#cannabisculture is undermining #MentalHealth in most demographics, adolescents hardest hit!

The conversation around marijuana and mental illness has taken a new, alarming turn. A systematic review published in the journal Biomolecules this March presents fresh evidence of a strong link between marijuana use and severe mental health issues, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis. Notably, the study highlights that adolescents are at a significantly higher risk, amplifying urgent questions about its impact on younger users.

The Risk of Psychosis and Schizophrenia: The Biomolecules review analysed data…which documented an association between marijuana use and an increased risk of developing schizophrenia or psychosis-like events…One staggering takeaway from the review is the calculated odds ratio. Individuals using marijuana had a 2.88 higher likelihood of developing psychosis-related conditions than those who abstained.
Adolescents who use marijuana, however, face an even greater threat. The study authors pointed to a “large age effect,” suggesting that the impact of marijuana on younger users is far more severe…

Why Adolescents Are at Greater Risk: One key hypothesis from the researchers is that marijuana affects adolescents in two major ways. First, it can cause acute psychotic sensations that resemble those triggered by hallucinogenic drugs, indicative of acute toxicity. Second, it disrupts synaptic plasticity during adolescence, leading to developmental changes in the brain that could contribute to long-term mental health issues.
The End of the Self-Medication Argument: For years, the “self-medication hypothesis” has been used to explain the relationship between marijuana and schizophrenia. It claimed that individuals with schizophrenia used cannabis as a coping mechanism to manage symptoms. However, the review pushes back strongly against this narrative, stating that in these cases, it’s the cannabis that comes first. Alison Knopf of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly emphasised that these findings mark a key step in resolving the “chicken-and-egg conundrum” around marijuana and mental illness. (Research: https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/…/2708-marijuana…)

Source:  https://www.dalgarnoinstitute.org.au/index.php/resources/cannabis-conundrum/2708-marijuana-and-mental-illness-what-the-latest-research-reveals?