"Cannabis causes schizophrenia" Really?

  • We have heard much about schizophrenia caused by medical cannabis, especially from prohibitionists.
  • New research completely denies any causal relationship between schizophrenia development and cannabis use, while also shedding light on the entire situation.
  • According to current studies, it appears that schizophrenia leads to cannabis use - the exact opposite of what prohibitionists have claimed.

The study attempting to clarify this issue is from Bristol University, which uses well-mapped, observable data about associations between cannabis use and schizophrenia. Researchers in this study mention that the connection between cannabis and schizophrenia is still poorly understood, and proving that cannabis is at the root of this illness has proven to be quite problematic.

How Does Schizophrenia Manifest?

Schizophrenia is a lifelong mental illness that causes a breakdown of the subjective relationship between emotions, thoughts, and behavior. This condition leads to impaired perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, alienation from reality and existing interpersonal relationships, and ultimately to complete mental fragmentation, hallucinations, and living in a "fantasy" world.

Although no truly effective cure has been discovered for this mental illness, certain therapeutic interventions are possible. Dr. Suzi Gage, one of the main scientists working on the aforementioned Bristol School of Experimental Psychology study explains that cannabis use does not lead to schizophrenia, but schizophrenia leads to cannabis use:

"Our results were achieved using state-of-the-art methods to untangle the mysterious web of associations between schizophrenia and cannabis use. We currently have strong evidence that patients suffering from this mental illness begin using cannabis after its onset. However, this fact does not refute potential causal risks associated with cannabis use in schizophrenics," Dr. Gage explains. "It will be very interesting to subsequently look deeper into the sub-population of heavy users who also have a higher predisposition to schizophrenia development."

Schizophrenia and Cannabis Research - "We Need More Data"

A significant limitation of the research is still an unsatisfactory database about subjects, which only touches on whether they have ever used medical cannabis. A more comprehensive database with information about frequency and dosage would allow the subsequent study to provide much more precise conclusions.

"What we really need is a database of genetic variations that predict heavy or light cannabis use. Currently, it appears that the only pattern that could theoretically increase schizophrenia chances is heavy, chronic cannabis use," Gage further explains. "Once we identify the genetic predispositions for chronic use, we can definitively determine its connection to schizophrenia development."

Pro-cannabis advocates have long protested the evidence of cannabis causing schizophrenia. One of them is Paul Armentano, deputy director of a national organization fighting for medical cannabis law reform.

"The data clearly shows that we need sensible and humane laws regarding cannabis legislation," Armentano explains. "The currently proven risks of cannabis use logically guide us towards regulation, not criminalization. The main purpose of regulation is to limit cannabis access to the at-risk population, prevent excessive punishment, and improve overall cannabis awareness and education."

Cannabis Consumption Rises, Schizophrenia Cases Remain Constant

"Separate studies largely dismiss the causal relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia development, especially because medical cannabis consumption has significantly increased in recent years, while schizophrenia case numbers remain static."

Armentano comments on the latest research as follows:

"The newest research precisely shows that individuals more susceptible to schizophrenia are also more likely to start using cannabis at a younger age. We have no evidence of cannabis as a schizophrenia trigger. However, there is a certain relationship between heavy, chronic cannabis use at an early age, which is more probable among individuals with a predisposition to psychosis."

Author: Jimi Devine

Translation: Filip Maral

Sources: cannabisnow.com

Images: espira.or mac.h-cdn.co

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