Marijuana legalization’s opponents often lean on arguments relating to the physical and mental side effects of using the drug. They say that both are too risky to take any chances. For example, one of the mental side effects is temporary psychosis. But what is temporary psychosis, and is it truly linked to marijuana use?
Psychosis is a clearly defined mental issue easily identified by experienced professionals. When it is temporary in nature, its root cause is usually identifiable. It is expected to subside as the root cause is removed. As for whether temporary psychosis is linked to marijuana use, a growing body of evidence suggests it is.
A Bold Assertion About Amsterdam
Amsterdam is considered one of Europe’s leading cities for marijuana consumption. In fact, it is one of the top cities worldwide. Yet researchers from Kings College London have asserted that the number of psychotic episodes reported in the city would be cut in half if high potency marijuana suddenly disappeared.
The researchers took a look at marijuana consumption and psychotic episodes in 11 European cities and Brazil. They noted some important discoveries:
- THC potency has been increasing over the last few years.
- There is a measurable link between cannabis use and psychosis.
- Higher volumes of THC increase psychosis risk.
Researchers also discovered the highest link between temporary psychosis and marijuana consumption in London and Amsterdam. They say that a high potency product known as ‘skunk’ is consumed at much higher levels in the two cities compared to the rest of Europe.
Frightening and Potentially Dangerous
As for psychosis, it is a mental condition that can be caused by any number of things. Psychosis can also be temporary or long-term. It is characterized by:
- Delusions – False beliefs that a person holds onto despite significant evidence proving otherwise.
- Hallucinations – Hearing, seeing, and feeling things that are not real.
- Paranoia – Feelings of excessive suspicion and distrust.
- Reduced Cognition – Having difficulty forming and expressing coherent thoughts.
Psychosis is both frightening and dangerous. It can be especially frightening to someone who is new to cannabis, someone who has never experienced a psychotic episode before. As far as danger is concerned, any episode of psychosis could lead someone to engage in behavior harmful to himself or others.
Psychosis and Medical Cannabis
The big question for the medical cannabis community is whether patients are at a higher risk for experiencing temporary psychosis. In short, no. In fact, using medical cannabis under the direction of a doctor or cannabis pharmacist puts the risk of psychosis at near zero. That is not to say that a patient could never experience it, but the chances are extremely low.
The greatest risk for temporary psychosis among marijuana users lies in the recreational space. And given the fact that growers are competing in the drive to continuously increase plant potency, it is no surprise to see higher incidents of temporary psychosis among daily recreational consumers.
If you are visiting the Beehive Farmacy medical cannabis pharmacy in Brigham City, UT, for the purposes of purchasing medical marijuana Utah you will use under the direction of a pharmacist, you probably have nothing to worry about. But if you’re purchasing recreational marijuana from a New York dispensary, you could be getting a high potency product that increases your chances of experiencing psychosis.
A growing body of evidence shows a link between high potency THC and temporary psychosis. It is yet another reason to be cautious about recreational marijuana. The drug is not harmless. It should be treated with the same amount of caution we apply to any other psychotropic substance.
