Cannabis Increases Risk Of Psychosis

[Max]

Cannabis Increases Risk Of Psychosis
Frequent cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood increases the risk of psychotic symptoms later in life, according to a new study published on bmj.com today.

The risk of developing symptoms was much higher in young people with a pre-existing vulnerability to psychosis.

Please note, the embargo for this paper will be lifted at 11.00 hrs on Wednesday 1 December 2004, when the author will present the full findings at a press briefing at the Science Media Centre, 21 Albemarle Street, London.

The study took place in Germany and involved 2437 young people aged 14 to 24 years. Participants were assessed for substance use, predisposition for psychosis, and psychotic symptoms, and were monitored for four years.

After adjusting for influential factors, such as social and economic status and use of other drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, cannabis use moderately increased the risk of psychotic symptoms. This effect was much stronger in those with any predisposition for psychosis.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041201143205.htm

[parafarmer]

"The risk of developing symptoms was much higher in young people with a pre-existing vulnerability to psychosis."

Simple,,if you are mental dont smoke pot,
150,000 a year die from booze and
400,000 from tobacco
1000 from asprin
0 from pot

By Joshua Levine, Health Correspondent
Source: AskMen.com

Brain Damage

Marijuana is psychoactive because it stimulates certain brain receptors, but it does not produce toxins that kill them (like alcohol), and it does not wear them out as other drugs may. There is no evidence that marijuana use causes brain damage. Studies performed on actual human populations will confirm these results, even for chronic marijuana users (up to 18 joints per day) after many years of use.

In fact, following the publication of two 1977 JAMA studies, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially announced its support for the decriminalization of marijuana.

In reality, marijuana has the effect of slightly increasing alpha-wave activity in your brain. Alpha ! waves are generally associated with meditative and relaxed sta! tes, whi ch are, in turn, often associated with human creativity.

[This message was edited by parafarmer on 12-02-04 at 07:43 PM.]

[This message was edited by parafarmer on 12-02-04 at 07:45 PM.]