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Marijuana and Schizophrenia are Definitely Linked

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Marijuana use can lead to psychosis and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia in some people. Find out how and who is at risk on HealthyPlace.

Marijuana and Schizophrenia are Definitely Linked

Marijuana use can lead to psychosis and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia in some people. Research has shown connections between marijuana, the brain, and schizophrenia:

  • Cannabis interferes with executive functioning, which includes such skills as memory, emotional regulation, planning, problem-solving, inhibition, organization, starting tasks, and processing information.
  • It interacts with the dopamine system in the brain, impacting the experiencing of psychosis.
  • Daily use can increase schizophrenia’s negative symptoms like decreased motivation, flat emotions, and an inability to feel pleasure.
  • Smoking marijuana daily has been shown to increase a vulnerable user’s risk of developing schizophrenia by almost five times, and it can cause people to develop schizophrenia six years earlier than others who don’t use the substance (causes of schizophrenia).
  • Using cannabis can worsen schizophrenia in those who already have the illness.

While a definitive link between schizophrenia and cannabis has been found, it seems to primarily apply to those with a genetic disposition for schizophrenia or who are adolescents (because of the still-developing brain).

If you use or plan to use marijuana, knowing your family history and respecting your age can help keep your brain safe and healthy.

Sources
Basa, E. (2018). Health Canada warns cannabis use linked to schizophrenia. Narcity. Retrieved October
2019 from https://www.narcity.com/news/health-canada-warns-cannabis-use-linked-to-schizophrenia

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Is there a link between marijuana use and psychiatric
disorders?
National Institutes on Health: National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved October 2019 form https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/there-link-between-marijuana-use-psychiatric-disorders

Related Articles Dealing with Marijuana, Schizophrenia, and Mental Health

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: : Have you noticed a connection, positive or negative, between using marijuana and your mental health? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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Mental Health Quote

"The bravest thing ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die."

Read more mental health quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook or stumbleupon) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest, where you can share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

back to: HealthyPlace.com Mental-Health Newsletter Index

APA Reference
Peterson, T. (2019, October 28). Marijuana and Schizophrenia are Definitely Linked, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, October 31 from https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-health-newsletter/marijuana-and-schizophrenia-are-definitely-linked

Last Updated: October 29, 2019
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Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD

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