In the United States, medical use of marijuana is allowed in 38 of 50 states and for recreational purposes in 24 states. An alarming trend has been highlighted in a recent feature in the Wall Street Journal: a rise in psychosis among adolescents who use cannabis.
An inquiry carried out by The National Institute on Drug Abuse exposed that cannabis use could accelerate the onset of psychotic conditions, such as schizophrenia. The research suggests that individuals with a family history or other vulnerability factors face an increased risk. It emphasizes the impact of genetic makeup in the complex relationship between cannabis and psychotic conditions.
Similarly, a study from The Lancet Psychiatry, spanning from May 1, 2010, to April 1, 2015, analyzed data from 901 individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis, comparing it with 1237 population controls across 11 different locations. The results showed significantly higher chances of psychotic conditions in those who used cannabis on a daily basis. The study estimated that eliminating high-potency cannabis could prevent approximately 12.2% of first-episode psychosis cases across the 11 sites.
In essence, the proof suggests a correlation between increased use of high-potency cannabis and heightened rates of psychosis.
Image Source: photolona / Shutterstock
