North Carolina Lawmakers Debate High-Potency Cannabis Limits Amid Health Concerns
Research linking high-THC cannabis to psychosis and addiction in young adults sparks legislative debates over stricter potency limits as personal stories highlight devastating impacts.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Concerns over the mental health risks linked to high-potency cannabis products have sparked debate among state lawmakers as research connects frequent use of strong THC products to increased rates of psychosis and addiction, particularly among young adults.
Research suggests that frequent use of high-THC cannabis increases the risk of cannabis use disorder, psychosis, and other mental health problems for users, particularly adolescents and young adults. In response, lawmakers in some states this year have moved to impose stricter potency caps, while others have scaled back or rejected such measures amid industry opposition and uncertainty over research findings.
Dramatic Changes in Cannabis Potency
While cannabis flower once commonly contained THC levels in the single digits, many products sold legally today contain 15% to 20% THC or more. Concentrates — such as waxes, oils, and shatter — can exceed 80%.
About 15% of Americans ages 12 and older reported using marijuana in the past month in 2024, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Personal Stories Drive Policy Discussions
Connecticut mother Amy Wadsworth has become an advocate for stricter regulations after watching her son’s life transform following his introduction to high-potency cannabis products. Her son, who played sports and stayed away from drugs as a teenager, began using cannabis to cope with social anxiety and as a sleep aid when he started his freshman year at American University in Washington, D.C., in 2018.
“It’s definitely changed the trajectory of his life,” Wadsworth said. “It did nothing but harm him, literally harm every facet of his life — every facet, physical, mental, everything.”
Within months of beginning cannabis use, Wadsworth’s son was calling home in the middle of the night, terrified and disoriented. Over the next several years, his behavior became increasingly erratic, he had psychotic episodes and he was eventually diagnosed with severe cannabis use disorder. That’s when a person’s marijuana use becomes difficult to control and begins interfering with daily life.
Now 25, Wadsworth’s son has spent much of the past several years cycling through hospitals and treatment programs across the country.
State-by-State Regulatory Approaches
States have spent the past several decades debating whether to legalize cannabis. Now, they are debating how intoxicating legal products should be.
The legislative discussions reflect a shift in focus from cannabis legalization to cannabis regulation, as policymakers grapple with balancing consumer access with public health concerns. The debate has intensified as more research emerges about the potential risks associated with high-potency THC products, especially for younger users whose brains are still developing.
Industry representatives have generally opposed stricter potency limits, citing consumer demand and market freedom concerns. However, public health advocates continue to push for stronger regulations, arguing that current oversight fails to adequately protect vulnerable populations from the potential harms of high-THC cannabis products.
