Hot Topics: MayHot Topics: May
The Right Mind Media Podcast
John Cohan and Abby Dean talk through May’s biggest addiction and mental health headlines, from cannabis risks and psychedelics to tech overwhelm and teen anxiety. The conversation blends research, real-life stories and practical ideas for staying grounded in a high-pressure culture.
28:15•17 May 2026
Fire Hoses, Weed Myths and Psychedelic Hype: May Hot Topics on Right Mind Media
Episode Overview
- New large-scale studies suggest teen cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are linked with higher risks of psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety.
- Cannabis is shown to have limited benefits for issues like insomnia, while offering little help and possible harm for conditions such as anxiety, depression and PTSD.
- High-THC products, vapes and gas-station derivatives like Delta-9 and kratom are widely available and can lead to serious addiction and health problems.
- An executive order to fast-track psychedelic medicines offers promise but raises concerns about safety standards, training and another rapid flood of risky products.
- Amid social, technological and information overload, the hosts stress slowing down, sharing accurate information and using simple grounding habits like time in nature.
“"It's like we're giving kids fire hoses and expecting them to drink from it."”
What are the common struggles and victories in addiction recovery? This May "Hot Topics" chat on The Right Mind Media Podcast brings together host and addiction counsellor John Cohan and clinical social worker Abby Dean for a fast-moving, sometimes funny, sometimes alarming run-through of what’s stressing people out right now. You’ll hear Abby open with a full-on rant about how kids are being flooded with risk, from tech addiction and sports gambling to gas-station drugs and ultra-potent cannabis.
As one high school dean tells her, "it's like we're giving kids fire hoses and expecting them to drink from it." John and Abby dig into new research on cannabis, including a huge Kaiser Permanente and Johns Hopkins data set linking teen cannabis use and cannabis use disorder with higher risks of psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety.
They talk about how today’s high-THC products, vapes and edibles bear little resemblance to the "natural" weed people nostalgically refer to, and why self-medicating with cannabis can quietly make mental health worse. They also break down studies on cannabis and heart health, as well as the strange reality of people continuing to use despite severe vomiting.
Alongside that, they chat about policy moves to fast-track psychedelic medicines like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine, weighing genuine treatment promise against the risk of yet another rush-to-market wave. Threaded through the science is everyday life: TikTok-fuelled fake news panics, parents and schools drowning in anxiety, and small hopeful moments like kids hacky-sacking outside instead of scrolling on their phones.
By the end, John and Abby circle back to practical, low-tech coping: slowing down, sharing information, community pushback, and simple grounding habits such as walks in nature. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by substances, screens, or the constant drip of bad news, could this be the nudge to step back, ask better questions, and choose a calmer way forward?
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