Researchers claim that raising legal age for cannabis to 25 is a myth, not science

When the clock hits 25 as the new "safety barrier" for recreational cannabis use, researchers say the timer may be off and that by setting this limit, we risk confusing myth with science.

A study published in the American Journal on Drug and Alcohol Abuse concludes that "there is no reason to raise the legal age for cannabis use to 25". 

The research reviewed the scientific literature on brain development and cannabis consumption in young adults and found no solid evidence that use between 18 and 25 is more harmful than after this age range. "Invoking 25 years as the definitive line of brain maturity is not supported by neuroscience," write the article's authors. "Regulation policies should be based on evidence and fairness, not assumptions."

According to Marijuana Moment, the researchers point out that key brain maturation milestones, such as neural connectivity and executive functions, are consolidated between 18 and 21 years, an age at which alcohol consumption is already allowed in several countries. Raising the legal limit to 25, therefore, would have little technical support and could reproduce a moralizing, non-scientific logic.

Building Cortex: Care remains essential

On the other hand, when it comes to adolescence, the scientific view is clear: the brain is still undergoing significant changes, and early cannabis use can affect important processes.

In May of this year, we published the article: "Building Cortex: What Parents Need to Know About Cannabis and Adolescence", and we reinforce that the prefrontal cortex, the region responsible for decision-making, planning, and impulse control, undergoes neural reorganization during this phase. According to experts interviewed, early exposure to high doses of THC can interfere with the maturation of this region, especially in individuals with a genetic predisposition or family history of mental disorders.

"Adolescence is a period of vulnerability, and this does not mean blind prohibition, but rather information, listening, and parental presence," explains one of the specialists interviewed in the article.

The article also highlights an essential distinction: medicinal cannabis use is different from recreational use. Therapeutic treatment follows clinical protocols, with a predominance of cannabidiol (CBD) and strict control of THC concentrations, under professional supervision.

A matter of balance

In summary, the study cited by Marijuana Moment indicates that there is no scientific basis for raising the legal age limit for marijuana consumption to 25. 
The debate, therefore, should be less about numbers and more about education, public policies, and harm reduction.

Meanwhile, adolescence remains a terrain that requires attention and dialogue. The developing brain does not need arbitrary prohibitions, but rather care, context, and awareness, the true foundations of a society that chooses to regulate based on evidence, not fear.

What science says about age and cannabis

18 to 21 years: according to the new study, this is the interval in which the brain reaches its main maturation milestones.

25 years: there is no robust evidence that cannabis use up to this age generates additional significant harm.

Adolescence (<18 years): a vulnerable phase for the prefrontal cortex, especially with products rich in THC.

Medicinal use ≠ recreational use: therapeutic treatments involve medical supervision and dosage control.

With information from Marijuana Moment.