Reefer Madness?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/health/cannabis-marijuana-schizophrenia.html

*Disclaimer: Due to Cannabis being classified as an illegal substance in most of the United States, research has not been done to a satisfactory point to reach any firm conclusion. This is because funding is difficult to come by when testing an illegal substance on people.*

In the current political environment, everything is controversial. One of the main topics that has brought conflict between the nations two main parties, is the use of Cannabis.

As mentioned in a previous article, I am of the opinion that medical marijuana is beneficial and needs to be legalised in order to help millions of people around the United States.

Recreational use is different. Recently, a study was released that arrived at the conclusion that there is a link between the use of cannabis and the development of schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis.

Given this conclusion, it’s only fair that we look at the facts and stats, and pursue the truth about the relationship between mental health and Marijuana.

First, it is important to point out that psychotic conditions are almost certainly genetic in nature. They run very strongly in family, those who have relatives suffering from these conditions have an inherit risk of developing these conditions themselves.

Second, there is a phrase that says, “correlation does not “necessarily” equal causation,” Just because there is a correlation, does not mean that “something” causes “something” else.

An example of this would be: the more firemen that are sent to a fire, the more damage that is done. This is true, they correlate, however, the firemen do not cause the damage, they do the opposite, and more of them would are sent so they can handle the flames.

Even though it does not always show causation, there certainly are times where correlation does show causation, like: The more often matches are used in the house, the more often a house fire is started.

In relation to Marijuana and Psychosis, there certainly and inarguably is correlation, it is backed by a plethora of studies. It’s unclear though, which came first, the marijuana use or the psychosis.

In medicine, relatively little is known about the biological foundations of a psychotic condition. Certain gene variants are almost certainly involved.  There is also circumstantial evidence that cannabis usage can effect the brain during synaptic pruning as the adolescent brain begins its rapid development stages. Cannabis use effects the CB1 receptors which are heavily involved during pruning and alterations to the process likely increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis. This is further enforced and supported by a combined research between M.I.T. and Harvard in 2016 showed that many disorders are caused by a combinations of gene variants and an anomaly during the pruning process like the one caused by marijuana.

The conclusion by most studies up to this point implies that unless you have a genetic disposition towards a psychotic disorder, the risk isn’t much larger with the use of marijuana. However:

“Cannabis use during adolescence through to age 25, when the brain is                       maturing and at its peak of growth in a genetically vulnerable individual, can initiate the onset of schizophrenia.

Is any increase in risk of mental disorder too much risk? What should this mean in the battle to legalise marijuana? Comment with your thoughts.