Dose-Dependent Risks of Cannabis

[chuck_norris]

Hi everyone,

First time poster, not sure if this is the appropriate forum for my question but it seemed a good place to start. My question revolves around risks of cannabis smoking; in particular, the well known correlation with schizophrenia and psychoses. I'm a neuroscience/abnormal psychology major, so I'm fairly well versed with the literature regarding the subject, and don't personally have any doubts that heavy, chronic cannabis use (especially during adolescence) is associated with an increased risk of psychosis in susceptible populations.

We all know that drinking a couple of bottles of wine a day will cause serious problems, but drinking a glass a day (or a bottle a day once every 3 weeks) probably won't. Similarly, does anyone know of any epidemiological evidence of light/infrequent cannabis use and its associated risk? I'm talking once or twice a month kind of stuff.

I have searched pubmed and other such resources but can't for the life of me find any study that doesn't just lump in the once-a-month tokers with the wake and bake crowd. Perhaps this is because studies showing infrequent use are pretty harmless, if they are, wouldn't be good public policy?

Anyway...any info would be much appreciated! Mods, feel free to move if this is in the wrong place!

 

[Vader]

I remember some study from some years ago that found that occasional cannabis users were better socially adjusted (I have no idea how they quantified social adjustment) than either non-users or daily users, but that's about it.

 

[deez_nuggs]

There was a study on dosenation a year or so back that purported infrequent cannabis consumption actually improved long term memory (yes, im aware of how ironic that may sound). And when I think about it, shit makes sense.

Oh, and for the record, I defy you to find evidence that proves there is anything more than a correlation between chronic consumption of chronic and mental illness. do people who smoke marijuana develop mental illness? or do people who have genetic pre-dispositions to mental illness find cannabis to be emotionally beneficial. regardless, i would bet a half-pound that there is no cause-and effect relationship between smoking and schizophrenia. i mean, wouldn't rates of psychosis atleast have risen gradually in response to increased potency and availability of today's nuggets? i believe so.

 

[Vader]

I defy you to find evidence that proves there is anything more than a correlation between chronic consumption of chronic and mental illness

David Hume defies you to find evidence that proves there is anything more than a correlation between any purported cause and effect.

 

[deez_nuggs]

Really great retort, there

 

[Vader]

Thanks.

 

[Chainer]

in particular, the well known correlation with schizophrenia and psychoses. I'm a neuroscience/abnormal psychology major, so I'm fairly well versed with the literature regarding the subject, and don't personally have any doubts that heavy, chronic cannabis use (especially during adolescence) is associated with an increased risk of psychosis in susceptible populations.

lolz. /sigh.

from one psycho-biologist to another, what the fuck?

 

[Vader]

I think that what he meant by "susceptible populations" was "people who are predisposed to psychosis", so he was saying that cannabis is likely to hasten the onset and worsen the prognosis of people who would have developed psychosis anyway. That's what I took from it anyway.

 

[Chainer]

I think that what he meant by "susceptible populations" was "people who are predisposed to psychosis", so he was saying that cannabis is likely to hasten the onset and worsen the prognosis of people who would have developed psychosis anyway. That's what I took from it anyway.

Okay, that would make 100% more sense to me, if that's the case. I thought it was being implied that cannabis can cause psychosis in healthy individuals.

 

[poak]

I really want to know more about this subject since my brother did a psychosis after about 6-7 years of heavy cannabis use. He also used many other drugs thought, but I smoke occasionaly so I would really want to know more about cannabis and psychosis.

 

[PwnX]

I remember reading somewhere that it doesn't actually cause schizophrenia but in people with a strong family history of schizophrenia who would probably end up getting it anyway, the onset is earlier on average than in people who don't smoke.

 

[chuck_norris]

Oh, and for the record, I defy you to find evidence that proves there is anything more than a correlation between chronic consumption of chronic and mental illness

lolz. /sigh.

from one psycho-biologist to another, what the fuck?

I thought I was pretty clear in my introduction; what he said:

I think that what he meant by "susceptible populations" was "people who are predisposed to psychosis", so he was saying that cannabis is likely to hasten the onset and worsen the prognosis of people who would have developed psychosis anyway. That's what I took from it anyway.

I'm not here to try and convince anyone of the risks of cannabis - I'm just saying that I want information to make the best decision possible for myself.

I remember reading somewhere that it doesn't actually cause schizophrenia but in people with a strong family history of schizophrenia who would probably end up getting it anyway, the onset is earlier on average than in people who don't smoke.

There was a study done by UNSW this year that essentially said this. It could hasten onset/worsten prognosis in those who were probably going to develop it. This accounts for why schizophrenia rates haven't risen in response to increasing cannabis use. Being said, they also say it's possible there's a small number of people on the threshold of developing the illness, with enough predisposing genetic and environmental factors, that heavy cannabis use could push them over the edge.

Thanks for replies everyone - I'll keep looking!

 

[hydrochron]

It can maybe bring out somthing that somone already had. Like paranoia lol.

 

[BananasAndOranges]

I'm reading this thinking the same thing. I do not know if this is TDS Material but I am going to share whats happening to me.

Last summer I had a very psychotic amphetamine reaction that lasted a few weeks. It felt like a crash like my body was rejecting the medicine and saying time to stop. I had a rough rough mental breakdown and I remember the night it happened and even know I will get Dizzy thinking about it or get mega flashbacks. I still use Amphetamine. Sadly.

The thing is, during this time I was doing all this under a doctors supervision mind you but I was smoking weed. After losing a dealer a month before the breakdown and smoking heavy the psychosis happened. I stayed away from weed for awhile and will say its made my LIFE Better but I also feel that everyday I become more and more hermit like. I think the Dexedrine is time to end, a year of 270 pills every month seems fucking wild not counting my anxiety medication.

My point is that when I wasn't smoking weed I basically never got overly excited about anything little, and therefore never had psychotic episodes besides the much needed once a week one day a week feeling hurt. I don't abuse drugs anymore but I think that A MIX of drugs, WITH MARIJUANA in the mix, can cause your issues to be worse.


I also quit cold turkey Prozac and other ssris when I was in junior high because I felt stupid taking them and they didnt do much or what it seemed back then, but I was much happier then. Now I am rambling I just wanna know if its worse to smoke during a break down because I usually do it helps me cope but then I smoke too much like .4 of a chunk and I think after discovering JWH I finally found relief.

The side effects I Get NOW when I do not smoke weed/hash/or,and eat edibles I get no appetite, nothing to serious but I do get concerned with my temper, and like I mentioned the break down last summer I Still do not understand......I mean clearly amphetamines are known for it, but it was almost twice as bad as being up a few days on meth when it came down to a body load.


ramble ramble