Marijuana and young women: learn 5 serious ways cannabis may affect mental health, brain development, pregnancy, and overall well-being.
Cannabis is increasingly common and more socially accepted in many parts of the United States. That can make it easy to assume that marijuana is harmless simply because it is legal for adult use in some states. Legal does not automatically mean risk-free.
Marijuana and young women is a conversation that deserves some nuance, particularly when mental health, brain development, and pregnancy are involved. Cannabis affects the brain and body, and its potential effects depend on factors such as age, frequency of use, THC concentration, method of consumption, personal health history, and whether other substances are involved.
The goal isn’t to frighten people away from a conversation about cannabis. It’s to make the conversation more honest.
As a psychiatrist, I believe young women should have access to clear information about the potential mental health and reproductive considerations associated with marijuana use so they can make informed decisions about their health.
THC interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network involved in processes such as mood, memory, appetite, pain, and other physiological functions. Cannabis can also affect brain function more directly.
The CDC notes that recent cannabis use can affect attention, memory, coordination, decision-making, emotions, and reaction time. Developing brains are particularly susceptible to the effects of cannabis, and brain development continues until around age 25.
That doesn’t mean every young person who uses cannabis will develop a mental health problem. It does mean that age and patterns of use matter.
When considering marijuana and young women, mental health is one of the areas worth discussing carefully. Cannabis can cause unpleasant psychological effects in some people, including anxiety, paranoia, and disorientation.
Research has also found associations between cannabis use and conditions or outcomes such as depression, social anxiety, psychosis, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.
An association, however, is not the same as proof that cannabis directly causes every one of these outcomes. Mental health is complicated. Genetics, trauma, stress, environment, family history, existing psychiatric conditions, and other substance use can all play a role.
For someone who already experiences anxiety, depression, paranoia, or other mental health symptoms, cannabis may not be the harmless coping strategy it sometimes appears to be.
And frequent or heavy use deserves particular attention. The CDC reports that heavy cannabis use can affect memory, attention, and learning, with some effects lasting beyond the immediate period of intoxication.
Young adulthood is a period of significant change. Education, careers, relationships, financial independence, and identity are all developing at once. At the same time, the brain is still maturing.
That is one reason marijuana and young women deserves careful consideration during adolescence and young adulthood, particularly when cannabis use becomes frequent. The issue isn’t simply whether someone uses cannabis once. Patterns matter.
Frequent use, high-THC products, starting at a younger age, and continuing to use cannabis despite negative consequences can create greater concerns than occasional use. The CDC notes that the relationship between cannabis and psychosis is stronger among people who begin using cannabis earlier and use it more frequently.
If cannabis is beginning to affect your concentration, motivation, relationships, school, work, or emotional stability, that’s worth paying attention to.
Pregnancy changes the conversation significantly.
Cannabis use during pregnancy has been associated with outcomes including low birth weight and possible developmental concerns. ACOG’s 2025 clinical guidance also discusses associations with outcomes such as spontaneous preterm birth and developmental delay.
The CDC similarly advises people who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to avoid cannabis and discuss cannabis use with their healthcare provider.
What about breastfeeding? THC can pass into breast milk, and the full effects on an infant are still being studied. ACOG recommends avoiding cannabis during lactation while emphasizing that continued cannabis use is not, by itself, a reason to discourage breastfeeding.
If you’re pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding and currently use cannabis, talk honestly with your obstetric or healthcare provider. You don’t need to hide it to receive appropriate care.
Not everyone who uses cannabis develops a substance use disorder. But sometimes use gradually becomes harder to control.
You may want to consider talking with a professional if you:
These signs don’t mean you should feel ashamed. They mean it may be time to take a closer look at what’s happening.
If you’re concerned about marijuana and young women, or you’re personally struggling with cannabis use, you don’t necessarily have to figure everything out on your own.
A mental health professional can help you understand whether cannabis is affecting your mood, thinking, relationships, or daily functioning. They can also explore whether an underlying concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or another mental health condition is contributing to your cannabis use.
The first conversation can be simple:
“I’m worried about how much I’m using and I want help understanding it.”
That’s enough to begin. Treatment can vary depending on the individual. Some people may benefit from psychotherapy or behavioral approaches, while others may need a broader evaluation of co-occurring mental health or substance-use concerns.
The right approach starts with understanding the person, not judging the substance use.
There is not enough evidence to say that cannabis is universally more harmful to women than men in every respect. However, young women can experience the same potential mental health and brain-related effects associated with cannabis use, and pregnancy introduces additional concerns.
Cannabis can cause anxiety, paranoia, or other unpleasant psychological effects in some people. Cannabis use is also associated with several mental health outcomes, although the relationship is complex and does not establish that cannabis directly causes every condition.
Yes. Cannabis affects brain function, and developing brains are particularly vulnerable. The CDC notes that brain development continues until around age 25.
Major medical organizations, including ACOG and the CDC, recommend avoiding cannabis during pregnancy. Research has associated prenatal cannabis exposure with several potential risks, including low birth weight and developmental concerns.
Yes. Some people develop cannabis use disorder, in which cannabis use becomes difficult to control despite negative consequences. If you’re having difficulty cutting back or stopping, speaking with a healthcare professional can help.
A primary care provider, psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or substance-use professional can help you assess your cannabis use and discuss appropriate support. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, speak with your obstetric provider as well.
The conversation about marijuana and young women shouldn’t be reduced to “cannabis is good” or “cannabis is bad.”
Real healthcare is rarely that simple. What matters is understanding the potential risks, recognizing how age and frequency of use can change those risks, and knowing when cannabis may be affecting your mental health or daily life.
For young women especially, pregnancy and reproductive considerations add another important layer to the conversation.
If you’re concerned about your cannabis use, or if you have been using marijuana to cope with anxiety, depression, stress, or another mental health concern, you don’t have to wait until things become overwhelming before asking for help.
At Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare, our mental health professionals can help you understand your symptoms, discuss your concerns, and explore appropriate care options.
Contact Pinnacle Behavioral Healthcare to schedule a consultation →
Asking for help isn’t a failure. Sometimes it’s simply the first informed decision you make for yourself.
— Olukayode O. Awosika, MD, FAPA
