Cannabis, popularly known as marijuana, has been used for generations for both recreational and medicinal reasons. However, the possibility of cannabis usage causing psychiatric symptoms such as psychosis has been a hotly debated topic in recent years.
Psychosis is a mental health illness marked by a loss of contact with reality, with symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, and abnormal thinking. While not everyone who consumes cannabis will acquire psychosis, studies have found a correlation between cannabis usage and an increased chance of acquiring psychotic symptoms.
According to one study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry in 2019, cannabis consumption was connected with a 2.2-fold increase in the chance of acquiring psychotic diseases such as schizophrenia. The study also discovered that the risk rose with increased amounts of cannabis use and the use of high-potency cannabis strains.
Another meta-analysis of 35 research, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry in 2019, discovered that cannabis usage was linked to an elevated risk of psychosis, especially in people who were genetically susceptible to the condition.
Furthermore, according to a 2019 study published in the British Medical Journal, those who used high-potency cannabis on a daily basis were more likely to have psychotic symptoms than people who used lower-potency strains.
It should be noted that the relationship between cannabis usage and psychosis is complex and may be influenced by factors such as heredity, age of onset, and the amount and potency of cannabis taken. Furthermore, some research suggests that cannabis usage may aggravate pre-existing mental health disorders rather than cause them.
However, the possibility of cannabis use causing psychotic symptoms must be overlooked. Individuals with a family history of psychotic disorders or who have previously experienced psychosis may be especially exposed to the effects of cannabis usage.
To summarize, while cannabis may offer potential therapeutic benefits for certain medical problems, it also carries the danger of inducing psychotic symptoms, especially in people who are genetically susceptible to such conditions. As a result, before using cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes, consumers should examine the potential dangers and benefits and speak with a healthcare practitioner.
References:
- Di Forti M, Quattrone D, Freeman TP, et al. The contribution of cannabis use to variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across Europe (EU-GEI): a multicentre case-control study. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019;6(5):427-436. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30048-3
- Gage SH, Jones HJ, Burgess S, et al. Assessing causality in associations between cannabis use and schizophrenia risk: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Psychol Med. 2019;49(13):2309-2317. doi:10.1017/S0033291718003761
- Freeman TP, Winstock AR. Examining the profile of high-potency cannabis and its association with severity of cannabis dependence. Psychol Med. 2015;45(15):3181-3189. doi:10.1017/S0033291715001178
- Murray RM, Di Forti M. Cannabis and psychosis: what degree of proof do we require? Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79(7):514-515. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.02.007
