Cannabis and young adult health in Minnesota

Cannabis is going mainstream in Minnesota in ways that would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago.

THC drinks are on store shelves. People talk about edibles and dispensaries as casually as they talk about coffee or craft breweries.

For many young adults, cannabis has become part of everyday life — a way to unwind, manage stress or hang out with friends. Using it carries far less stigma than it once did and many people see it as safer than alcohol or tobacco.

But even with growing acceptance, questions remain about how cannabis affects young adults, including their mental health, motivation, sleep, and focus.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert explores what research shows — and what we still don’t know — about marijuana, health and young people.

Guests:

• Heidi Glesmann is the substance use prevention, education, and recovery unit supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health. She oversees the Be Cannabis Aware campaign, which is focused on educating youth under age 25, and the adults who support them, about cannabis use.
• Sylia Wilson is a researcher and associate professor at the Institute of Child Development in the College of Education and Development at the University of Minnesota. Her work looks at how substance use affects young people’s health, behavior and development.