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Consumption of higher-potency cannabis during adolescence can significantly amplify the risk of psychosis in early adulthood, according to a study of 1,560 U.K. adults conducted by researchers from the University of Bath and the University of Bristol.

The study showed the need for further research into the long-term impacts of potent cannabis strains, such as skunk, on individuals in their late teenage years. Over the years, the concentration of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, has surged by approximately 14 percent from 1970 to 2017, raising concerns about the potential health risks for young adults.

"Young people using higher-potency forms of cannabis are twice as likely to have experiences associated with psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions," psychologist Lindsey Hines from the University of Bath said, Science Alert reported.

"Importantly, the young people we asked had not previously reported these experiences before starting their cannabis use."

Analysis of the data revealed that 6.4 percent of young cannabis users reported new psychotic experiences, compared to 3.8 percent of non-users. Moreover, among cannabis users, 10.1 percent using higher-potency variants reported some form of psychosis, compared to 4.5 percent using lower-potency forms.

Psychotic experiences reported by cannabis users encompass hallucinations, delusions, and "thought interference," indicating a pressing need for addressing adolescent drug use and the availability of THC-rich cannabis.

Despite the study's groundbreaking findings, it is important to note that the research relied on self-reported drug use at age 24, lacking clinical monitoring. While the evidence doesn't establish a direct causation between high-potency cannabis and psychotic episodes, it underscores the urgency for comprehensive education and regulation surrounding cannabis use.

"Cannabis is changing and higher-potency cannabis is increasingly available," Hines noted. "We need to improve messaging and information available to young people on the impacts of cannabis use in the 21st century."

"This study adds to the mounting evidence suggesting that the use of higher-potency cannabis may have adverse effects on mental health," remarked Hines.

The findings, published in Addiction, highlights the need for concerted efforts to mitigate the availability of potent cannabis among adolescents, irrespective of the legal status of cannabis in various regions.