The impact of cannabis on mental health is a complex issue. It can affect everyone differently, and even the same person can have different experiences on separate occasions or over their lifetime.
A number of studies have shown that regular users of cannabis experience a range of adverse mental effects, such as anxiety and panic attacks. However, it is difficult to determine if these symptoms are related to the drug itself or to other risk factors.
Risk of developing a mental illness
Using cannabis can increase the risk of developing a mental illness. This is because it can cause changes to the brain that make people more prone to developing certain mental disorders. These include psychosis, schizophrenia and a range of other mental illnesses.
It can also make you feel more anxious and depressed, so if you find you’re prone to these problems you may want to cut down on cannabis use or stop altogether. There’s also a risk of becoming addicted to it. This can be a serious problem as it’s linked to many other health problems, such as cancer and heart disease.
The main reason for this is because of the THC in cannabis. The THC affects the part of the brain that controls mood and feelings. This is called the brain’s ‘CB1’ receptor and it’s what makes people feel high. It’s also the reason why cannabis can sometimes trigger psychotic symptoms in some people who are already predisposed to schizophrenia.
But it’s important to note that there’s still a lot more research that needs to be done to understand the link between cannabis and mental health. Some studies have shown that people who smoke cannabis regularly are more likely to get mental illnesses, while others haven’t found this link yet.
Researchers have found that teenagers who start using cannabis at an early age and use it often are more likely to develop schizophrenia or psychotic disorders later in life. This is because cannabis can interact with other risk factors, such as genetics and childhood trauma, to increase the chance of developing a mental disorder like schizophrenia.
These findings have been backed up by many other studies. For example, a study published in 2012 in the journal Biol Psychiatry found that people who carried an at-risk allele of a gene called catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) were more likely to develop schizophrenia. Other researchers have found that those who smoke marijuana regularly and have a higher THC concentration in their blood are more likely to get psychotic symptoms.
This is why it’s so important to know about the risks of cannabis and how you can protect yourself from them. If you think you’re experiencing a problem with your mental health you should see your doctor or contact the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s helpline for free information, support and referrals.
Risk of developing psychosis
There is strong evidence that people who use cannabis have a higher risk of developing psychosis. The link between cannabis and psychosis is most likely because it affects the brain’s dopamine system.
It also is likely to be related to the type of cannabis you use and the amount of THC in it. For instance, it’s thought that high-potency or highly concentrated cannabis has a higher risk of causing psychosis than lower-potency cannabis.
The risk of developing schizophrenia may also be increased in young people who have a family history of mental illness. In particular, those who have a parent or sibling with schizophrenia are at higher risk of developing psychosis themselves, even if they never smoke pot.
Compared to people who don’t have these risk factors, those who do have them are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia if they smoke cannabis regularly.
This is especially true for those who have a high level of genetic predisposition to the disease. In fact, the most recent UK study found that if you have a father or brother with schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder, the risk of developing your own is one in 10—even if you don’t smoke marijuana.
In addition to increasing the risk of psychosis, regular cannabis use can also cause a number of other health problems. For example, it can increase the chance of heart disease and cancer.
Research also suggests that cannabis can trigger inflammation, which can contribute to a range of diseases and conditions. It is also thought that chronic inflammation can increase the risk of psychosis and can make symptoms worse.
However, this is not a definitive proof that cannabis causes psychosis. It is also important to remember that there are many different types of cannabis, and each can have different effects.
A 2009 study showed that those who experienced a first episode of psychosis were more likely to use cannabis regularly and with higher potency, or THC levels. They also tended to use it for longer periods of time than those who didn’t have a psychotic episode.
Risk of developing schizophrenia
Cannabis (also called marijuana, dope, weed, or grass) is an illegal drug that contains chemicals called cannabinoids. It can be smoked, eaten, or brewed into tea. You can get it from many places, including shops and the internet.
Research shows that people who use cannabis regularly are more likely to develop a mental illness, such as schizophrenia. This is because cannabis can interact with genetic predisposition and other risk factors to increase your chances of developing psychosis or a psychiatric disorder.
Researchers have found that people with certain types of genes can be more sensitive to the effects of marijuana and are more likely to develop a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia. These types of genes include AKT1 and COMT, which are responsible for regulating brain chemistry.
If you carry these genes, then you are more likely to have a mental illness, such as schizophrenia, because the chemicals in marijuana can affect your brain chemistry. This can cause a person to have more psychotic episodes and spend more time in the hospital.
This type of schizophrenia is a serious and life-threatening condition that can be difficult to treat. It causes hallucinations and delusions that make it hard to think or feel clearly. It can also lead to violence, suicide, and homicide.
Studies have shown that some teens who smoke marijuana are more likely to develop a mental health disorder, such as schizophrenia. This is because disorders that involve psychosis often start in a teenager’s teen years. They often become worse as the teen grows up and they will not go away even if they stop using the drug.
Despite this, more and more teens are using cannabis because it is becoming easier to get. In fact, according to the CDC, nearly half of all high school students in America have used marijuana at least once.
These teen users are at higher risk of getting schizophrenia because they have an underlying predisposition for this mental health disorder, such as a family history of schizophrenia. They may also be more likely to have symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions, while they are smoking cannabis.
Risk of developing addiction
Cannabis can be addictive and can lead to mental health problems if it is used regularly and for long periods. It is not as addictive as some other drugs like heroin or alcohol, but it can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop using it. It can also make you feel depressed and anxious if you use it frequently.
The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which activates receptors in your brain called endocannabinoid receptors. These receptors trigger your body’s own natural chemicals to relieve pain and inflammation, so they can be very effective at treating some conditions. However, too much THC can change the way your brain works and cause addiction.
Research shows that people who start using cannabis as adolescents are more likely to develop a dependence on the drug than others. It may be because young brains are still developing and can be more susceptible to the effects of cannabis.
It is also possible to get addicted if you use high-potency products, such as concentrates and extracts, with THC levels that range from 40 to more than 80 percent. These concentrations have a stronger effect on the body, and are known to cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and euphoria, which can be a sign of psychosis.
These effects can be more severe if you use cannabis at a younger age and for longer periods of time. This is because your brain is not fully developed and can be more prone to the effects of THC.
Adolescents who are addicted to cannabis are more likely to develop a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. They are more prone to having thoughts of suicide, and are at higher risk of developing psychotic-like symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations.
This study investigated whether older age at first substance use is associated with the likelihood of having a cannabis use disorder (CUD). We evaluated this using data from Ireland’s 2010/11 and 2014/15 National Drug Prevalence Surveys.
We found that the risk of having a CUD was significantly reduced for each year that alcohol and cannabis were delayed from their first onset by the subject. These effects were not observed in former users of the substances who had used them for years before initiation.
