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February 7th, 2011
05:56 PM ET
Marijuana use may speed psychosisUsing marijuana, or cannabis, may cause psychosis to develop sooner in patients already predisposed to developing it, and in other patients the drug may even cause psychosis, according to a new study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. "This finding is an important breakthrough in our understanding of the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis," according to the study. "It raises the question of whether those substance users would still have gone on to develop psychosis a few years later." Patients with psychosis tend to lose touch with reality and are prone to hallucinations and delusions about what is happening around them. Psychosis is frequently reported among patients with diagnosed mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. According to the study led by Australian researchers, in which data from 83 studies involving more than 20,000 patients were analyzed, marijuana users experienced psychosis about three years younger than non-users. Users of other substances (besides pot) experienced symptoms of psychosis two years sooner. Alcohol use had no influence on development of psychosis, according to the study. "Reducing the use of cannabis could be one of the few ways of altering the outcome of the illness because earlier onset of schizophrenia is associated with a worse prognosis," according to the study. "An extra two or three years of psychosis-free functioning could allow many patients to achieve the important developmental milestones of late adolescence and early adulthood that could lower the long-term disability arising from psychotic disorders." But experts say the complexity of interaction between genes and environment, and the possibility that cannabis is, in fact, a way to self-medicate when psychotic symptoms arise are not accounted for in this study. The marijuana-schizophrenia link "It is distinctly possible, in fact likely, that folks who experience initial symptoms turn to cannabis in an effort to control them, then end up having a psychotic break of some sort earlier simply because they had their first symptoms earlier," said Mitch Earleywine, an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany, who is also a marijuana policy expert. "This predicament makes it look as if cannabis preceded the psychotic symptoms when, in fact...folks with worse symptoms who are more likely to have an early break might simply be more likely to turn to cannabis." Theories about an association between marijuana use and schizophrenia include several –sometimes interrelated - scenarios: The possibility that cannabis causes schizophrenia; that cannabis may cause people vulnerable to schizophrenia to develop symptoms; that cannabis may make schizophrenia symptoms worse; or that people with schizophrenia are more likely to use cannabis, according to the study. Study authors suggest that this study, "lends weight to the view that cannabis use precipitates schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders," perhaps because of some confluence of genetic and environmental factors, or because using cannabis early in life may disrupt brain development. "[This study] found that cannabis is associated with early onset of psychosis and that is most likely true but it doesn't answer the question of which way it goes," said Dr. Charles L. Raison, associate professor in the department of psychiatry at Emory University, and CNNHealth's mental health expert doctor. "Does smoking cannabis early in life make you vulnerable to getting early psychosis or is the first manifestation of psychosis to do drugs and alcohol, or is it both?" Do you have diagnosed schizophrenia? How well are you managing it? Raison added that other studies suggesting a causal relationship between marijuana use and psychosis disagree with this one. Whatever the relationship between cannabis and psychosis, experts can agree that early use of cannabis is problematic. "No one wants to see young people get heavily involved with any psychoactive substances," said Earleywine. soundoff (1,357 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next »Leave a Reply to horse trailers california
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.
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You can have a study that proves pot rots your brain and they will still smoke it. Let them smoke it then when they test for THC charge them more for Health Insurance because I'm not paying for their mental illness.
Who woke Peter Pan up? More damage is caused by prescription meds and doctors that over prescribe. Go to your insurance company site and ask them what increases insurance dues. And while you are there, ask them how many deaths MJ caused last year compared to the least damaging. IDIOT!
Oh, you tell us, Zelk. You're the master.
I don't need a study to tell me this. A friend of mine back in high school got into marijuana and LSD and was diagnosed soon after as schizophrenic. I'm sure he was predisposed to it, but having experienced mild paranoia myself from drug use, I can understand how it could push someone over the edge. For those who are trying to discredit this study, I ask why? Drugs effect all people differently. If you smoke and have no negative effect, good for you. I don't think mild drugs cause permanent psychosis, but it certainly warrants more study. Perhaps it could actually help us find ways to reverse psychosis. I've known several schizophrenics and can attest to the damage the disease can cause. Any understanding we can gain into it's cause and treatment is a godsend.
Jersey quack, don't put words in my mouth idiot. I never said anything about if it's natural it's all good. Try ingesting nightshade you nut job.
If you are really a doctor, I feel sorry for anyone unlucky enough to be your patient.
Grow a brain fake doc, and lay off the booze. Your assumptions are quite arrogant.
Haha this article is effiinnn hilarious. Look out everyone! Pot makes you high...permantly. I'm willing to bet that a third of the people read this and thought, "Damn... you mean they didn't know that already?' Hell just look at old President W. Hes a perfect example of someone in a drug induced psychotic state, and he functions properly. Right? Well, whatever. Regardless, anyone with a quick buck and some motivation can fund a study to produce a lame conclusion like this-U.S. Government perhaps? I dunno, just speculating. Realistically, Marijuana has been portrayed in a relatively positive light recently. Its possible association with some kind of legal revolution makes it a threat to anyone invested in the statues quo. Look out America, Marijuana is comin back... assuming that it ever actually left.
They posy this story in some variant every few months, the whole thing is speculative, with little to no evidence, yet they speciously repost it as though suddenly they have evidence of a link between psychosis and smoking pot, or that it leads to earlier onset of said psychosis. HIUGE difference between causation and correlation, and the CNN staff doesn't seem to know it. Marijuana is far less harmful to people than alcohol, cigarettes, and many prescription drugs which have to tell you in the commercial that you may have side effects that are worse than the ailment and it might also kill you. Pot doesn't have to worry about that, no one has ever died from using marijuana.
Snookums, call your baby sitter to come over and comfort you before you go off the deep end.
You must have been born nuts.
Who needs scientific studies when Terry has his own study with N = 1? So you've managed to smoke for 40 years and retired without an issue. Congrats... You love pot, so who cares what happens to anybody else? Kids can get psychotic and ruin their lives – as long as it doesn't happen to you, you'll be fighting to legalize it until the day you die....
There are more than enough examples of psychosis happening in kids who smoke pot. Many of these same kids never wind up psychotic again if they can clear up and then not smoke again. However, the majority of them look around and see people like Terry who say "I've smoked forever, and it's fine..." So they go and light up again, and the cycle begins anew.
These arguments that "I know plenty of people who smoke a lot and are fine" are so ridiculous. That's like saying "I know a guy that drives without a seatbelt on all the time... And he hasn't died yet..." Doesn't make it smart, and doesn't mean that it's safe.
Stick with the bible doc, you know nothing about MMJ or other uses for pot. Tell me this dear doc, how many teenagers killed themselves last year. How many were using pot at the time? Tell us smart ass! The facts are in. Most teenage suicides last year and the year before and before that were "ordinary" children. No major chemical use in their history or in their bodies at the time of their "tragic" deaths. This is fact published by doctors! Resubscribe to the desk reference, you missed the last few years doc.
Slipheart – Interesting... It's real easy to spout things without hard facts, huh?
"The facts are in. Most teenage suicides last year and the year before and before that were "ordinary" children. No major chemical use in their history or in their bodies at the time of their "tragic" deaths. "
Out of adolescent suicide completers in a major study, 61% had mood disorder, 50% had conduct disorder, 37% had substance abuse.... So I'm just wondering which are the "ordinary children" you speak of... "Most" implies greater than 50% the last time I checked... According to you, "most" were "ordinary." I can only presume that when you say "ordinary" kids you're talking about ones without mood disorder, conduct disorder, or substance abuse... Hmmm... numbers don't jive I guess. So again, I'm not sure where you get your numbers from. Actually, I'm pretty sure you're not getting any numbers, just shooting from the hip (or from High Times more likely)
Fact is, I'm not here to debate you on whether most kids who commit suicide have psych issues or drug issues. You chose to take it there, and even then, you're just flat out wrong... This is about whether pot can make people psychotic. You've proven that you have no idea about scientific data with respect to adolescent suicides. There's really no reason to believe that you're sources are any better for pot use and psychosis either.
Who said anything about the bible? I totally agree with Jerseydoc, based on my own firsthand, very painful personal experience. Pot use's contribution to the development of psychosis is well-known to physicians who actually work with these patients (any commenters who do that? let's see a show of hands). If drug companies could make marijuana legal, I'm sure they would jump at the chance. They'd be rich! Isn't that what everyone claims "big pharma" wants? Anyone who insists recreational pot use is harmless for everyone doesn't know what they're talking about.
Terry – Maybe it's time to fire up another bowl.... I thought potheads were supposed to be mellow...
You're a hack. I sure hope you don't treat people
Muwhahahaha!
Bull. This is correlation mistaken as causality and wrapped in the disguise of "Reefer Madness" for the "children's sake."
So...jerseydoc, do you work for big pharma or do you just enjoy their all expense paid kick-backs?
LOL... Why must you types always use the same stale and incorrect arguments? I'm just wondering what the heck me saying that marijuana can contribute to psychosis has anything to do with working for big Pharma or getting kickbacks? Just because I point out that marijuana is not safe, tha means that I'm getting a kickback... Wow... how does that follow? Again, when you have no logical arguments to make, it's best to just accuse everyone of working for Pharma, being in on the conspiracy, etc. It's beginning to sound a little paranoid... Honestly, you're demonstrating better than anyone else could how pot can make people paranoid and psychotic.
I notice that you didn't deny working for big pharma or taking their money jerseydoc...
ritalin anyone? adderall?
lLet's try to get the legal drug side effects under control before we start digging deep for a potentially harmful effects of marijuana.
"anal seepage"??? Yikes!
Well since the mods at CNN who candy coated this propaganda piece obviously edited the pointed retort I had for jerseydoc, but those benefiting from prohibition obviously have interests vested in Time Warner as well.
Good 'ol Reefer Madness!
In the big picture this is all ridiculous. There is a never ending list of things in this world that is bad for someone. People should be able to make decisions for themselves and live with the results, good or bad, without the government dictating our daily lives.
That's just an excuse for control.
Maybe mj does cause a few people to short circuit, big deal! How many people die from peanut allergies every year? Probably a thousand times more than go crazy from weed. So do you suggest that we out law everything from cows milk to nuts???? How about air pollution? How many people are affected by co from cars? How about preservatives in everything from carpeting to foods?
Again, grow a dam brain. If you hate freedom why are you living here?
You better call your nanny for some advice.
Changing your screen name from Terry Zelk to Terry W. Brookman isn't fooling anyone.
I have a huge problem with statistical studies like this. The scientists conducting them are doing little more than reviewing data and seeking a causality link based on data that is too narrowly defined, with other potentially important data fields excluded for the sake of simplicity.
In this study, they concluded that marijuana users developed psychosis three years before non-marijuana users. A conclusion every bit as reasonable from this set of data: "People with earlier incidence of psychosis are more prone to use marijuana than those effected later in life". Statistical studies are useful, but they are far from infallible, and are defiantly not scientific law. At best, a statistical study should be a part of developing a hypothesis and nothing more. They have no place in theoretical testing and research
Studies like this are only a very small part of developing scientific knowledge. Unfortunately, studies like this are also cherry-picked and shoved into the national spotlight and portrayed as proven scientific fact by groups with a vested political, monetary, and/or moral interest at stake in whatever is being studied.
Just a little reminder for the skeptics: statistics = facts, but facts =/= the truth.
Again CNN has a headline that leads the reader to come to a conclusion that reading the article in its entirety may not. Why does CNN do this? Because they know most readers only read the headlines. This isn't journalism.
Notice that this studies DOES NOT say that Cannabis causes psychosis , it just says that Cannabis use can bring on an earlier onset, these people all ended up psychotic, which on the face of it sounds absurd, 22,519 test subjects ?
CBD in Cannabis may actually diminish psychotic symptoms in patients who have them, such as those with schizophrenia(Zuardi et al. 1995) CBD was also found to reduce psychotic symptoms in a group of patients with Parkinson's disease(zuardi et al.2009)
It seems like every six months the feds leak out another one of these stories, in an effort to scare , not to inform. Hey here's a news flash, teens who begin drinking hard at 14 are more likely to end up full blown alcoholics by the time they are 40,,,,,but that's OK because it is legal,,,oh wait, it is NOT legal for minors to consume alcohol,,,,just as it would be if Cannabis were legalized, but as it is now any kid can find an UNregulated source for Cannabis.
Looks like CNN is help spreading speculation rather than valid conclusion. Good job. Great work in journalism. Stop believing what is told to you by the main media outlets and do a little research on your own. Pot is not nearly as dangerous as you think. Don't believe the hype. The only thing pot is a danger to is to big pharma profits. If pot was legal and people could grow, you wouldn't need the pills I see family and friends shovel in their mouths day in and day out. If we are going to be medicated nation, might as well grow it yourself. I smoke pot every day and it helps clear my mind while I work in computer programming. I have a masters degree and live a very happy life. Yet I smoke pot everyday. Can you say that of an alcoholic who drinks everyday? Doubt it. Who's telling the lie? While my situation may not play out same way for everyone, to each their own. But stop telling lies about pot. You are journalist not spokes people for the government and big corporate advertisers. Trying doing your job for a change and take some pride rather that catering to your sponsors or some politician.
I was just going to say the exact same...or was I hallucinating! Good Job mon!
"big pharma." i love that. when i was in college friends of mine used to get pot and cocaine that came from pharmaceutical companies. believe me, if marijuana was legalized "big pharma" would stand to make billions in new profits. let go of the conspiracy theories already. maybe smoking all that pot has made you all paranoid. "Big pharma" would be first in line to produce legal pot on an unprecedented scale.
Good night, Zelk. Go smoke your dope, you dope.
I wanna cookie "pegger"! I hear you are actually "cookie baker" on facebook! I hear about them too. They gotta be the best! These non believers need to be slipped a cookie baker cookie! Light up their dull lives!
Make it legal now, get the government out of my business. Wake up now or wake up to a government that can tell you how to wipe your ass. If I want to grow pot and smoke it that is my business and know one else's. What is it that makes anyone think the government knows what they are talking about, name one thing the government has done right in the last thirty years and then think, should these guys be running my life?
What makes you think we who do not do drugs have dull lives, "mantaec"??? We live in reality, contrary to dopers. Truly, reality is not dull.
If reading your chit isn't dull, what is? Gotta get high to put up with people like you!
Jersey quack, have you read any REAL LIFE STUDIES like the Jamaica study, or the 6 year study the army did in the 70s. There are a lot of viable studies done on multi generations of pot smokers, and interestingly enough, nothing like your horse manure has ever been discovered. The real life studies that are legitimate get stifled by the gov. and the media. God forbid the truth ever be made public, but pile on the propaganda.
Why do you people have a yearning for controlling everybody else in the world? Sounds to me like you may have some control freak issues you need to address. Better call your shrink.
bobbob1, Pharms couldn't do what you suggest because natural occurring substances can't be patented, hence no huge money gouging profits. That's why they are trying to come up with crap drugs like Marinol. Ask jersey quack, he should know all about it.
Why would "big pharma" need a patent to produce legal marijuana? The reason they patent most of their medicine is because they spend big $$$ researching them in the first place. Marijuana has known effects and could be prescribed for a nearly endless supply of ailments. The research in the article wasn't done to prove that marijuana is "evil." If you've smoked it nearly your entire life then I'm guessing your current supply isn't in jeopardy. Why are you so against research?
That's what I'm talking about, "pegger". You can't manage reality. You gotta dope your mind and body. Stay off the roads, at least.
Thank you for the comment sweetie, I hope your tubes are tied too!
Alcohol causes psychosis in patients predisposed to mental disorders, yet its legal. Nice try CNN...
No, alcohol does not. This is proven. However, I do agree that this article is bogus.
Why are you making personal attacks on everyone who sees this differently than you? Even if you're saying something worthwhile, it's buried under mounds of totally uncalled-for ugliness.
I just smoked a joint and am now crazy. CNN was right. Or, am I just crazy for some cheese fries?
If people this screwed are real I hope I'm dreaming. There are actually people running our country that believe all this crap from the doc in Jersey. But thank my Dear Buddha, we have more in congress that believe MMJ and social use of MJ should be legal. So the potheads win by a majority and it is growing stronger as we sit here having so much f#!king with the idiots like snookiebaby!
snookums, I hear your baby sitter calling, you better run along home now. I'm curious what you think of alcohol and cigs. Does it matter to you that nearly 500,000 people a year in this country, 4 million world wide, drop , again, every year, from these innocent legal poisons???
Get a grip snook.
Absolutely true, i won't say everyone to believe it or not, but truth is always bitter, not just psychosis, it makes our relationships with the people chaotic, its a drug too, but people who smoke it just want excuses and want to hide their weakness saying, it doesn't do any effects. Life was much better when i didn't smoke because my memory was much better than now i have, patience level was very good, but now, i feel depressed in simple things and hate people for nothing. Still there are lots of consequences, but it doesn't matter to morons, but those who want to change, its now or never, Give it a shot, Quit it!! you'll be winner for urself!!
You're funny...LOL! Go to Hollywood and act.
That was absolutely my experience as well.
mmmm... So what are you know? A drug counselor?
You sound like the "sinner" that suddenly finds repentance and tries to convince everyone else of their "sins" and tells them they must be saved.
Pathetic.
The law promotes the evil side of the drug business. Self preservation is the rule with all governmental departments, everyone in the military and defense contractors want to keep their jobs so there must be war. They create their own necessity
Zelk and slipheart: The information is out there FOR YOUR BENEFIT, a**holes. You choose to use the poison, whatever you use. Just stay off the roads and far away from me and my family. You would eat sh** just to prove a point.
UM! Criminal Justice Department just issued a report last month saying that cannabis is far safer than Alcohal, tobacco, and over the counter prescriptions. There was also a study done saying that people are more concentrated behind the wheel driving on Cannabis. So get facts straight before you open ignorance.
How old are you Snookums?
Do you know what critical thinking means?
sound like another form of mind control, so this study is saying that William Shakespeare, President Lincoln, President Washington and the list goes on and on for the people who smoke cannabis to be potential psychosis. I would think humanity would have seen a trending pattern throughout the ages if this article had any truth. Cannabis was discovered back in 3000b.c. I think the world would be all crazy by now, would you?
You don't think the world is crazy already? Damn... how bad does it have to get before you think that it is?
after 8 years, I can tell by your post that you are not very educated. I could be stoned stupid for a week and not make that many grammatical errors. Nice try, but your ignorance is showing. Maybe you have problems because you are too ignorant to communicate with others on a mature level. Get an education. Judgements made from ignorance are more harmful than weed.
This is true. It happened to me. It brought out something that was already there and may have happened anyway, but it definitely brought it out a number of times. Hell, I still smoke it, it's just that yeah, this is what happens.
To all of the people attacking this study, don't put your emotions and emotional certainties up against this science. Even with this information we're still in the right saying it should be legalized immediately with no restrictions on growth, only public sale.
Snookums, this isn't information, it's PROPAGANDA!!!! Ask your baby sitter what that means. If you want real info on weed, do research on real life studies that span multi generations. There are numerous ones out there, even done by our gov. but stifled because they produced the opposite results than expected. You can always rely on the gov. to stomp on reality.
Another thing that everyone should know is that these kinds of effects often come out most often in strains with high THC and low CBD. CBD can actually be used to treat schizophrenia, and the strains that don't have it bring on the symptoms? High THC strains are unnatural and get that way because of how the pot is grown, for profit. It's another reason to legalize because properly grown herb contains lots of CBD and it makes people far more mentally healthy on it.
Humans and animals co-evolved with dope for millions of years, that's why animals eat it up, it's naturally selected to appeal to animals, probably so it's seeds get spread around. SCIENCE ALWAYS LEADS TO LEGALIZATION YAY
Lori, The world is crazy if you have a mindset like that.... and they say cannabis leads to psychosis.
antipsychotics are torture... all I need is the herb... F- the USA!
Why is it that whenever a new study is published on pot that every pothead on the internet has to get defensive and cite every other alleged dangerous substance known to man as a reason why it should be legalized? There are plenty of valid reasons why pot SHOULD be legal. Saying that "alcohol (etc.) is even more dangerous" isn't making your case. Provoking the self-righteous anti-pot crowd isn't going to work either. Pot should be legal because it would free up police and courts to deal with real, dangerous criminals, saving money and therefore the taxpayers billions of dollars each year, as well as taking away a huge source of incomes from gangs and illegal drug traffickers worldwide. Please, if you're going to take the time to comment, say something persuasive.
So, your reason for pot to be legal is to reduce our taxes by reducing crime? That's like saying Prozac should be uncontrolled. Pot should be legal because it is a serious drug that makes people feel better. And it does this without killing the internal organs (as known today).
I think I'll chance it. LOL
Well bobbob1, folks make those comparisons to illustrate the sick hypocrisy of the mindless fools trying to legitimise controlling us for our own good. What a joke.
How can you ignore the bigotry of the situation?
Wow….it’s getting viral in here with some of the pro-pot people. I have first hand experience with how marijuana can make a person defend the drug till the bitter end. It diminishes a person’s ambition in life and controls who their friends are. I lost all of my friends when I quit after 15 years of use. As a user you will not be able to see these effects until you quit for at least three months. Then when you look back with a clear head you will understand what I am talking about. If you have never quit you will not understand and will vehemently deny this as bull crap. I know because I have been there. The level of the affects of marijuana will not be the same for everyone as we are all different. In addition the psychotic effects will vary from person to person. I personally experienced drug induced schizophrenia at the end of my 15 years of use and had to quit. After I quit the symptoms went away after several month and I have not had a problem since and it’s been 22 years now. Pot is not for everyone. If you can handle it then fine but not everyone can. Please do not dumb down my world just so you can justify your own use. I will never vote to legalize it especially after what I have seen happen to medical marijuana in California.
Really, that why i'm a college student getting a 3.42 . Going for healthcare administration, and you say pot diminishes ambition, you must be one of those Pro Alcohol people, how many peoples ambitions and dreams where destroyed by people drinking, dying from alcohol poising, or drinking and driving... Come on Get SMART!!!
I'm with you, Mudbone. It scares me who viciously people defend pot, not with rational arguments but personal anecdotes like "I've been smoking a long time and it's never hurt me or anyone I know". Well, lucky you. My experience – and those of several people I've been close to – was the polar opposite of that. Pot use can make a person so myopically self-absorbed that they have no idea what it's doing to those around them... or worse, they're too high to care. Anyone who's so sure it's harmless should just stop for six months, and see how being clean affects their lives and relationships. If things don't drastically improve, fine, go back to it.
Nice, Yes people should take a break using any form of mind altering substances... whatever effects the mind can affect anyone who they are around. Thats why they say do it in moderation.
OMG! Another weak person that let pot take him down! And I bet the bible brought him out of it.
Micheal Phelps, Olympic gold medalist ring a bell for you ambition.
Hey Chris you must not use very much. I got high usually at least 4 days out of every week for 15 years. If you do smoke a lot just imagine that you might have been a doctor. My father was pretty disappointed in me when I didn't become a doctor like him. Instead Igot a degree in computer science. Imagine that!
Sounds like you are depressed. Don't blame your mental problems on weed.
How can you know that it was the weed causing you those problems?
Did you seek professional help?
Did you go to a psychiatrist and he/she told you that weed was the reason?
That's right deny, deny, deny. The king is wearing cloths. Laura you are a classic example of a person under the influence of this drug. As I said it’s been 22 years and I have never gone to a psychiatrist. Have you? How do you know you are not crazy? How do you know you are not the weak link? Please read all my posts in here before you speak.
That's my point exactly. How can you say that you don't have mental problems if you have never been to a mental health provider, one with a license and a degree. The symptoms you described, those need to be treated.
I suggest you go to one and ask what is going on with you.
I haven't been to one because I haven't felt any of the things you said.
Have you considered that maybe at that time you were going through other stuff in your personal life that might have affected your behavior?
Weren't you young at the time?
Aren't young people going through college subject to high levels of stress?
You are talking from your own experience, you couldn't handle the pressures of life at that time. There's no shame in that.
You are the best example of someone that blames their problems on other people or things.
As I said please stfu until you read all my posts. I have been symptom free for 22 years. Why would I need to go when I quit and the issues stopped? Are you a psychiatrist? If so since when do you make a diagnosis when you have not seen the patient.
I never wanted to be a doctor, i want to bring true healthcare to the citizens of the United States. The more people educate themselves about this topic is only going to be one turnout. I see doctors getting away with selling their prescriptions and doing more damage to the individual by taking that drug, while in the same time there is this weed, that cures all sorts of ailments and also has a chemical to fight off cancer cells. AND ITS ILLEGAL. WHY?
That's why he states "...The level of the affects of marijuana will not be the same for everyone as we are all different", Ambitious 3.42.
Wow, who paid who to put this up? Look, it will be embarrassing to the political party that must end the current "war on drugs." That party would have to admit that time, effort, capital, and lives were wasted in pursuit of an ends that could be argued as manipulative. What I can't figure out is why doesn't one ruling administration promote a positive study of marijuana, then label the opposing party as fascists/totalitarian/big brother and make a ton of money. What has D.C. come to when they can't even get their priorities straight? By priorities I mean suitcases filled with cash.
Oh Oh!!! I just lit my pipe.... I'm starting to see things... oh just ignorance.
...but if people made their cases rationally, using actual facts instead of made-up "statistics" and general anti-everything rage, who would make crazy personal attacks on everyone who was anti-pot?
I am a child psychiatrist with no link to "big pharma". I can tell you from clinical experience that this article rings true. I have seen it many times – kid comes in late teens / early 20s, smokes pot & is psychotic. Our hope is always that as the kid clears from their drug use, the psychosis will clear as well. Sometimes that happens and we are all relieved. But most often, the kid remains psychotic even after the pot is long out of their system. I can't say either "which came first", but the idea that somehow smoking pot is linked to earlier onset psychosis in vulnerable people (for example people with a genetic predisposition to psychosis) MAKES SENSE to me. I am not anti-pot if you can use it safely. I do agree that it is less addictive overall than nicotine or alcohol. But in vulnerable kids it can be devastating. Believe me, delaying the onset of chronic schizophrenia by a few years is HUGE. It means the difference between finishing high school or college or not. So hope this post can give some of you on the extremes some idea of what a person fairly in the middle but who has seen lives destroyed by psychosis might think.
BTW I think jerseydoc sounds right on and like a good doctor. Don't trash him (or her).
@ anthonycassini yes, you forgot Vermont & Colorado.
Nice to see another child and adolescent psychiatrist weigh in on this... This has nothing to do with any sort of moral or ethical opposition to marijuana use. The fact is that most kids who smoke pot will probably NOT have a psychotic reaction. However, the findings of this study seem to be plausible, reasonable, and realistic. And I have to say that it jives with what I see in clinical practice. Working on an inpatient unit, we see several kids a month that present with new onset psychosis – I would say the majority of them have substances in their system, and out of those, the vast majority have only marijuana. When you see the fear in these kids and the impact that it has on their families, you don't wind up thinking of marijuana as benign any longer.
For that first psychotic episode, many can clear relatively quickly with the benefit of antipsychotics. However, some do not. Also, many go back to smoking afterwards, and when they present again with psychosis, it's harder and harder to get them back to normal.
And yes, it makes a big difference when you have that first psychotic episode... Early onset = bad prognosis
childpsych and Jerseydoc, I really respect doctors, but you have to realize that our society does a horrible job at keeping drugs, alcohol and cigarettes out of the hands of minors. That has been my experience with the children I raised. I never said no to them, made them bring me articles on the effects on their body by ingesting the chemicals in them (including alcohol and cigarettes). I am not saying they are drug free because they use alcohol.
Alcohol KILLS. It makes good dads into monsters. It makes kids into deranged adults. I have seen both of my parents die of cigarettes. I have lost friends because I couldn't stand to be around them when they drank, but I have seen very few people die of pot. I know that drug cartels killed thousands and still make huge profits. Regulate and legalize. The kids and adults which are affected are a small percentage of the population, although everyone counts, but if your an adult you should have the right to make your own decision. In my case, during my divorce, pot saved my life while psychiatric treatment nearly drove me to suicide. Again I respect doctors, you see the worst, but remember every double edge sword has two sides. God bless the medical profession.