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Cannabis linked to mental illness risk
Jaded
Posts: 2,682 Boards Guru
Thought some of you might be interested in the article Cannabis linked to mental illness risk from today's Guardian. It should add some interesting fuel to the fire that is the cannabis regulation debate, particularly because it focuses on young users of cannabis.
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Anyone else spot them, cannabis is NOT legal in Holland for a start.
CBD is not the chemical that virtually all users would consider "responsible for its beneficial effects" quite the opposite.
And of course this comes down to the old chesnut, is it really the cannabis causing these problems? How can we be sure that the people werent already prone to problems?
Yes, as a hallucinogenic heavy cannabis use among younger people probably isnt good for them, but all the research I've read starts with sloppy presumptions rather than actually coming at it objectively.
Not as bad as the Independant who just plain make up information to put in drugs stories, but not great journalism either.
The problem is this is an easy answer for social workers coming accross troubled teens, 'oh, you smoke cannabis, that must be the problem'.
I do think that heavy cannabis use for teenagers probably is harmful, but the research really needs to be objective. There is no causational link I dont think yet.
Me? Thats a bit harsh, I only ever went after Susie, even then she took it too personally.
the problem ...the distillers and brewers sales are taking a noticable down turn ...probabl y for the first time ever!
the drug companies ...not heard anything yet but ...they'll be kicking off soon for sure ...when the sale of valium viagra painkillers and more start to nosedive ...
Here's a link to the BMJ. You can click on the "Cannabis and psychosis" paper from there - it's free access at the moment, but make the most of it - BMJ.com will be subscription only soon...
Arguments?
Conclusion Cannabis use moderately increases the risk of psychotic symptoms in young people but has a much stronger effect in those with evidence of predisposition for psychosis
thats the bit i meany to reply to if anyones confused.
mine too!!!!
I might actually point out that cannabis isnt a good alternative to valium, viagra or painkillers (in most cases) but I doubt you would believe me.
Cannabis isnt the answer to all of lifes ills Rolly. Its a useful plant, but it has limitations.
Cheers Kentish, I should have read the Drugscope page more carefully - they said it was on the BMJ website but the link is to the BMA site. That clears that one up!
Cheese, I think that is the point. The conclusion is that if there is a predisposition to mental helath problems, cannabis may trigger these or make them worse.
Rolly, they have inconclusively found from this research that smoking a lot of cannabis (or taking a lot of coke) as an adolescent may permanently alter the brain chemistry, increasing the likelyhood of mental illness across the board, and greatly increasing the likelyhood of mental illness in those who are predisposed to it. This is a new finding as far as I know, because it goes in to the cause rather than just what happens. If that makes sense.
I wouldnt completely trust their website either, they have a few mistakes on there.
Interesting research though, somewhat alarming, yet at the same time not hugely surprising.
My heavy use as a teen (virtually all day every day) certainly didnt make my mental health any better.
trouble with cannabis is dosing.
yten pence worth of red seal swallowed three times a day isn't going to get many people high but ...it will have noticable effects.
the problem being that today more and more people abuse it instead of learning about the diffent dosages give different effects.
i've smoked about 50 pence worth today in little ten pence one skinners and it has boosted my energy and enthusim levels for some shitty work i had to do today.
not high but ...feeling the very positive effects both mentaly and physicaly.
it's not just about turning your head inside out.
Yeah I know what you mean. It's all too easy to chain-smoke pure grass and sit about dribbling all day...one or two puffs of good grass can bring your mood up and sort you out if you're feeling the need for a boost.
it can be used sexualy to great effect.
it can keep you awake and alert ...it can knock you flat out ...it can calm you to sleep or make you hyper active.
it can switch pain off ...more about that another time ...
it is used spiritualy and medatatively ...it can heal broken souls and also let the demons loose in the head ...
for me ...i find it a great soother of the soul. a calming in a much troubled and difficult world of turmoil. a painkiller. a dream. an illusion. a confronter of reality. a giggle. a fantastic additon to my sound system.
i swear the stuff has music appreciation embedded geneticaly in its leaves.
but ...there are so many moments to take it and not to take it.
so many dosages and so many different types to smoke with yet even more differing dosages available.
personaly ...i kinda love the stuff.
I smoked a couple of 10p one skinners the other night with my old man, was much better for me than getting full blown stoned.. I end up sad everytime, well everytime I'm left on my own. boohoo.