Commercialization of recreational cannabis sales in Massachusetts may be disproportionately affecting adolescents with psychiatric illnesses, a new study showed.

Teens suffering from psychiatric emergencies are much more likely to be cannabis users, and to have had cannabis-related disorders, since marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts General Hospital study.

The study, led by Dr. Cheryl Foo, analyzed more than 7,000 psychiatric emergency hospital visits before and after recreational cannabis sales began in Massachusetts.

“Most remarkably,” she said, “the 12- to 17-year-old age group, the teenagers, had the most significant increase in both cannabis use as well as cannabis-related disorders, compared to the other age groups after cannabis commercialization began.”

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