Marijuana use and schizophrenia

RE. the topic on marijuana use / psychosis

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/xsdataset.asp?More=Y&vlnk=2340&All=Y&B2.x=118&B2.y=12

So the rate of schizophrenia IS on the increase. Does that mean that marijuana does cause schizophrenia after all?

Of course not. Fluctuations in statistical trends can't be so easily attributed to any one cause, but here are a few reasons why the possible link between schizophrenia and cannabis use should be taken seriously:

• Prevalence of schizophrenia is about twice that of alzheimers.
• Schizophrenia is incurable.
• 36% of patients have a substance misuse problem.
• 10 years after diagnosis of onset of schizophrenia, 10% of patients are dead (the majority are suicides).

Make of the statistics what you will, but coincidence of marijuana use and schizophrenia is high enough for marijuana users to be in a well established risk group (estimated between 8 and 13% of schizophrenics).

The reason I'm making this thread is to remind people that medical and anecdotal evidence has long drawn a link between marijuana use and psychosis and schizophrenia. One thread on a gaming site forum claiming that 'schizophrenia rates in the UK didn't rise over the previous decade, so marijuana use can't possibly be a potential cause', should be taken with an enormous pinch of salt; even if the evidence for that line of reasoning was infallible, the reasoning is not.

Oh and erm... sorry if I've not given much to discuss :? ...

Coke or Pepsi?

thanks for nothing.

another thread that will reach 100+ posts because people have to comment on how pointless these marijuana threads are.

Nice indirect relationship you got there...

Pepsi for diet and Coke for non.

Oh, and it makes sense that if you intake mind altering drugs EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE, eventually it will manifest itself in some kind of imbalance or psychological disorder.

Of course, this is beyond the comprehension of most potheads while stoned (which is all the time), so ...

pepsi

pepsi

Nit3nd0P0w3r

Coke. MrPraline

All marijuana does is place THC on the receptor proteins that would usually accept the neurotransmitter (such as dopamine, ACh, epinephrine, norepinephrie, etc.) and prevents their passage. This puts more of the transmitter into the synaptic cleft and temporarily inhibits full mental functions. Once the THC breaks down the brain returns to homeostasis and all is well. It is EXTREMELY unlikely thatSchizophrenia is tied to marijuana use.

All marijuana does is place THC on the receptor proteins that would usually accept the neurotransmitter (such as dopamine, ACh, epinephrine, norepinephrie, etc.) and prevents their passage. This puts more of the transmitter into the synaptic cleft and temporarily inhibits full mental functions. Once the THC breaks down the brain returns to homeostasis and all is well. It is EXTREMELY unlikely thatSchizophrenia is tied to marijuana use.

Smoke89

Marijuana also serves to deplete GABA production through a bizzare action of CB1R. Recent discoveries point to low GABA levels in schizophrenics at post-mortem. There's still a lot of research to be done in the field, but this could be the connection doctors had been looking for. I'm not going to say that one causes the other, because I'm not a neurologist or psychopharmacologist, and it does seem that some people are predisposed, while others are at a far smaller risk if any, but I hope that science is able to establish for certain who is at risk and when so that we can stop having silly arguments about legalisation and come up with a definitive policy.

THC is a fascinating substance, and the value of its synthetics to the future of medicine shouldn't be underestimated.

usually marijuana causes schizophrenia when the person is predisposed to the condition.AxeStrangler

No, Marijuana usage does not cause Schizophrenia. If someone is genetically predisposed to Schizophrenia (like myself), as in it runs in their family, they have a much higher chance to develop it. It's a prevalent mental disease that in trends gets far less common as IQ increases, and any "lifechanging" event or drug that impairs or augments senses can set it off, which is why the use of Marijuana can "release" the mental illness.

No, Marijuana usage does not cause Schizophrenia. If someone is genetically predisposed to Schizophrenia (like myself), as in it runs in their family, they have a much higher chance to develop it. It's a prevalent mental disease that in trends gets far less common as IQ increases, and any "lifechanging" event or drug that impairs or augments senses can set it off, which is why the use of Marijuana can "release" the mental illness.

Saturos3091

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

LeGoofyGoober

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

LeGoofyGoober

[QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

jimmyjammer69

The medical world goes both ways on the topic and the researchers are usually far from objective. Everyone wants to present the extremes of how it doesn't hurt you or it is terrible for you. It is a touchy subject these days, unfortunately.

[QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

jimmyjammer69

what is the point of this? We all know marijuana doesn't cause insanity. I smoke it on the regular, and I'm not crazy, schizophrenic, or anything remotely like that. You should have made this proving something about the plant that is still up in the air. Like should it be legalized or not, that would have been more interesting.mohfrontline

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"][QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

mohfrontline

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"][QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

The medical world goes both ways on the topic and the researchers are usually far from objective. Everyone wants to present the extremes of how it doesn't hurt you or it is terrible for you. It is a touchy subject these days, unfortunately.

[QUOTE="mohfrontline"]what is the point of this? We all know marijuana doesn't cause insanity. I smoke it on the regular, and I'm not crazy, schizophrenic, or anything remotely like that. You should have made this proving something about the plant that is still up in the air. Like should it be legalized or not, that would have been more interesting.jimmyjammer69

[QUOTE="jimmyjammer69"][QUOTE="mohfrontline"]what is the point of this? We all know marijuana doesn't cause insanity. I smoke it on the regular, and I'm not crazy, schizophrenic, or anything remotely like that. You should have made this proving something about the plant that is still up in the air. Like should it be legalized or not, that would have been more interesting.krazykillaz

This is probably very rare, and if you smoke regularly. i smoke maybe once or twice a month just for fun, and to kind of get out of mymind for a little while, but i dont think im gonna get schizophrenia.

I notice only one of those bullet points have to do with substance abuse.krazykillaz

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

LeGoofyGoober

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

I dunno about all that but I do know that it can cause paranoia

Just a thought:

Marijuana is legal in Netherland (last time I check) and a myraid of other hard core stuffs. Have anyone ever check if Netherland had a higher than usual rate of Schizophrenia, or other mental illness, for that regards?

Personally I tend to not take any medication unless I absolutely have to, base on my own experience (maybe there are studies out there to prove it, but I'm not sure) the more you use a drugs, the less effective it will be over time, which will require more and stronger doses next time around just to cure the same illness you had before and boy, you got yourself an addict here.

[QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

McJugga

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

[QUOTE="McJugga"]

[QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

AxeStrangler

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

Your logic is infallible. :lol:

[QUOTE="AxeStrangler"][QUOTE="McJugga"]

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

McJugga

Your logic is infallible. :lol:

[QUOTE="LeGoofyGoober"]

i've smoked pounds of weed in the past, and im fine. i stopped because it makes you sluggish. all this "it makes you crazy" bull**** is FALSE.

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

[QUOTE="AxeStrangler"][QUOTE="McJugga"]

I drove in a car without wearing a seatbelt, and look at me, I'm fine. :|

jimmyjammer69

[QUOTE="McJugga"]

[QUOTE="AxeStrangler"] If smoking didn't give him schizophrenia, then it won't happen if he continuesAxeStrangler

Your logic is infallible. :lol:

No, it really isn't.

Just because he didn't get schizophrenia from smoking in the past, doesn't mean he won't in the future. :|

There is definitely a proven link between marijuana use and schizophrenia. The question, however, is whether this link holds up even among healthy adults with no biological predisposition to schizophrenia. This link seems to be by far the strongest in people under the age of 21 who use marijuana and in people who already have a biological predisposition to schizophrenia who use marijuana.

And it should also be noted that alcohol has been shown by some research to have an even stronger connection to developing symptoms of psychosis later in life. So there's nothing ominous and vile about marijuana alone - anything that alters your mind is bound to carry with it the possibility of negative effects.

Basically, if you live in a place where marijuana consumption is legal, it appears to be the case that you're probably OK if you use it responsibly and in moderation, if you don't use it until you're an adult, and if you don't use it if you have a family history of schizophrenia.

[QUOTE="AxeStrangler"]

[QUOTE="McJugga"]

Your logic is infallible. :lol:

McJugga

No, it really isn't.

Just because he didn't get schizophrenia from smoking in the past, doesn't mean he won't in the future. :|

There is definitely a proven link between marijuana use and schizophrenia. The question, however, is whether this link holds up even among healthy adults with no biological predisposition to schizophrenia. This link seems to be by far the strongest in people under the age of 21 who use marijuana and in people who already have a biological predisposition to schizophrenia who use marijuana.

And it should also be noted that alcohol has been shown by some research to have an even stronger connection to developing symptoms of psychosis later in life. So there's nothing ominous and vile about marijuana alone - anything that alters your mind is bound to carry with it the possibility of negative effects.

Basically, if you live in a place where marijuana consumption is legal, it appears to be the case that you're probably OK if you use it responsibly and in moderation, if you don't use it until you're an adult, and if you don't use it if you have a family history of schizophrenia.

Quit hating on a natural herb that grows out of the damn ground. Seek some enlightenment.Get_A_Clue

Poisonous berries are natural, should I eat those?

[QUOTE="Get_A_Clue"]Quit hating on a natural herb that grows out of the damn ground. Seek some enlightenment.McJugga

Poisonous berries are natural, should I eat those?

[QUOTE="McJugga"]

[QUOTE="Get_A_Clue"]Quit hating on a natural herb that grows out of the damn ground. Seek some enlightenment.Get_A_Clue

Poisonous berries are natural, should I eat those?

Technically speaking, stinging nettle is a herb.

What a pointless thread. The other thread that other guy made strictly said "cannabis doesn't cause psychosis". And he's right, it doesn't. All you pointed out was that it MIGHT exacerbate existing conditions, but everyone knows that already. And no one will buy your propoganda when they have personal experience which shows them the opposite of these fanatical claims. Psychosis doesn't come from smoking weed. That's a fact. That was his point. If you're not predisposed to psychosis, it won't happen from smoking weed. You're trying to blur the lines of truth here, just like propoganda pushers always do, trying to cover the whole issue with a blanket definition. Quit hating on a natural herb that grows out of the damn ground. Seek some enlightenment.Get_A_Clue

[QUOTE="Get_A_Clue"][QUOTE="McJugga"]

Poisonous berries are natural, should I eat those?

Technically speaking, stinging nettle is a herb.

I'm going to state what has been stated before in these forums. Correlation does not = causation. I would think that people with schizophrenia have a greater need for somethign like marijuana since it clams them down. That seem smuch mor elikely than the drug causing the schizophrenia.

[QUOTE="Get_A_Clue"]What a pointless thread. The other thread that other guy made strictly said "cannabis doesn't cause psychosis". And he's right, it doesn't. All you pointed out was that it MIGHT exacerbate existing conditions, but everyone knows that already. And no one will buy your propoganda when they have personal experience which shows them the opposite of these fanatical claims. Psychosis doesn't come from smoking weed. That's a fact. That was his point. If you're not predisposed to psychosis, it won't happen from smoking weed. You're trying to blur the lines of truth here, just like propoganda pushers always do, trying to cover the whole issue with a blanket definition. Quit hating on a natural herb that grows out of the damn ground. Seek some enlightenment.jimmyjammer69

I'm talking about an herb that has been proven to be non-toxic, you are not. Hollow points don't serve to make one appear any smarter. Check my username for advice.Get_A_Clue

You were talking about "a natural herb that grows out the ground". Stinging nettle matches that description.

I'm just saying, the fact that it's "a natural herb that grows out of the ground" does not exactly mean very much.

I'm going to state what has been stated before in these forums. Correlation does not = causation. I would think that people with schizophrenia have a greater need for somethign like marijuana since it clams them down. That seem smuch mor elikely than the drug causing the schizophrenia.

BumFluff122