While existing literature has explored the link between cannabis use and adolescent mental health, there remains a gap in understanding the direction of the relationship between cannabis use in teens

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 4 representative gaps

• Psychological distress, distress tolerance, and cannabis-related problems among university students in Türkiye: a mixed-methods study (2026) · doi

  Future research should adopt longitudinal designs to clarify the temporal and potentially bidirectional relationships between psychological distress and cannabis use. Experience sampling methods may further elucidate moment-to-moment associations between affect and use behavior. Expanding the range of examined variables—such as coping motives, personality traits, and social context—would provide a more comprehensive understanding of risk and protective factors. Additionally, intervention-focused studies targeting emotion regulation and distress tolerance are warranted to evaluate strategies for reducing maladaptive coping through substance use. Future research should also explore potential gender differences in cannabis use, coping motives, and psychological outcomes.

  Keywords: coping future psychological distress cannabis moment motives adopt longitudinal designs clarify temporal potentially bidirectional relationships
• The Association Between Tobacco and Cannabis Use and the Age of Onset of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: Among Adolescents and Young Adults (2023) · doi

  INTRODUCTION: No studies have prospectively explored the association between the use of tobacco or cannabis use and the age of onset of depressive or anxiety symptoms, and no studies have identified the peak ages and ranges of onset of these symptoms among tobacco and/or cannabis users.

  Keywords: tobacco cannabis onset symptoms introduction prospectively explored association depressive anxiety identified peak ages ranges among
• Understanding Bidirectional Relations Between Adolescent Cannabis Use and Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms: A Longitudinal Study of Canadian Youth (2025) · doi

  While existing literature has explored the link between cannabis use and adolescent mental health, there remains a gap in understanding the direction of the relationship between cannabis use in teens and externalizing (e.

  Keywords: cannabis existing literature explored link adolescent mental health there remains understanding direction relationship teens externalizing
• Why Use Cannabis? Examining Motives for Cannabis Use in Individuals with Anxiety Disorders (2022) · doi

  Future research is needed to compare motives for cannabis use in those with anxiety disorders, other mental health populations, and the general population, as well as examine motives for cannabis use within specific anxiety disorders.

  Keywords: motives cannabis anxiety disorders future needed compare mental health populations general population well examine within