Until now it was believed that cannabis, the world’s most widely used illegal drug, could cause psychosis among many of its consumers. But new research published in the journal Addiction, calls into question this theory. What has been confirmed is that people who have schizophrenia can worsen their symptoms if they consume this drug.
According to the study, more than two million people in England and Wales have used cannabis in the past year. However, recent research shows that drug prohibition would have a low impact. In order to avoid cases of psychosis, more than 20,000 people should quit, according to a previous study led by the University of Bristol.
This indicates that the risks of psychosis from cannabis use are quite low and that cases in which serious mental health problems can develop are very rare. However, the research highlights that further reviews of the impact of high-potency cannabis are needed to make a full risk assessment.
According to Ian Hamilton, a professor of mental health at York University, “the link between cannabis and psychosis has been a frequent subject of research since the drug became popular in the 1960s. Most studies we have Are from a time when low-pot marijuana was the norm, but today’s high potency is the most common. ”
The more potent marijuana “contains less of a chemical believed to protect against the negative effects of the drug, such as psychosis, and a higher level of a chemical that can trigger this disorder. Study, we have looked at both types but it is clear that we need more evidence of cannabis cases more potent in order to further investigate this link in today’s users. ”
However, the research makes clear that the higher the use of cannabis, the greater the risk of developing mental health problems, even though these are relatively scarce. Specifically, in those who already had schizophrenia, marijuana significantly increased its symptoms. However, the greatest health risk is for those who combine marijuana with tobacco. This especially exposes young people to greater dependence on tobacco at an early age, increasing the chances of developing cancer, infections and other health problems.
According to Hamilton, “regulation could help reduce the health risks posed by cannabis use, since a regulated cannabis market would introduce some quality control. This would provide users with information about the type of cannabis they consume, something Which is usually only discovered after exposure in the current unregulated market. ”
