Cannabis May Cause Schizophrenia-Like Brain Changes
Call me “snotmoses” if you like. But I do prefer peer-reviewed, scientific journal articles to personal opinions.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/cannabis-may-cause-schizophrenia-like-brain-changes/
Kucewicz, M. T. et al. Dysfunctional Prefrontal Cortical Network Activity and Interactions following Cannabinoid Receptor Activation. Journal of Neuroscience, published online October 25, 2011.
Zamberletti, E., Rubino, T. and Parolaro, D. The endocannabinoid system and schizophrenia: integration of evidence. Current Pharmaceutical Design, published online June 7, 2012.
“The results of the current study suggest that having an increased familial morbid risk for schizophrenia may be the underlying basis for schizophrenia in cannabis users and not cannabis use by itself.”
Also this one: Assessing the impact of cannabis use on trends in diagnosed schizophrenia in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2005 - PubMed
“A recent systematic review concluded that cannabis use increases risk of psychotic outcomes independently of confounding and transient intoxication effects. Furthermore, a model of the association between cannabis use and schizophrenia indicated that the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia would increase from 1990 onwards. The model is based on three factors: a) increased relative risk of psychotic outcomes for frequent cannabis users compared to those who have never used cannabis between 1.8 and 3.1, b) a substantial rise in UK cannabis use from the mid-1970s and c) elevated risk of 20 years from first use of cannabis. This paper investigates whether this has occurred in the UK by examining trends in the annual prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia and psychoses, as measured by diagnosed cases from 1996 to 2005. Retrospective analysis of the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) was conducted for 183 practices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The study cohort comprised almost 600,000 patients each year, representing approximately 2.3% of the UK population aged 16 to 44. Between 1996 and 2005 the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses were either stable or declining. Explanations other than a genuine stability or decline were considered, but appeared less plausible. In conclusion, this study did not find any evidence of increasing schizophrenia or psychoses in the general population from 1996 to 2005.”
So it’s a complicated relationship… and IMO it’s unlikely weed causes sz, but it clearly causes similar symptoms.
Thankyou to everyone who posted. My son is now in hospital and wanting ECT. The doctor wants him to have monthly anti-psychotic injections. I’m taking a day at a time!
I think salvia messed me up more than marijuana. Though I did smoke 2-3 grams of skunk weed in one sitting. Think I fried my brain.