For the Hippies: Marijuana Use Can Up Psychosis Risk

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

I knew all you dirty pot smokin hippies were crazy. "Oh but weed is harmless...blah blah blah"....yeah right:

Marijuana Use Can Up Psychosis Risk - Yahoo! News

SATURDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term use of marijuana can lead to increased risk of developing hallucinations, delusions and psychosis, a new study shows.
Australian researchers asked nearly 3,100 young adults averaging about 20 years of age about marijuana use. They found that almost 18 percent reported using the drug for three or fewer years, about 16 percent for four to five years, and just over 14 percent for six or more years.

Among the participants, 65 had been diagnosed with a "non-affective psychosis" such as schizophrenia, and 233 had at least one positive item for hallucination on a diagnostic interview conducted for the study.

 

The researchers found there was an association between length of marijuana use and mental health.

 

"Compared with those who had never used cannabis, young adults who had six or more years since first use of cannabis [i.e., who commenced use when around 15 years or younger] were twice as likely to develop a non-affective psychosis and were four times as likely to have high scores on the Peters et al Delusions Inventory [a measure of delusion]," wrote Dr. John McGrath, of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Park Centre for Mental Health in Wacol, and colleagues. "There was a 'dose-response' relationship between the variables of interest: the longer the duration since the first cannabis use, the higher the risk of psychosis-related outcomes."

The study appears online March 1 and in the May print issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

But the association between psychosis and marijuana use is not simple, the researchers noted. They found that people who'd experienced hallucinations earlier in life were also more likely to have used marijuana longer and to use it more frequently.

"This demonstrates the complexity of the relationship: those individuals who were vulnerable to psychosis [i.e., those who had isolated psychotic symptoms] were more likely to commence cannabis use, which could then subsequently contribute to an increased risk of conversion to a non-affective psychotic disorder," wrote the study authors.

Further research is needed to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the association between psychosis and marijuana use, they concluded.

Click to read more...

 

[millertime49 10+ year member]

But heck you can even buy yourself a pipe on this site... i can not belive they allow this here...... nice brass pipe... if the pot does'nt kill you, or enough bain cells... the pipe will..... i guess he mite be low on brian cells ... when you try to sell home made pot pipes on a car audio site.. you must me short on something....

check it out...

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/miscellaneous-classifieds/463920-homemade-tobacco-pipes-%246-shipped.html

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

But heck you can even buy yourself a pipe on this site... i can not belive they allow this here...... nice brass pipe... if the pot does'nt kill you, or enough bain cells... the pipe will..... i guess he mite be low on brian cells ... when you try to sell home made pot pipes on a car audio site.. you must me short on something....check it out...

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/miscellaneous-classifieds/463920-homemade-tobacco-pipes-%246-shipped.html

that makes you an expert on this matter?

 

[power-fanatic07 5,000+ posts]

I predict in 8-10 years there will be medical marijuana in every state.

 

[GabeC 10+ year member]

I predict in 8-10 years there will be medical marijuana in every state.

maybe not ALL 50, but there will definately be alot more i think

 

[millertime49 10+ year member]

I think they should allow medical marijuana.. i use to smoke pot every day when i was younger... i still have freinds that do..... But to try to sell homemade pipes on a car audio site is not real smart... the guy off of cheech and chong went to prison for his son useing his name and sending a water pipe thru the mail.. But i would rather see people sit in there own home and smoke a joint then drink everyday... my dad still smokes weed and has every since i can remeber... ( i am 49 now ) But does that make it right ? i haven't smoked weed or drank in 12 years now.. I just don't like to feel stupid anymore or out of control.. but to each there own..

 

[DerekSmith07 10+ year member]

I think they should allow medical marijuana.. i use to smoke pot every day when i was younger... i still have freinds that do..... But to try to sell homemade pipes on a car audio site is not real smart... the guy off of cheech and chong went to prison for his son useing his name and sending a water pipe thru the mail.. But i would rather see people sit in there own home and smoke a joint then drink everyday... my dad still smokes weed and has every since i can remeber... ( i am 49 now ) But does that make it right ? i haven't smoked weed or drank in 12 years now.. I just don't like to feel stupid anymore or out of control.. but to each there own..

Tommy Chong got in trouble because he was manufacturing bongs with his name on them, sending them to the united states. Pretty Much.

 

[rastablaze11 10+ year member]

"This demonstrates the complexity of the relationship: those individuals who were vulnerable to psychosis [i.e., those who had isolated psychotic symptoms] were more likely to commence cannabis use, which could then subsequently contribute to an increased risk of conversion to a non-affective psychotic disorder," wrote the study authors.

Further research is needed to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the association between psychosis and marijuana use, they concluded.

These study authors don't sound very certain. using phrases such as "could". Also they said it themselves, further research is needed to learn more about the association between psychosis and marijuana use.

 

[GabeC 10+ year member]

"This demonstrates the complexity of the relationship: those individuals who were vulnerable to psychosis [i.e., those who had isolated psychotic symptoms] were more likely to commence cannabis use, which could then subsequently contribute to an increased risk of conversion to a non-affective psychotic disorder," wrote the study authors.
Further research is needed to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the association between psychosis and marijuana use, they concluded.

These study authors don't sound very certain. using phrases such as "could". Also they said it themselves, further research is needed to learn more about the association between psychosis and marijuana use.

i dont believe any of these petty research reports, until i see something concrete with evidence i dont believe it especially when it's about marijuana, some people are close minded and will believe anything about weed

anybody can find something bad about anything if they look hard enough

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[StickyFingaz 10+ year member]

But the association between psychosis and marijuana use is not simple, the researchers noted. They found that people who'd experienced hallucinations earlier in life were also more likely to have used marijuana longer and to use it more frequently.
"This demonstrates the complexity of the relationship: those individuals who were vulnerable to psychosis [i.e., those who had isolated psychotic symptoms] were more likely to commence cannabis use, which could then subsequently contribute to an increased risk of conversion to a non-affective psychotic disorder," wrote the study authors.

Further research is needed to learn more about the mechanisms underlying the association between psychosis and marijuana use, they concluded.

Seems pretty inconclusive to me, as it states as much in the report. How do you know that people who are psychotic or schizophrenic aren't pre-disposed to marijuana use? Why does it even matter if weed is dangerous? Fast food, cigarettes, and alcohol kill way more people and the government loves selling them. Think about all the good that could come from legalizing and taxing the sale of marijuana....

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

There is nothing really new being shared here. The problem with cannabis and psychosis is that we are still nowhere near establishing a causal link. There are a few different ideas to consider here:

1. A very strong component of the correlation appears to be that those in the early stages of psychosis turn to something to relieve them. In other words, people feel depressed and smoke pot to get out of it, not the other way around.

2. It is possible that it could exacerbate conditions for someone already pre-disposed to psychosis, but that is far from a causal link (and has not in its own right been established).

3. It is possible that cannabis could form part of what is called a "causal constellation" for psychosis. In other words, given the presence of a variety of specific genetic and environmental triggers, cannabis use could increase the risk of psychosis; without these triggers, there is no effect.

4. The rate of cannabis use has increased every decade since the 50's, and yet there is not a corresponding increase in the incidence of psychosis.

5. Despite this supposed link being a fine piece of speculative conjecture, let's suppose that there is a causal link (a distinct possibility): it is still a better choice than drinking alcohol, as alcohol is a known provoker of psychosis with a stronger correlation with psychosis (if I recall correctly, 8x for alcohol compared to 2-4x for cannabis).

 

[wishuponansg 10+ year member]

There is nothing really new being shared here. The problem with cannabis and psychosis is that we are still nowhere near establishing a causal link. There are a few different ideas to consider here:
1. A very strong component of the correlation appears to be that those in the early stages of psychosis turn to something to relieve them. In other words, people feel depressed and smoke pot to get out of it, not the other way around.

2. It is possible that it could exacerbate conditions for someone already pre-disposed to psychosis, but that is far from a causal link (and has not in its own right been established).

3. It is possible that cannabis could form part of what is called a "causal constellation" for psychosis. In other words, given the presence of a variety of specific genetic and environmental triggers, cannabis use could increase the risk of psychosis; without these triggers, there is no effect.

4. The rate of cannabis use has increased every decade since the 50's, and yet there is not a corresponding increase in the incidence of psychosis.

5. Despite this supposed link being a fine piece of speculative conjecture, let's suppose that there is a causal link (a distinct possibility): it is still a better choice than drinking alcohol, as alcohol is a known provoker of psychosis with a stronger correlation with psychosis (if I recall correctly, 8x for alcohol compared to 2-4x for cannabis).

/thread

 

[duece212 5,000+ posts]

sounds like a bunch of hippies in denial up in this thread

 

[peterweiner]

sooooo, how in the hell is this a bad thing? it will be nice to save some money and get fucked up for not doin shit. i hope mine kicks in real fuckin soon!

 

[wishuponansg 10+ year member]

sounds like a bunch of hippies in denial up in this thread

sounds likes someone's post trying to take a crack at pot heads got shut the **** down. and now said someone is mad.