Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42076896›Full record

ArticlePsychological medicine2026

Changes in cannabis potency and cannabis-related psychiatric harms: a 23-year ecological study in Denmark.

Kristine Rømer Thomsen, Birgitte Thylstrup, Morten Hesse, Christian Lindholst, Lotte Ask Reitzel, Tina Stokholm Eriksen, Annette Erlangsen, Amir Englund, Tom P Freeman, Carsten Hjorthøj

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychological medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kristine Rømer ThomsenCentre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, https://ror.org/01aj84f44Aarhus University, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0003-3612-5529
Birgitte ThylstrupCentre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, https://ror.org/01aj84f44Aarhus University, Denmark.
Morten HesseCentre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, https://ror.org/01aj84f44Aarhus University, Denmark.
Christian LindholstDepartment of Forensic Medicine, https://ror.org/01aj84f44Aarhus University, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0001-7293-1611
Lotte Ask ReitzelDepartment of Forensic Medicine, https://ror.org/035b05819University of Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0003-0181-6274
Tina Stokholm EriksenDepartment of Forensic Medicine, https://ror.org/03yrrjy16University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Annette ErlangsenCopenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, https://ror.org/047m0fb88Mental health services in the Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0003-3475-0558
Amir EnglundCentre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2478-209X
Tom P FreemanDepartment of Psychology, https://ror.org/002h8g185University of Bath, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-5667-507X
Carsten HjorthøjCopenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, https://ror.org/047m0fb88Mental health services in the Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/Y017560/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn recent decades, the potency of cannabis resin increased globally, raising concerns, as higher potency has been associated with increased risk of psychiatric harms at the individual level. The aim here was to examine whether changes over time in the potency of seized cannabis resin samples were associated with psychiatric harms at the population level.

methodsData on ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration in seized cannabis resin were obtained from forensic departments in Denmark (2000-2022), the country reporting the highest potency in Europe. Data on admissions to cannabis treatment, incidence of cannabis-induced psychosis, and dual diagnosis (schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder) were obtained from national registers. Time-dependent associations between potency and the outcomes were examined with mixed-effects linear regression models and associations across age and sex were explored. Candidate time lags were 0-10 years.

resultsTHC concentration increased almost fourfold: mean 8.3-31.2% from 2000 to 2022. In fully adjusted models, THC was positively associated with first-time cannabis treatment entry at lags of 0-6, strongest at year 0 (

conclusionsPotency of seized cannabis resin increased almost fourfold from 2000 to 2022. Changes in cannabis potency were positively associated with psychiatric harms at the population level across all outcomes.

Indexed as

CannabisDronabinolMarijuana AbusePsychoses, Substance-InducedSchizophreniaAdolescentAdultDenmarkDiagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)FemaleHumansIncidenceMaleRegistriesYoung AdultDronabinol∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinolcannabiscannabis resincannabis use disorderdual diagnosispotencypsychosisschizophrenia

Identifiers

PMID42076896
PMCPMC13161803

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.