Cannabis use linked to psychosis: study

[Chiral]

source

The longer people use cannabis or marijuana, the more likely they are to experience hallucinations or delusions or to suffer psychosis, according to a study by Australian scientists.

The study released on Saturday found that people who first used cannabis when they were aged 15 or younger were twice as likely to develop a "non-affective psychosis" - which can include schizophrenia - than those who had never used the drug.

The research led by John McGrath from the University of Queensland in Australia was based on a survey of 3,801 people with an average age of 20.1 years, the US-based Archives of General Psychiatry reported.

"Among all the participants, a longer duration since the first time they used cannabis was associated with multiple psychosis-related outcomes," the study said.

Of the group, 17.7 per cent reported using cannabis for three or fewer years, 16.2 per cent for four to five years and 14.3 per cent for six or more years.

Sixty-five were diagnosed with "non-affective psychosis", such as schizophrenia, and 233 had at least one hallucination, the study said.

"Individuals who had experienced hallucinations early in life were more likely to have used cannabis longer and to use it more frequently," it said.

But the relationship between psychosis and cannabis use was complex, it said.

People who were vulnerable to psychosis, in other words had isolated psychotic symptoms, "were more likely to commence cannabis use, which could then subsequently contribute to an increased risk of conversion to a non-affective psychotic disorder," the research said.

The article said previous studies had also identified an association between cannabis use and psychosis but there were concerns that research had not adequately accounted for confounding variables.

[rahli]

Found this article the other day in reference to cannabis psychosis -

Psychotic Skunk?

New research in marijuana cultivation has pointed to a link between the absence of the cannabidol compound (CBD) in certain strains of skunk weed and the development of psychosis. The elimination of CBD through selective breeding increases the THC content, which may play a key role in the development of psychosis. Studies on the role of these two compounds have shown that "pure synthetic THC causes transient psychosis in 40 to 50 percent of healthy people. In stark contrast to THC, CBD appears to have an anti-psychotic effect."

A study by the Institute of Psychiatry in London, which was published by Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers used "functional MRI brain scanning to study the effects of THC and CBD on the brains of healthy volunteers. They found that THC and CBD acted in opposition; in brain regions where THC increased neural activity from baseline, CBD decreased." Further studies showed that the inverse was also true--an increase in CBD meant a decrease in THC.

An additional study compared the effects of a mix of synthetic THC and CBD with THC on its own. The molecules were given intravenously, and the subjects were given the same dose of THC, the only difference being those that received the CBD balancer. After thirty minutes, the subjects were interviewed, and researchers found that those given both the THC and CBD formula were significantly less psychotic than those given THC alone.

These studies raise important questions about the potential for marijuana strain refinement, but also as to whether or not CBD's can be made into a useful antipsychotic on their own. The Beckley Foundation is setting up a research project that "will analyze different strains of cannabis for their THC and CBD content," in hopes of spreading more awareness about safe marijuana strains. The Foundation sees this issue as another example for the need to regulate the recreational cannabis market in order to prevent possible harmful effects caused by the skunk strain--the dominance of which is a result of the illegal drug markets' tendency towards higher potencies.

Link

[devance]

http://www.physorg.com/news186502774.html

[The study found that people who first used cannabis when they were aged 15 or younger were twice as likely to develop a "non-affective psychosis" -- which can include schizophrenia -- than those who had never used the drug.

The research led by John McGrath from the University of Queensland in Australia was based on a survey of 3,801 people with an average age of 20.1 years, the US-based Archives of General Psychiatry reported.]

I think the key word is Archives.

they can waved a magical statistcal wand and say, We have seen the statistics and must so morality and scientific data very narrow outlook.

So the socialist and communist say so but not the case and the capatalists, they all say 4education is important but they never say the little boy babys or females can be used for war.

And only when approved by the nation state but ill have a small buriel with symbolic music.

and then a rotten corpse that can be forgotten about.

ZA

[ThunderIdeal]

"Individuals who had experienced hallucinations early in life were more likely to have used cannabis longer and to use it more frequently," it said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

people who experience strange states of mind more likely to use cannabis to understand what they have experienced?

also, hallucination:

# illusory perception; a common symptom of severe mental disorder

# delusion: a mistaken or unfounded opinion or idea; "he has delusions of competence"; "his dreams of vast wealth are a hallucination"

# an object perceived during a hallucinatory episode; "he refused to believe that the angel was a hallucination

more like a common symptom of existing.

yet "233 had at least one hallucination, the study said."

makes me lol

[stiched up]

yeah what a load of bullshit then they use the old "schizophrenia" to scare people truth is they dont know shit about that either

and yes people smoke shit strains grown by shit growers in a shit plastic tube bong ............ i wonder why???

[Maurice]

Little simplistic to believe Cannabis is not harmful to human health?

Sounds like "snake oil" argument.

Go purchase the article and read it before declaring your arrogance on this forum,

especially when the issue of health minimization is an integral part of this community!

[Chiral]

Cannabis is one of the most wonderful ethno's ever, but you would have to be extremely arrogant to think that continued use, particularly of modern hybridised cultivars, would not have adverse effects. I've seen first hand what this plant can do to people over 20 years of continued use, it's not pretty that's for sure, they talk about meth and amphetamine psychosis, well cannabis withdrawals and cannabis psychosis is just as bad.

Harm minimisation is everything here on this forum, no matter what the substance is..protecting a plant cause you like it's high is one thing but if continued use is showing negative physiological symptoms then one must step back and listen and take stock.

FWIW, I know quite a few people who smoked bush bud when young and enjoyed the high, but when used too often then things started to get a little weird, and it was time to stop, me included. I love this plant and love working with it but ultimately it can have devastating effects on ones social life.

I would actually like to find a strain that was really weak, then perhaps me and any others who cannot enjoy it anymore might come back for the occaisional toke or warm milk.

[SunChaser]

Little simplistic to believe Cannabis is not harmful to human health?

Sounds like "snake oil" argument.

Go purchase the article and read it before declaring your arrogance on this forum,

especially when the issue of health minimization is an integral part of this community!

 

This isn't about whether cannabis is harmful or not, but whether smoking cannabis is linked to psychosis. Anyway, this whole study is just more government funded, propaganda BS, purposely written to mislead the public. Who's gonna pay for the same old verbal shit.

We all know that cannabis smokers are more likely to have psychosis. It's been done over and over every few years, they release the same BS. It's meaningless because it has also been shown that people with psychosis are 80% more likely to be cigarette smokers, but who's claiming nicotine causes psychosis? If there was a casual link between cannabis and psychosis, then you would expect a rise in the rate of people being diagnosed with psychosis, as the rate of people smoking cannabis goes up. Just like the rate of tobbaco smokers and the rate of people with lung cancer. As hard as they try they have never been able to find such a link between cannabis and psychosis. infact as the rate of cannabis smokers goes up they have found the rate of people being diagnosed with psychosis is stable and actually declining in some cases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19560900

This whole thing about new strains being dangerous because they don't contain much CBD is also misleading. Not saying it's not true, but the fact is cannabis does 'not' cause psychosis, but people who have psychosis (who only make up about 1% of the population) might be vulnerable to cannabis. Which only means that about 1% of the population might be vulnerable to making there psychotic symtoms worse, but only from strains that contain large amounts of THC and low amounts of CBD.

So even if this "skunk" (as they call it in the UK) propaganda is true. Does it really justify prohibiting 99% of society from smoking cannabis, because 1% of society may make there symptoms worse by smoking the wrong strain?

EDIT: Chiral, I argee with most of what you said, but your just really showing you ignorance saying cannabis withdrawal is just as bad as other drugs! I've been smoking cannabis (for the most part) everyday from when I wake up till when I go to sleep since I was 13. I need my cannabis! But fot me having no weed doesn't even compare to not having tobbaco. Have also never suffered from psychosis of any sort and the only heavy tokers that I have known who suffered from psychosis had a family history of it.

Edited February 28, 2010 by jabez

[Maurice]

The papers have to be read,

before pontificating.

To declare that Cannabis cannot be a poison

is to not respect the plant.

There are many case studies being published in the literature,

of Cannabis induced seizures- NOT FUNNY.

Cannabis may reduce BP but it increases HR.

In other words, it is the worst kind of medication for reducing BP,

since it simultaneously increases the load on the heart.

AND the paranoia...................

[Maurice]

This isn't about whether cannabis is harmful or not, but whether smoking cannabis is linked to psychosis. Anyway, this whole study is just more government funded, propaganda BS, purposely written to mislead the public. Who's gonna pay for the same old verbal shit.

We all know that cannabis smokers are more likely to have psychosis. It's been done over and over every few years, they release the same BS. It's meaningless because it has also been shown that people with psychosis are 80% more likely to be cigarette smokers, but who's claiming nicotine causes psychosis? If there was a casual link between cannabis and psychosis, then you would expect a rise in the rate of people being diagnosed with psychosis, as the rate of people smoking cannabis goes up. Just like the rate of tobbaco smokers and the rate of people with lung cancer. As hard as they try they have never been able to find such a link between cannabis and psychosis. infact as the rate of cannabis smokers goes up they have found the rate of people being diagnosed with psychosis is stable and actually declining in some cases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19560900

This whole thing about new strains being dangerous because they don't contain much CBD is also misleading. Not saying it's not true, but the fact is cannabis does 'not' cause psychosis, but people who have psychosis (who only make up about 1% of the population) might be vulnerable to cannabis. Which only means that about 1% of the population might be vulnerable to making there psychotic symtoms worse, but only from strains that contain large amounts of THC and low amounts of CBD.

So even if this "skunk" (as they call it in the UK) propaganda is true. Does it really justify prohibiting 99% of society from smoking cannabis, because 1% of society may make there symptoms worse by smoking the wrong strain?

EDIT: Chiral, I argee with most of what you said, but your just really showing you ignorance saying cannabis withdrawal is just as bad as other drugs! I've been smoking cannabis (for the most part) everyday from when I wake up till when I go to sleep since I was 13. I need my cannabis! But fot me having no weed doesn't even compare to not having tobbaco. Have also never suffered from psychosis of any sort and the only heavy tokers that I have known who suffered from psychosis had a family history of it.

 

HEY,

dont tell us your immune,

until you stop smoking for a month.

and then report back here about

Cannabis and pyschosis not being linked?

[Slybacon]

^^^^^ Dude chill out..... Everyone knows they are linked. Heaps of things are linked to this and that. As the article said its very hard to get acurate statistics when people who have underlying Psychosis are already drawn to self medicate with cannabis.

I was smoking for the best part of a decade everyday sometimes ridiculous amounts. I quit cold turkey and once over the one month hump i felt great. Never had i had any mental problems with this drug. THat being said i know people who toke a joint and it sends them insane. Is it the drug or the people taking it, you tell me?

Now Im all for harm minimization but i think cannabis has a pretty good track record considering the % of users.

[Maurice]

^^^^^ Dude chill out..... Everyone knows they are linked. Heaps of things are linked to this and that. As the article said its very hard to get acurate statistics when people who have underlying Psychosis are already drawn to self medicate with cannabis.

I was smoking for the best part of a decade everyday sometimes ridiculous amounts. I quit cold turkey and once over the one month hump i felt great. Never had i had any mental problems with this drug. THat being said i know people who toke a joint and it sends them insane. Is it the drug or the people taking it, you tell me?

Now Im all for harm minimization but i think cannabis has a pretty good track record considering the % of users.

 

You need chill man,

I'm pissed off as a scientist with you because your writing arrogantly.

As I wrote, go read the papers. An article is not reading the science.

And obviously dude,

its the drug affecting the people who have a reaction to it!

[Maurice]

and your addictive and extreme use over such a long time,

suggests to me that you do have mental health issues.

Denial is not the cure dude!

[stiched up]

mourice dont tell me what to do. and when did i ever state cannabis wasnt harmfull?

even when the studys are done they still dont understand what there studying just like you dont understand what i was trying to say

[Slybacon]

and your addictive and extreme use over such a long time,

suggests to me that you do have mental health issues.

Denial is not the cure dude!

 

And who is to judge what the standard is for mental stability. Are we all insane. Do you judge me Mr Scientist (self Proclaimed), does the GOVT tell us, NO its fucking Subjective. If needing stress relief whist your partner goes through major brain surgery is a mental problem then sign me up for the anti depressants. For fuck sake dude wake up, not everybody is programed the same. MSDS for Cannibis would be very tame.

Smoke up, Its good for you,

The medicinal uses to this plant outway the risks 100 Fold and no geeky scientist with unreliable facts will tell me different.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Slybacon

[Chiral]

Actually smoking anything is bad for you period...

the lungs are not for filtering inhaled smoke of any description.

a lot of weed smokers are also hooked on baccy (spin) so it is a symbiotic addiction, so this is not all so cut and dried.

[Slybacon]

I would disagree Chiral.....

Depends on the condition in which u are when u smoke it.....

A Pack a day Smoker who has an Asthma Attach should be given a cigarette. Ask any paramedic. It will open their airways,

Cannabis Opens your airways. Once apon a time it was prescribed for Asthma.

Some Conditions may be worth the Lung related health risk. Some things are worth smoking for.

[Quill]

While it is true that cannabis and tobacco can dilate ones airways and bronchials, smoking ANYTHING is bad for you. All the good/bad things are. But dammit its fun

[Slybacon]

^^^^ your statement actually contradicts itself.....

If you are dying from an asthma attack then smoking is Good For you, Period.... Otherwise have fun choking

[Quill]

fair point. The point I was trying to is that smoking does have a negative effect on one's body, but when weighed against dying. . . .

Yeah you're right

[Slybacon]

I also believe ( just a belief no examples or evidence to back up) that cannabis in moderation and without adulterants is not harmful for most people.

I actually believe that when used properly is beneficial to mental and physical health.

How to use it properly is anyone's guess. Im no expert there as i will admit to abusing it in the past and present.

Could a vaporiser present a safe method of taking this drug. Or cooking with it?

EDIT> There could be some truth to "smoking cannabis leads to psychosis" but alot more definitive research needs to be done.

To say "cannibis leads to psychosis" is just making assumptions

As far as safe drugs for recreational use go, its pretty damn safe. When compared to the rest of the market

Edited February 28, 2010 by Slybacon

[stiched up]

apparently some time ago indica was not considered a smoking cannabis but one used for cooking or extracting this is the prefered strain nowaday due to its quick growing habits

i just cooked up some humble pie anyone want??

[Slybacon]

So maybe you would have to say .... "Smoking strain XYZ leads to psycosis, however eating it will lead you to the couch and cheezals"

Im sure no chemist will argue that each strain will have its own unique chemical make up. What strain were the participants in the study smoking. Was is Hydro or Bush. Was it Indica or Sativa. Was it Organic chems or all natural. Were they all smoking the same stuff. Did they all use spin. Did they all get beaten by there dads. The list goes on and on.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Slybacon

[stiched up]

as far as smoking being unhealthy sure but is it the smoking itself that kills or harms people or the stigma attached which people believe and therefore create for themselves ??

[Slybacon]

^^^^ ah very Zen.... MAybe people who are genetically hard wired to get lung cancer also have a genetic urge to smoke, is it the cigarette or the matrix? Who knows! Its all very subjective and hard to set up a "scientifically" valid study.

Either way topics like this are very negative for cannabis legalisation.

Edited February 28, 2010 by Slybacon