Pot-induced psychosis may signal schizophrenia
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – People who have long-lasting psychotic episodes after smoking marijuana may be exhibiting early signs of schizophrenia, researchers reported Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
“Cannabis-induced psychosis,” in which a person loses touch with reality and the symptoms persist for at least 48 hours, is an established psychiatric diagnosis, but it is controversial, Dr. Mikkel Arendt of Aarhus University in Risskov, Denmark, and colleagues note in their report.
In a previous study, Arendt and colleagues found that nearly half of people who had an episode of cannabis-induced psychosis went on to develop schizophrenia within the next six years. In the current study, the researchers looked at the genetic roots of both conditions by comparing the family histories of 609 people treated for cannabis-induced psychosis and 6,476 who had been treated for schizophrenia or a related psychiatric condition.
They found that individuals treated for post-pot smoking psychotic episodes had the same likelihood of having a mother, sister or other “first-degree” relative with schizophrenia as did the individuals who had actually been treated for schizophrenia themselves. This suggests that cannabis-induced psychosis and schizophrenia are one and the same, the researchers note. “These people would have developed schizophrenia whether or not they used cannabis,” Arendt explained in comments to Reuters Health.
Based on the findings, the researcher says, “cannabis-induced psychosis is probably not a valid diagnosis. It should be considered schizophrenia.”
Even as we’ve complained that no data show that cannabis use causes schizophrenia, we’ve been told that for those who are genetically predisposed to schizophrenia, there seems to be a correlation between cannabis use and onset of psychotic symptoms. So while it may not be psychologically dangerous for most of us, there is that 1% minority that would be harmed, so we have to ban it for everyone.
But this report counteracts even that claim. In the conclusion of the report, the study authors note, “The degree of hereditary predisposition in individuals who receive treatment of cannabis-induced psychosis closely mirrors that in those who develop schizophrenia with no history of cannabis induced psychosis.” This seems to tell us that when you take a look at a group of schizophrenics, whether they smoked pot of not, they still had the same genetic chances of becoming schizophrenics – the pot use didn’t matter!
Schizophrenia is rare and it comes on slowly for some. This “cannabis-induced psychosis” is really just people in the beginning stages of schizophrenia who happen to smoke pot, and the pot is getting blamed. It would be as valid to say the schizophrenic having an episode in a Krispy Kreme shop was suffering from “donut-induced psychosis”.
[...] Originally Posted by AlexanderT Weed is a drug. A drug that can cause cancer, bring out Schitzophrenia in people who may have avoided it had they not smoked, maybe induce depression, cause anxiety in some. Weed even ruined peoples lives. Some people haven't been raised with a good foundation of self control and become ADDICTED, and can't quit. Some people become more and more anti social and develope social anxiety disorder or things like that. I really cant stand when people act like its flawless. For me, Cannabis is a sacrament. For others its a big problem. What I bolded is absolutely false. Using cannabis, if you are predisposed to getting schizophrenia (meaning that you would get it regardless) may accelerate the onset and exacerbate the symptoms. Those predisposed to it would still get it whether they ever smoked or not. New study casts doubt on [...]
I am I am petrified of marijuana’s inevitable legality.
Tax base control rests on instilling the notion that an oppressive hierarchy is a social necessity due to humanity’s unrelenting greed, jealousy and possessiveness. Many of the world’s natural resources have been overrun and poisoned by the rapaciousness of this paradigm. Once invested, it is satisfied with nothing less than total domination and complete homogeneity. However, because there are still diverse belief systems that stand against it in isolated geographic pockets, only the propaganda of peer pressure and media imagery can prevent widespread social mutiny. This mental campaign that imprisons modern society in misery is threatened by marijuana. The use of marijuana firstly is a stand for personal freedom and secondly effects to question basic participation in the cruelty that masquerades as mainstream success.
So why be frightened if it’s legalized? Because if those controlling demonic evil no longer fear marijuana, it is because they have managed to physically eliminate alternatives and find mental control quaint, but unessential. Real bars will be erected before mental freedom will be encouraged.
Legalization may come, but not before the freedom that marijuana represents is no longer a threat.