High-Potency Cannabis Linked to Mental Health Risks

Expert Warnings on High-Potency Cannabis

Fox News senior medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel highlights concerns about high-potency cannabis, emphasizing its potential risks on mental health. He explains that increased THC levels can lead to addiction and adverse mental health effects, especially impacting developing brains. Siegel challenges claims of cannabis aiding anxiety and depression, deeming them frequently inaccurate and linked to heightened emergency room visits.

Marijuana is now the most-used daily drug among Americans.

According to data from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21.4 million individuals are using marijuana daily or near-daily in the U.S. This figure exceeds those who smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol daily.

Data on Daily Usage Trends

The survey defines daily or near-daily use as consuming marijuana on 300 or more days in the past year. In contrast, daily cigarette smokers are characterized by smoking every day of the last month. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of daily marijuana users increased by approximately 3.7 million, reaching 21.4 million from 17.7 million.

This rise in marijuana use primarily involves adults aged 26 and older, rather than teenagers. Between 2021 and 2025, adults aged 18 and older showed a 22% increase in daily marijuana consumption, from 17.2 million to 20.9 million users.

Although marijuana is now the most commonly used daily or near-daily substance, alcohol remains the overall leader with 129 million users in the previous month, compared to 43.8 million for marijuana. General marijuana usage among Americans increased from 13.2% to 15.1% between 2021 and 2025.

Changing Substance Use Patterns

Cigarette and general tobacco product usage declined from 20.1% of Americans in 2021 to 15.9% in 2025. Meanwhile, the rise in general marijuana use is significant, paralleling a shift towards substances like THC for stress management.

A survey from April 2026 by San Francisco-based workplace mental health platform Modern Health observed a concerning pattern: 63% of full-time employees engage in self-medication after work, relying on substances like THC and marijuana.

Within Gen Z, THC usage after work exceeds alcohol consumption, with 59% reporting the use of marijuana products compared to 50% who drink alcohol. Furthermore, 51% of Gen Z workers reported using THC during the workday.

Concerns from Experts

Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel expressed alarm over SAMHSA data, noting a disturbing trend with increased marijuana usage.

Siegel criticizes the focus on marijuana’s supposed benefits for pain, insomnia, and anxiety, suggesting these claims are often exaggerated. Instead, he points to the increasing THC content across cannabis products, linking it to mental performance issues, impaired judgment, memory deficits, and overall impairment.

Siegel warns that THC is associated with fatal motor vehicle accidents and argues that increased marijuana acceptance contributes to dangerous trends. Furthermore, awareness of the dangers of marijuana compared to cigarettes and alcohol remains insufficient among the public.