- Over the years, scientists have discovered a link between weed and psychosis
- But a review published on 4/20, a day to celebrate cannabis, found the opposite
- Experts said cases of mental health conditions from usage of the drug are rare
- However, those who smoke high amounts of weed should still be careful
The risk of developing psychosis as a result of smoking cannabis is much lower than first thought, scientists believe.
Over
the years, a host of previous research has pointed to a link between
the popular recreational drug and mental health conditions.
But
a new review of existing studies published yesterday on 4/20, an
unofficial day to celebrate cannabis, has found that cases are
relatively rare.
However, those who smoke high amounts of weed should still be careful, York University researchers said.
But a new review of existing
studies published on 4/20, an unofficial day to celebrate cannabis, has
found that it's relatively rare for weed to cause any such symptoms
Lead
author Ian Hamilton, a lecturer in mental health, said the greatest
danger cannabis users face is by combining the drug with tobacco.
He pointed
to previous British research that showed to prevent just one case of
psychosis, 23,000 people who have to stop using the class B drug.
Mr Hamilton told The Independent: 'The link between cannabis and psychosis has been investigated by researchers since the drug became popular in the 1960s.
'A new review of research carried
out since then has concluded that 'at a population level the increased
risk is weak and the vulnerabilities relatively rare'.'
His review, published in the journal Addiction, stated more research was needed on the impact of high potency cannabis.
But
he said the studies clearly showed that the stronger the weed, the more
likely someone is to develop mental health problems.
Over the years, a host of
previous research has pointed to a link between the popular recreational
drug and mental health conditions
He said most of the high profile studies that have been conducted are from a time when lower strength strains were the norm.
High
potency cannabis contains less of cannabidiol (CBD), which is believed
to protect against negative side-effects, such as psychosis.
While
it has a higher level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the component in
the drug that causes the high effect - l that can trigger the symptoms.
The
review also showed for the first time there is sufficient evidence to
demonstrate that for patients who already have schizophrenia, cannabis
makes symptoms worse.
Psychosis is defined as a form of mental illness where people experience delusions, hallucinations, or both at the same time.
Associated
with conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, some
victims are so badly affected that they end up committing suicide or
seriously harming others because they believe they are being ordered to
do so by voices in their heads.
Regulating
cannabis, used by more than two million people in England and Wales in
the past 12 months, would help to reduce any health risks that the drug
can pose, Mr Hamilton added.
He said: 'A regulated cannabis market would introduce some quality control.
'This
would provide users with information about the strength of cannabis on
offer, something they usually only discover after exposure in the
current unregulated market.'
Super-strength
strains of cannabis are responsible for up to a quarter of new cases of
psychotic mental illness, scientists warned two years ago.
The
potent form of the drug, known as 'skunk', is so powerful that users
are three times more likely to suffer a psychotic episode than those who have never tried it, King's College London researchers found.
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