NORML Responds To Latest Cannabis and Psychosis Claims

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

burnin1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2009
Messages
4,552
Reaction score
5,429
Location
Mariposa County CA
From NORML
NORML Responds To Latest Cannabis and Psychosis Claims
130124123453-large.jpg

  • by Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director March 20, 2019
A widely reported study appearing today in the British journal The Lancet alleges that an estimated 30 to 50 percent of psychosis cases in Europe are due to cannabis exposure, and that exposure to elevated levels of THC increases this risk.

NORML has previously written on the data showing a multi-directional association between cannabis and psychiatric illnesses, and we have cautioned that those predisposed to psychosis or other disorders may be at higher risk for adverse events.

That said, it remains premature at best, and sensational at worst to claim that a causal relationship exists between marijuana use and psychiatric disorders on the basis of this new paper. That is because, by the observational nature of its design, this study at best can only demonstrate a correlation.

Nonetheless, despite this limitation, the authors boldly “assume causality.” Given the fact that such a cause-and-effect relationship remains unproven and there as of yet exists no consensus among experts that such causation exists, their assumption is, at best, highly questionable.

Moreover, it is well established that those with psychiatric illness typically use all intoxicants at greater rates than do the general public, so the fact that those admitted to institutions for first-episode psychosis are more likely to consume cannabis than are those in the general population is hardly surprising. But it is not evidence that marijuana in any way causes the condition. Rather, this association may exist because many psychiatric patients are self-medicating with cannabis. Or, this relationship may persist because many people predisposed to psychosis are similarly predisposed to also using cannabis — a theory that is supported by many experts in the field.

Perhaps most importantly, the fact that cannabis has been used by various populations for decades at disparate rates, yet rates of psychosis and other psychiatric disorders have generally remained static over this same period of time, strongly argues against a direct causal relationship.

Finally, authors’ presumptions specific to the supposed disparate effects of cannabis based upon THC potency are also highly questionable. This is because subjects in the study self-reported their cannabis use. As a result, authors had no ability to verify the THC content of the marijuana consumed by participants. Further, the cannabis consumed by subjects in the study was largely obtained via black market channels — leaving the users equally in the dark with regard to its actual cannabinoid content.

Nonetheless, despite these limitations, the concerns raised in this paper and others ought to be taken seriously, and they provide an argument in favor of greater regulation of the plant so that it can be better kept out of the hands of young people and those who may be at higher risk for an adverse reaction. But maintaining cannabis prohibition, unfortunately, achieves neither result. Placed in this context, these latest scare-mongering claims — even if taken at face value — do little to advance arguments in favor of tightening prohibition, and provides ample ammunition to wage for its repeal.

https://blog.norml.org/2019/03/20/norml-responds-to-latest-cannabis-and-psychosis-claims/
 
Just saw a spot on Tucker where his guest was so against marijuana and claimed it was could lead to schizophrenia and sometimes not recoverable by simply quitting marijuana consumption. What was failed to realize that 1. big pharma fears legal marijuana. 2. The study was nothing scientific nor address a persons mental state before. He (on Tucker) said strains are 20 times stonger than when we were kids (1970s) so it is creating too many problems. I wish I were there. I would have asked if he knew that NO ONE has ever overdosed or died from excess marijuana consumption? And, just because it is higher THC does not mean that you have to smoke the whole joint. You can take in what you want and let it be.
 
The USA spends 0 dollars on positive cannabis research. They only spend it on bashing it.
Israel, believe it or not, has the most positive studies and clinical trials to support cannabis and cannabis oil concentrate, especially on neuropathic nerve damage and pain.
 
Perhaps most importantly, the fact that cannabis has been used by various populations for decades at disparate rates, yet rates of psychosis and other psychiatric disorders have generally remained static over this same period of time, strongly argues against a direct causal relationship.


like Jamaica

i have been there 3 times and never met one psychotic Rastafarian



 

Latest posts

Back
Top