Cannabis: Legal but Not Harmless – Unpacking the New Normal with Kate Appleman MA, MBA, LPC, CAADC, CSAT, CCSCannabis: Legal but Not Harmless – Unpacking the New Normal with Kate Appleman MA, MBA, LPC, CAADC, CSAT, CCS
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
We explore the impact of marijuana legalization on society, the increased prevalence of cannabis use disorder, and its significant effects on mental health, particularly among adolescents. Clinician Kate Appleman talks about recovery approaches and...
26:26•23 Oct 2024
Cannabis, Teens and the Truth About ‘Harmless’ Weed
Episode Overview
- Legality does not equal safety; cannabis can be addictive and harmful despite being legal.
- Key signs of cannabis use disorder include daily use, growing tolerance, cravings and continuing despite consequences.
- Withdrawal and post‑acute withdrawal from regular cannabis use can affect mood, sleep, memory and thinking for many months.
- Starting cannabis use before 18 significantly increases the chance of addiction, especially with an undeveloped prefrontal cortex.
- Open, non‑judgemental conversations and alternative outlets like sports, clubs and hobbies can help teens delay or avoid drug use.
“Just because it's legal doesn't make it healthy.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety when the substance in question is legal and everywhere? This episode of *Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx* digs into that question by zooming in on cannabis, its new social status, and the real risks behind the “it’s just weed” mindset. Clinician Kate Appleman, MA, MBA, LPC, CAADC, CSAT, CCS, shares two decades of treatment experience and challenges the idea that marijuana is harmless.
She points out that modern cannabis is “not your grandma’s marijuana” and stresses that, “just because it’s legal doesn’t make it healthy.” You’ll hear how today’s high‑potency products, edibles, vapes and different routes of use make it far harder to gauge what’s going into your body and how it might affect your brain.
Kate breaks down cannabis use disorder in clear, practical terms: daily use, increased tolerance, continuing despite consequences, cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can stretch far beyond 30 days and, for some, into 18–24 months. Her description of mood swings, sleep problems, memory issues and that restless feeling of not being able to sit in your own skin will ring alarm bells for anyone wondering if their use is “just recreational.” A big focus is adolescents and young adults.
Kate explains how cannabis affects a brain that isn’t fully developed until around 25, and why starting to use at 12–17 can raise the odds of addiction from one in ten to one in six. She offers practical guidance for parents: keep conversations open and non‑shaming, challenge the “everyone does it” myth, and help teens channel curiosity into sports, clubs, hobbies and friendships instead of chemicals.
For adults, Kate talks about treating cannabis as a primary issue or as part of a bigger picture with alcohol and other drugs, always without judgement. If you or someone you love is wondering whether cannabis has quietly taken centre stage in daily life, this conversation might be the nudge you need to look closer. What would it mean for you if “legal” stopped being the same as “safe”?
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