Literature Review of Recent Trends in Medical and Recreational Cannabis Use
Location
LSUHSC-NO
Publication Date
April 2026
Start Date
9-4-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
9-4-2026 2:00 PM
Description
Substance use is frequently referenced in psychiatry as a contributor to mood and psychotic disorders. In the past, it has been considered that cannabis use leads to shorter psychiatric admissions compared to other substances, and in patients admitted without substance use, as it is metabolized and cleared from the body quicker than other substances. Other studies suggest that cannabis use has higher rates of patients transitioning from a limited substance induced- psychotic-disorder to a reoccurring schizophrenia-spectrum disorder in cannabis as opposed to other substances. Over the past decades, multiple changes have been made at the federal and state level for cannabis medicalization, recreational use, and/or decriminalization. While these changes occurred, data suggests that cannabis potency has increased, with higher rates of psychosis and cannabis-use disorder in high-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) compared to lower-THC cannabis [BJ_ An increase in recreational cannabis use and caution for illegitimate reasoning of medical cannabis use also raises concern for self-medicating different psychiatric conditions. This study aims to assess the recent trends in psychiatric symptoms and care of patients with cannabis use via literature review.
Recommended Citation
Glisson, Lucas C. MD and Lambert, Britney A. MD, "Literature Review of Recent Trends in Medical and Recreational Cannabis Use" (2026). Dept. of Psychiatry Research Symposium. 12.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/psych_rd/2026/posters/12
Literature Review of Recent Trends in Medical and Recreational Cannabis Use
LSUHSC-NO
Substance use is frequently referenced in psychiatry as a contributor to mood and psychotic disorders. In the past, it has been considered that cannabis use leads to shorter psychiatric admissions compared to other substances, and in patients admitted without substance use, as it is metabolized and cleared from the body quicker than other substances. Other studies suggest that cannabis use has higher rates of patients transitioning from a limited substance induced- psychotic-disorder to a reoccurring schizophrenia-spectrum disorder in cannabis as opposed to other substances. Over the past decades, multiple changes have been made at the federal and state level for cannabis medicalization, recreational use, and/or decriminalization. While these changes occurred, data suggests that cannabis potency has increased, with higher rates of psychosis and cannabis-use disorder in high-THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) compared to lower-THC cannabis [BJ_ An increase in recreational cannabis use and caution for illegitimate reasoning of medical cannabis use also raises concern for self-medicating different psychiatric conditions. This study aims to assess the recent trends in psychiatric symptoms and care of patients with cannabis use via literature review.