The Effects of Cannabis on Psychosis

Cannabis has been used as a medicinal and spiritual plant for the last 1000+ years in Asia and was introduced to the U.S. during the Mexican revolution. It was criminalized in the US for the first time in 1937, also known as the "Marijuana Tax Act".

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) is more common than we might think; among people who use cannabis, about 22% have a CUD. It is also a myth to believe that people cannot become physically or psychologically dependent on cannabis. The transition to cannabis dependence can happen for some people more quickly than the transition to nicotine or alcohol dependence. The main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis activates the CB1 receptor in the brain.

Harm reduction : Edibles can be the safest way to consume cannabis as it has the lowest health risks. It is worth noting that THC potency in cannabis has increased significantly over the last two decades. Synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., K2, Spice) usually have more severe psychoactive impacts and health risks.

Epidemiological evidence demonstrates an association between the use of cannabis and increased risk of psychosis. Daily use of cannabis is associated with a 3X increase in the risk for psychotic disorders.

There are four types of psychotic experiences: auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, delusions of persecution, and delusions of reference. They found that frequent cannabis use was associated with all four types of psychotic experiences.

Schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRS), which are specific biomarkers, increase the prediction of psychosis by cannabis use. Individuals who had high schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRS) also had stronger associations between cannabis use and psychotic experiences overall. Over 100 genetic variants exert an effect on both cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia. Research found that the most common psychotic experience associated with frequent cannabis use was persecutory delusions.

The top three exposures with the highest odds ratio of being associated with a psychotic experience were an individual ever having had a period of mania/excitability, ever having self-harmed or contemplated self-harm. When considering cannabis use exposure, analysis revealed a bidirectional link between that and psychotic experiences. Cannabis use results in increased affective dysregulation, supporting the theory of an ‘affective pathway’ to psychosis.

Young men with a history of child abuse and with family histories of schizophrenia are more at risk for the onset of psychosis when using cannabis, particularly if cannabis use started before the age of 14-16 years old. Symptoms of schizophrenia commonly appear between the ages of 18 to 25 years old.

Cannabis can have negative consequences such as impairment of memory, muscle incoordination, apathy, and exacerbation of asthma or other lung conditions if it is inhaled. Cannabis can also have some benefits when used appropriately for treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Always avoid driving or using machinery when using substances.

This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the use of this product, or cannabis and cannabinoids generally.