ANNAPOLIS, Md. — As Maryland navigates recreational marijuana legalization, health experts are highlighting risks for teenagers and young adults, including dental damage and mental health challenges. Dr. Elizabeth Walton, clinical director at Risas Dentist Kids, warns that cannabis use among youth can lead to rapid tooth decay and long-term emotional harm, emphasizing the need for parental awareness in a state where 20.64% of adults reported marijuana use in 2022.
“I’m really worried about weed and its impact on our kids,” Walton said. “The dental damage is bad but the mental health effects are even worse.” She noted that legalization has shifted perceptions, with many young people viewing cannabis as harmless despite its health impacts.
Walton explained that marijuana causes dry mouth, reducing saliva’s protective barrier against cavities. “Weed causes dry mouth, which removes your body’s natural protection against cavities,” she said. “Now add the munchies—sugary snacks, sodas, and chips—and you’ve got a perfect storm for tooth decay.” Combined with poor hygiene or brushing while high, this increases risks of cavities, gum disease, and enamel erosion.
More concerning are the mental health effects. Walton highlighted that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) binds to brain receptors, which can become desensitized in developing brains not fully mature until the mid-20s. “THC binds to receptors in the brain. And if your brain isn’t fully developed, which doesn’t happen until your mid-20s, those receptors can become desensitized,” she warned. This may block natural endorphins, leading to emotional numbness and potential substance dependence.
“I’ve lost friends to overdose who started with weed,” Walton shared. “When they couldn’t get high anymore, they moved on to harder substances. That’s how quickly it can spiral.” She stressed the danger of dismissing marijuana’s risks, particularly for youth. “The biggest danger is thinking it’s no big deal,” she said. “For kids—it is.”
In Maryland, 20.64% of adults used cannabis in 2022, ranking 24th nationally, compared to Vermont’s 34.4%. Nationally, 22% of Americans aged 18 to 29 use marijuana, far higher than the 3% among those 65 and older. Maryland’s 2023 legalization of recreational marijuana has increased access, raising concerns about youth exposure. Walton’s warnings align with findings from the American Dental Association, which links cannabis to gum disease and cavities due to dietary choices driven by THC-induced hunger.
Maryland health professionals urge parents to monitor teen marijuana use, emphasizing preventive dental care like twice-daily fluoride toothpaste brushing and regular checkups. Mental health risks, including increased anxiety and substance dependence, require open family discussions. The Maryland Dental Action Coalition supports oral health initiatives, such as water fluoridation, to combat decay risks exacerbated by cannabis use.
With young people facing the highest risks, experts call for education on marijuana’s effects. Maryland’s evolving cannabis landscape underscores the need for vigilance to protect teens from both immediate dental issues and long-term psychological harm, as health professionals advocate for informed decision-making.
