Latest study reveals that smoking extra strong marijuana can cause psychiatric issues in people.
Several previous studies suggest that smoking marijuana is fairly harmless. Some forms of marijuana are also used in the medical industry for treating some ailments. However, other studies point out that smoking marijuana can also lead to mental health problems such as depression.
Researchers at the Kings College London suggest that using high-potency marijuana can lead to the development of psychiatric disorders.
Sir Robin Murray, a psychiatric research professor at King's College, who is also the senior researcher of the study, reveals that the study involved about 800 participants from south London, all between 18 and 65 years. More than 400 participants reported psychotic episode, while the rest of the participants were healthy and were included in the study for comparison purposes.
Dr. Marta Di Forti at Kings College London, who is also the lead author of the study, reveals that people who used strong marijuana were at an elevated risk of developing psychiatric problems in comparison to people who did not smoke marijuana. People who smoked strong marijuana on a daily basis were at an even higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders.
"The results show that psychosis risk in cannabis users depends on both the frequency of use and cannabis potency. The use of hash was not associated with increased risk of psychosis," says Dr. Di Forti.
However, the research also suggest that people who smoke strong marijuana regularly may experience psychosis but it does not confirm that such a drug usage results in mental disorder. The study also points out that hash or low-potency marijuana may not be associated with higher risk of psychosis.
The researchers suggest that the study is significant as it is a vital step for understanding the connection between psychosis and cannabis. However, misrepresentations of the findings may risk the key message being overlooked by the individuals who benefit from it.
Drinking a pint of beer and consuming a pint of high alcoholic content drink such as vodka has different health effects. Similarly, using hash, which is a milder form of marijuana, and using high potency marijuana will also have different health implications for an individual.
The study has been published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
