Can Marijuana Use Cause a Mental Health Disorder?

Can Marijuana Use Cause Mental Health Disorders?

Issues with memory loss, loss of IQ points, decreased cognitive function, inability to motivate – all of these have long been associated with chronic marijuana use, and recent studies support the truth in these associations.

But more recently, there have been studies that have investigated the impact of regular marijuana use on the development of mental health disorders. The answer to whether or not use of the drug is connected to an increased risk of mental health issues is not a simple one. As with anything that has to do with the brain and a wide range of variables, including the amount, frequency, and type of drug use, the answer is complex.

Some studies have found that use of marijuana – especially large amounts of marijuana with high levels of THC – can trigger symptoms that are similar to changes seen in the brains of people who are diagnosed with schizophrenic disorders. For some, these studies mean little, but for a group of scientists from Europe, the UK, the US, and Australia, there is more than ample evidence to avoid use of the drug at all costs, according to The Guardian.

This group of scientists says that global public health campaigns should be launched to warn people about the risks of using marijuana. While most people will not develop psychotic disorders after use of the drug, people who do experience mental health symptoms may struggle with serious issues, such as delusions, irrational and erratic behavior, and hallucinations.

Some may recover but others will ultimately develop schizophrenia, and this group of scientists does not believe it is worth the risk. They believe that between 8 and 24 percent of cases of psychosis could be prevented if marijuana use were no longer a factor.

Sir Robin Murray is a professor of psychiatric research at King’s College London, and he is among the scientists who are pushing for the global public health campaign. He says: “It’s not sensible to wait for absolute proof that cannabis is a component cause of psychosis. There’s already ample evidence to warrant public education around the risks of heavy use of cannabis, particularly the high-potency varieties. For many reasons, we should have public warnings.”

Increased Potency

One factor that is commonly ignored by those who believe that marijuana is harmless is the fact that marijuana has become significantly more potent over the past few decades.

Older people who remember smoking marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s may dismiss concerns about potential mental health issues, feeling that they and others experimented with the drug and avoided any real harm, but the fact is that today’s marijuana is completely different. In the past 20 years, the THC levels of marijuana that have been seized by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have increased 8 percent, from 4 percent to 12 percent.

This means that less use of the drug comes with a bigger kick. It also means that smaller amounts and regular use can more quickly lead to the development of addiction.

Increased Use

Additionally, use of marijuana is no longer something that occurs on the “fringe” as it once did. It has become a very mainstream drug, with as many as 22 million Americans reporting use of marijuana in 2014, as reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). And the younger that someone starts using marijuana, the more likely it is that addiction will be triggered.

Nora Volkow is the director of NIDA. She says: “It is important to educate the public about this now. Kids who start using drugs in their teen years may never know their full potential. This is also true in relation to the risk for psychosis. The risk is significantly higher for people who begin using marijuana during adolescence. And unfortunately at this point, most people don’t know their genetic risk for psychosis or addiction.”

To Legalize or Not to Legalize?

In the wake of this increased understanding of the risks of marijuana use, especially among young people, is the answer to legalize the drug and regulate its production and distribution, or is the answer to keep it illegal?

Again, this is not an easy question. There are a number of considerations to weigh, many of which may not become known for years as the epidemiological evidence and scientific research begin to increase our understanding of marijuana use, abuse, addiction, side effects, and treatment. As we move forward and determine how to manage the issue, there are some key concepts to keep in mind:

• Regulation of medical use: Handing someone a card that allows them to buy unlimited amounts of different types of marijuana, all with a range of potency and effect, and telling them to dose themselves is not effective medicine. Better regulation, studies into the effects of THC on different disorders, and the creation of medications based on these findings as well as appropriate treatment protocols that protect the patient are needed.
• Regulation of driving under the influence: A method that can accurately determine the impairment level of someone under the influence of marijuana must be developed for the safety of all on the road.
• Teen protection: No access to marijuana or marijuana-related products should be available to teens and young people. Increased education must be provided to help them understand the nature of marijuana and the potential effects of use.
• Protection of children: Marijuana products that look like non-marijuana products (e.g., edible candies and baked goods) must be marked clearly to ensure that small children do not mistakenly ingest them.

What other provisions do you think matter when it comes to marijuana use and legalization? Or do you believe it is a far better choice to make the drug illegal across the board?