaning people are not realizing that it actually

2:47has some risks, especially young adults and teenagers.

2:51Well, teenagers, they seem to be pretty risk -averse.

2:54They don't necessarily think anything is risky.

2:57But the biology hasn't changed.

2:59Just because the laws have changed, there are risks.

3:02Here's what we know. According to the CDC, about three in 10 people who use

3:06cannabis become addicted to it, called cannabis use disorder.

3:10That number climbs to nearly half among people who smoke or use cannabis in whatever

3:16form they're using it in daily.

3:17And the younger someone starts, the higher their risk for dependency.

3:22Now, why is that an issue?

3:23Well, let me tell you.

3:25It's not because some study just came out last month.

3:28No, in fact, the oldest study that I know of is from 2012 that shows

3:33teenagers, young adults who regularly use cannabis and THC products have lower IQs.

3:39Uh -oh, that's not good.

3:41Fast forward, 2016, 2017, 2020, studies all coming out showing younger users that use cannabis

3:50and THC have a higher risk of psychoses, schizophrenia, particularly in young men.

3:57There's also higher rates of anxiety and panic disorders, impaired attention, memory, executive function, increased

4:04emergency departments visits for hyperemesis syndrome.

4:08Do you know what that means?

4:09That means they can't stop vomiting.

4:10It's awful. I've seen it.

4:12People come in and know you just can't give them a little medicine and they

4:16feel better. They are retching so badly that they can actually start bleeding from vomiting

4:21so much. And by the way, there's growing data showing cardiovascular disease may be linked

4:27to it, heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and other things.

4:31Now, are there potential benefits?

4:33Sure. There's evidence supporting cannabinoids for chemotherapy -induced nausea, certain seizure disorders, chronic pain syndromes,

4:42multiple sclerosis. But that's very different than just, you know, blanket normalization of recreational high

4:49-potency daily -use cannabis, especially in those who brains are still developing, which doesn't happen

4:56until about 25. Let's be honest, today's cannabis, it's not your parents' marijuana.

5:01THC potency has increased dramatically over the past two decades.

5:06High -concentrate products, vapes, dabs, edibles, whatever the kids are doing these days, I don't

5:12even know. But they can contain 60 to 90 % THC because that matters.

5:18The higher the THC levels, the highest the risk of psychosis and all of those

5:22other negative things. and teen cannabis use is rising again.

5:26Sure, kids are drinking less alcohol, but they're trading one vice for another.

5:32Nearly one in five high school seniors report using cannabis in the last month, but

5:37that's because the perceived harm is at historic lows.

5:41Parents, you have to educate your kids.

5:43Cannabis is dangerous, just like alcohol, just like other drugs.

5:48It's not, oh, well, it's not as bad as some of the other stuff.

5:51Okay, sure, you're right. It's not like black tar heroin, but it doesn't mean it's

5:55good for you. So first, start early.

5:58Don't wait until your kids are in high school, parents.

6:00You need to talk to your kids, especially when they're in middle school, because that's

6:04when curiosity begins. Be specific when you talk to them.

6:08Don't just say, ooh, marijuana's bad.

6:10Don't do it. Because if you just say that, they're gonna be like, okay, mom,

6:14you don't know what you're talking about.

6:16Explain that the adolescent brain is wiring its executive control system at that very moment.

6:22And THC directly affects parts of their brains, specifically the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex.

6:29They need that if they actually wanna go and be a CEO one day.

6:32If they blunt it, they're not gonna be the CEO.

6:35They're always gonna be working for someone else.

6:38Next, differentiate the whole medical from recreational messaging.

6:42Kids hear, oh, well, it's medicine, so it must be okay.

6:45Clarify that FDA -approved cannabinoid medications are not the same as dispensary products with unregulated

6:53potency and other additives. And also, of course, just watch for red flags.

6:58Kids, they experiment all the time.

7:00If they have declining grades, withdrawals, not sleeping very well, mood swings, hiding things, you're

7:07finding those little vape cartridges.

7:09I'm telling you guys, they're no good.

7:12Yes, I get it. We don't want kids smoking cigarettes.

7:14We also don't want them smoking pot.

7:16We just don't. Now, zooming out, I'm gonna take away from cannabis.

7:21My take on it, I don't like it.

7:23I personally never have tried it.

7:24I think CBD products are probably significantly less harmful.

7:29If they don't contain THC, I am not a fan of THC.

7:33I think if people are trying to get away from alcohol and they wanna take

7:36low doses of CBD, not inhaling it, not smoking anything, I'm sure it's probably less

7:44risky than some of the other things out there.

7:46But when I talk about the concerns with cannabis use, I'm specifically speaking on the

7:52THC side of it. Now, zooming out, I wanna quickly mention something else that happened

7:57this week because it's a leadership changeup in the administration.

8:01Dr. Jay Bhattacharya has stepped in as acting director of the CDC.

8:06You may know him. He became nationally known for challenging the pandemic orthodoxy and advocating

8:12pretty much for a more open scientific debate.

8:15President Trump appointed him to lead the NIH right now under Secretary Kennedy.

8:20Now he is stepping in to fill the temporary role of CDC director.

8:25I don't know if you've noticed, but we actually haven't had a permanent CDC director

8:30for more than a couple of weeks since President Trump took the White House.

8:34It's been a revolving door.

8:36That's probably because the CDC is a complete mess and it's hard to kind of

8:41find someone that is able to take charge, but who can also gain the trust

8:45of the people who are working there.

8:46It's definitely going to be an uphill battle.

8:49Dr. Bhattacharya, a very intelligent physician, he is open -minded and he listens to other

8:56people. So I like him in a leadership position.

8:58I'm interested to see exactly what exactly he will do at the CDC level.

9:03And that's that. More to come.

9:05Good luck to you, Dr.

9:06Bhattacharya. Thank you so much for listening to Wellness Unmask.

9:09This is your weekly rundown.

9:10I'm Dr. Nicole Sapphire. Be sure to listen to Wellness Unmask on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts,

9:16or wherever you get your podcasts.

9:17And I'll see you next time.

9:20We try to make healthy choices, but the fat cats hide the information we need

9:24to make them. Big insurance companies and hospital executives have been empowered over patients and

9:29families. That's not a system.

9:31That's a trap. We can't make America healthy again without seeing up front the price

9:35of every x -ray, every doctor's visit, every pill, and every hospital bill.

9:40That's why President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are restoring trust by demanding transparency in every

9:46part of American healthcare. Transparency is key.

9:49Demand it. This is David Eagleman from the Inner Cosmos podcast.

9:53As a neuroscientist, I think a lot about how our brains shape our experience of

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Dr. Nicole Sapphire discusses the normalization and commercialization of cannabis, arguing that despite its legalization in many states, the perceived harm is dropping, leading to increased risks. She highlights that THC potency has increased significantly over the past two decades, leading to higher risks of addiction, lower IQ, psychosis, and cardiovascular issues. Sapphire advises parents to start educating children early about the effects of cannabis on the developing brain, specifically the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. She emphasizes the need to differentiate between FDA-approved medical use and unregulated recreational products. Finally, she shares her personal preference for CBD over THC and briefly mentions the leadership changes at the CDC under Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.

The episode serves as a warning to parents about the changing landscape of youth substance use. Sapphire notes that while teen alcohol consumption is down, cannabis use is rising, often because the risks are underestimated. She provides specific advice on how to talk to middle schoolers about the biological impacts of THC, stressing that it directly affects the executive control system needed for future success. She also advises parents to watch for red flags like declining grades, mood swings, and hiding vape cartridges.

The host concludes by reiterating her stance that while there are potential medical benefits for specific conditions, the blanket normalization of high-potency recreational cannabis is dangerous, particularly for developing brains. She contrasts this with CBD products, suggesting they may be less risky than alcohol or THC, provided they do not contain psychoactive compounds.

cautionary and educational

cannabishealthparentingbrain developmentaddictionmedical vs recreationalthccbdwellnesspublic healthyouthneurology

Cannabis Risks and Health Impacts

Detailed discussion on the physiological and psychological risks associated with cannabis use, including addiction rates, IQ reduction, psychosis, and cardiovascular issues.

Youth and Brain Development

Focus on the vulnerability of adolescent brains and the importance of early parental education regarding the effects of THC on executive function and future potential.

Medical vs. Recreational Use

Distinguishing between FDA-approved cannabinoid medications for specific conditions and unregulated, high-potency recreational products.

Public Health and Policy

The normalization of cannabis in society and the role of transparency in healthcare, alongside leadership changes at the CDC.

“Cannabis is now legal for medical use in most states and recreational use... But the perception of harm is dropping, meaning people are not realizing that it actually has some risks, especially young adults and teenagers.”

“Teenagers, they seem to be pretty risk-averse. They don't necessarily think anything is risky. But the biology hasn't changed.”

“Today's cannabis, it's not your parents' marijuana. THC potency has increased dramatically over the past two decades.”

“If they blunt it, they're not gonna be the CEO. They're always gonna be working for someone else.”

“I think if people are trying to get away from alcohol and they wanna take low doses of CBD, not inhaling it, not smoking anything, I'm sure it's probably less risky than some of the other things out there.”