Why Today’s Weed Is Not the Weed of the 90s

When many parents hear “marijuana,” they still picture the low-potency joints of the 1980s and 90s. That’s not what your kids are facing today.
Dr. Don Colbert, M.D. has watched the shift firsthand in his medical practice.

That kind of concentration pushes the brain into “no man’s land” — doses our brains were never designed to handle. It’s not just “a stronger high.” It’s an entirely different drug profile, with entirely different risks.

How High-THC Marijuana Hits the Teen Brain

The brain’s judgment center — especially in males — doesn’t fully mature until around age 25. When a teen floods that developing brain with massive doses of THC, the results can be devastating.

1. From One Party to Lifelong Voices

In the clinic, Dr. Colbert has seen parents walk in with a son or daughter who went to a college party, smoked weed once or a few times, and soon began hearing voices they can’t shut off. Some never fully come back.

High-THC marijuana can trigger:

• Psychotic episodes, hallucinations, and paranoia
• Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders in vulnerable individuals
• Panic attacks and a “stuck” fight-or-flight stress response

2. The A-Motivational “Slug” Syndrome

THC dumps huge amounts of dopamine into the brain’s pleasure center. Teens feel so much artificial pleasure from getting high that real-life rewards — school, work, sports, relationships — no longer feel worth the effort.

Over time, many users develop what Dr. Colbert calls a-motivational syndrome:

• No ambition or drive
• Job-hopping and dropping out of school
• Hours lost to video games, social media, and getting high

Parents often describe watching their once-bright child lose ten or fifteen of their prime “ambition years” — years that could have gone toward education, career, and building a future.

3. Long-Term Cognitive Damage

Studies following heavy cannabis users from adolescence into midlife show:

• Declines in IQ from childhood to adulthood
• Problems with short-term memory and verbal learning
• Reduced hippocampal volume — damage to the brain’s memory hub

Red-Flag Warning Signs Your Teen May Be in Trouble

Not every teen who tries marijuana will develop schizophrenia. But for some, especially those with genetic or spiritual vulnerabilities, high-THC use can be the spark that lights the fuse.

Watch closely for:

• Hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there
• New and intense paranoia or panic attacks
• Sudden drop in grades or complete loss of interest in school
• Staying isolated in a bedroom or basement for hours, gaming and using
• Slowed speech, flat emotions, or talking to unseen “entities”
• Rapid personality changes after a party, trip, or new group of friends

Marijuana is also strongly associated with increased risk for certain cancers (testicular, head and neck, lung) and chronic lung disease, especially when smoked deeply and held in the lungs.

And while not every user goes on to harder substances, most people who end up on cocaine, meth, or heroin started with marijuana. For many, it truly is a gateway drug.

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Can the Brain Heal? Why Dr. Colbert Starts in the Gut

Here’s the hope: when you remove the toxins and give the body what it needs, the brain can begin to recover. In his practice, Dr. Colbert has seen even severe cases improve —
including a documented case of schizophrenia that reversed when the patient’s gut and brain were addressed together.

1. Remove the Kryptonite

For many struggling with psychosis or severe mood issues, it’s not just THC. Foods can act like gasoline on the fire, especially:

• Gluten (wheat, breads, pastas, many processed foods)
• Dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream, pizza)
• Ultra-processed, high-sugar foods

In some schizophrenic patients, removing gluten and dairy has made a dramatic difference in symptoms. In Dr. Colbert’s words, these foods were “kryptonite” to the brain.

2. Heal the Gut to Calm the Brain

The gut and brain are deeply connected. When the gut is inflamed and leaky, the brain often is too. Dr. Colbert often uses:

• Probiotic-rich foods and targeted probiotic supplements
• Prebiotics and fibers to feed healthy gut bacteria
• Colostrum and other supportive nutrients for gut repair
• Anti-inflammatory nutrients like curcumin and omega-3s

3. Support Detox & Neurotransmitters

To help the brain clear toxins and rebalance chemistry, he emphasizes:

• Glutathione to support the body’s master detox pathway
• B-vitamins (especially B6, B12, folate) for brain chemistry
• Magnesium to calm the nervous system and support dopamine and serotonin

For a deeper dive on magnesium’s role in mood, sleep, and heart health, watch Dr. Colbert’s magnesium podcast series:

Magnesium Part 1: #1 Mineral for Energy, Sleep & Heart Health

Magnesium Part 2: Blood Pressure, Reflux & Arteries

Marijuana, the Spirit Realm, and Shutting the Door

The conversation doesn’t stop with brain chemistry. As a physician and a believer, Dr. Colbert has seen marijuana open doors spiritually as well — doors that are not easily closed.

Some individuals under the influence of high-THC marijuana report seeing dark figures, hearing evil voices, or feeling tormented by unseen entities. In extreme cases, this can move beyond psychosis into clear demonic oppression or even possession.

“Nor give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27)

When someone repeatedly opens their mind with hallucinogens or high-dose THC, they may be “giving place” — yielding ground that belongs to God. The safest path is not to flirt with that door at all.

What Families Can Do Spiritually

• Pray daily over your children and home, asking God to shut every door to darkness.
• Speak openly about the spiritual reality of drugs, not just the physical risks.
• Immerse your teen in God’s Word, worship, and healthy Christian community.
• Seek wise pastoral and professional counseling when addiction or psychosis is present.

For those battling serious addiction, a Christ-centered recovery program can be life-changing. If you or your child are struggling, don’t wait. Reach out, get help, and invite Jesus into every step of the journey.

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