Marijuana use is increasing among adults in the United States, leading to concerns about its impact on children, according to Dr. Marc Siegel.
Approximately 6 million children are now living in households where a parent uses cannabis on a daily basis. This trend is exacerbated by a significant increase in the potency of marijuana products. THC content in vapes and edibles has surged dramatically over the past few decades, with modern products often containing much higher concentrations than those from 20 years ago. For instance, buds and flowers now typically range from 15% to 25% THC, a sharp increase from the 1-2% seen decades prior. Concentrates and vape cartridges can contain between 50% and 95% THC.
A study from the University of California San Diego highlights that children are twice as likely to use cannabis themselves if they reside in a home with a regular marijuana user, according to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Cannabis use has more than doubled in the adult population over the last two decades, now exceeding 8% nationally.
The impact of parental cannabis use extends to prenatal exposure. Research indicates that fetal exposure to marijuana increases the risk of premature birth by nearly double and elevates the likelihood of low birth weight or the need for immediate neonatal intensive care by two and a half times. National data reveals that over 5% of pregnant women have used marijuana in the past month, a figure that is reportedly climbing.
Furthermore, studies suggest a link between a mother's cannabis use during a child's first 12 years of life and that child beginning marijuana use by age 16. This exposure in early life may also contribute to a 2.5-times greater risk of THC product use during the child's early teen years.
Beyond developmental risks, regular marijuana use by parents can affect parenting itself. It is associated with emotional outbursts, impaired judgment, poor parenting practices, and mental health issues. Research indicates that parental anxiety can directly contribute to anxiety in children.
Dr. Siegel suggests that strategies developed over generations to address alcohol addiction could be applied to managing cannabis use. He points to the methods of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson, emphasizing mutual experience sharing and spiritual recovery as potentially effective approaches for individuals struggling with addiction.