Study Finds Cannabis Use ‘Raises Psychosis Risk’?!?

By BananaFamine on March 6, 2011 in News 130

I find the word “psychosis” to be rather nondescript. What “reality” do cannabis users lose and is psychosis necessarily negative when the modern condition of life is far from the natural conditions humans evolved to live in?

I believe marijuana leads to getting acquainted with the subconscious, which in turn leads to spiritual discovery.

However, this may cause one to ask questions and reexamine their beliefs and lifestyle, which admittedly can cause distress. This unease with the world and oneself is something one must work through to achieve happiness, as ignorance will not solve the problems at hand.

I find cannabis-induced “psychosis” to be misunderstood. While I believe that there are SOME who have had dangerous or extreme mental distress brought about by use of this substance, I think most of the paranoia surrounding the effects of THC result from users panicking upon finding themselves too far down the rabbit-hole of the subconscious. If one can stay focused and concentrated, cannabis can be a pleasant, mind-opening and ultimately healing experience .What do you think? Sound off in the comments. The BBC reports:

Using cannabis as a teenager or young adult increases the risk of psychosis, a report suggests.

The study published in the British Medical Journal involved tracking 1,900 people over a period of 10 years.

Although the link between cannabis and psychosis is well-established, it had been unclear whether cannabis triggers the disorder.

This research strongly suggests that cannabis use comes first, rather than people taking it for their symptoms.

The research was led by Professor Jim van Os from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, and included researchers from the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.

They excluded anyone who reported cannabis use or pre-existing psychotic symptoms at the start of the study, which took place in Germany.

For more information, see original article.

Cannabis, Drugs, Health, Marijuana, Propaganda, Psychology, Psychosis, Society, Spirituality, War On Drugs

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Doc M

One has to remember there is a big difference between ‘naturally occurring’ cannabis and ultra strong hybrids. From a 5% THC level to over 20% in the hybrids. Its like comparing a light beer to a whiskey but in the same measures
- http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient
  
  The natural stuff is so much better… you can always tell the difference.
Doc M

One has to remember there is a big difference between ‘naturally occurring’ cannabis and ultra strong hybrids. From a 5% THC level to over 20% in the hybrids. Its like comparing a light beer to a whiskey but in the same measures
Weekendsvanatta

Ha ha! as a vocal user of psychedelic substances, I have often faced this kind of inquiry. All psychs, cannabis included, cause an introspective revolution, and that is why they are labeled as dangerous. That is usually why novice users experience panic caused-physical reactions.
People really are very unaware of there own mental condition and, well, geez Im really actually tired of trying to convince people of things they wont understand for about a thousand years …….
- Belcat2
  
  Actually, I think I do understand. People put up barriers all the time; deliverately pull the wool over their own head (best example I can think of is homophobic people who are actually attracted to men, but people have all kinds of illusions). If you smoke pot, especially a strong amount, the erotic feeling will be very strong. To someone who doesn’t want to think about that, it’s a massive shock..
Weekendsvanatta

Ha ha! as a vocal user of psychedelic substances, I have often faced this kind of inquiry. All psychs, cannabis included, cause an introspective revolution, and that is why they are labeled as dangerous. That is usually why novice users experience panic caused-physical reactions.
People really are very unaware of there own mental condition and, well, geez Im really actually tired of trying to convince people of things they wont understand for about a thousand years …….
http://www.greetmewithcriesofhate.com I. M. Strange

In my experience, I have found that the best thing for the panic reaction is to try your hardest to make it even worse. Ok. I feel as if I am having a stroke, why not make it a heart attack? No fuck it, this is it, I’m fucking dying. Don’t call anyone. I’m not going to the hospital. I’m letting it have me. I’m surrendering. Eventually, it loses its power to trip you up and you begin to explore a little more smoothly. This may not be the best path for everyone but I do believe that in time, everyone must take that path before they can really grow and evolve. All of our subconsciousness, each and every one of us included, is filled with the most terrible visions but also the most beautiful. It’s a choice. It’s a choice between love and fear. Sometimes fear can be a stubborn ass.

I think, therefore I am strange.

I. M. Strange
- http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi
  
  Had a seizure once…or something like it. As I was passing out and hit the floor, I could recall remembering the sound of a favorite Johnny Cash song playing in my head as I fell. Instead of struggling or crying out, all I can remember thinking before blacking out was “What a great song to hear on the way out…I do love Johnny Cash.” Let’s hear it for non-panic based responses to crisis moments
  - GoodDoktorBad
    
    This method works great for psychodelic experiences as well, not to mention other panic not induced by chemicals. My grandmother used to say “do the thing you fear”. She was right. The road to the self is cut through a forest of monsters. The more we fear the more we tend to run and when we run the road becomes seemingly endless. It’s better to stop on the side of the road and have a picnic with the beasts in the shadows…they really are alot more friendly than anyone ever expects the monsters to be.
- hmmm
  
  “I have found that the best thing for the panic reaction is to try your hardest to make it even worse.”
  
  What you have described is a technique used in behavioural psychology – often known as paradoxical intervention (sometimes called ‘negative practice’) . You gain control over a previously involuntarily behaviour by ‘forcing yourself’ to do it. It is used frequently with chronic blushers.
  
  If you intuitively discovered this technique, I am impressed
  - http://www.nickmeador.org/ ndmeador
    
    Actually, now that you mention it, that technique has also been used with phobias. For example, someone with an “irrational fear” of spiders would have prolonged, direct exposure to spiders.
    
    I also like @GoodDoktorBad’s description of “a picnic with the beasts in the shadows.” Haha
    - Sundance
      
      This technique is slightly different, as it is an experiential one rather than a cognitive one. What you are describing with the spiders is systematic desensitization. It too can be very effective against phobias and other anxieties.
- Belcat2
  
  I can’t say I’ve used that for a panic attack, but I have used this for anxiety. Say you can’t sleep, you’re worrying about it too much, so you amplify the feeling, make it stronger – and then let go. You will then automatically relax, and you try go with this relaxation, you will be more relaxed than you were before you tried it.
http://www.greetmewithcriesofhate.com I. M. Strange

In my experience, I have found that the best thing for the panic reaction is to try your hardest to make it even worse. Ok. I feel as if I am having a stroke, why not make it a heart attack? No fuck it, this is it, I’m fucking dying. Don’t call anyone. I’m not going to the hospital. I’m letting it have me. I’m surrendering. Eventually, it loses its power to trip you up and you begin to explore a little more smoothly. This may not be the best path for everyone but I do believe that in time, everyone must take that path before they can really grow and evolve. All of our subconsciousness, each and every one of us included, is filled with the most terrible visions but also the most beautiful. It’s a choice. It’s a choice between love and fear. Sometimes fear can be a stubborn ass.

I think, therefore I am strange.

I. M. Strange
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

I wonder if those results skew another way when we measure the number of undiagnosed people with anxiety and other mental illnesses that gravitate toward marijuana as a form of self medication…and then snap anyway because, honestly, dope isn’t enough…they need real medical/psychological help…not short term quick fixes.
- Tchoutoye
  
  I thought the whole point of using drugs is that they are psychotomimetic, inducing experiences that are similar to those of spontaneous psychosis.
  
  From the BMJ study:
  “Furthermore, we used a rather broad outcome measure, defined as a minimum of one positive rating on a G section item, representing psychotic experiences rather than clinically relevant psychotic disorder.” (emphasis added)
  
  In other words, the study asked people to say if they used cannabis and if they had experienced one of a series of “subclinical” symptoms of psychosis, like an hallucination. If they had just one yes in 10 years they counted towards the study’s findings. This in no way corresponds to the common definition of psychosis, as used by doctors and psychiatrists to diagnose patients. But you won’t find the distinction between anywhere in the media echo chamber running with these studies.
  
  Lacking any objective diagnosis of psychosis, they resort to purely subjective diagnosis: asking the people if they had experienced any strange thoughts in the last 10 years. Is it any wonder that people who use cannabis, as such more open and in tune to all kinds of weirdness in general, are more likely to respond positively than culturally “square” people who would deny any weird thoughts in an attempt to appear normal. What then are these researchers actually measuring?
  
  The topic of the study is, in the words of the researchers themselves(!) clinically irrelevant. Furthermore their outcome measure is so broad that it is practically meaningless.
  
  Note that the media never uses absolute figures, because “a 40% increase” sounds really scary. But a 40% of what exactly ? The risk of psychosis is so low that even after a cannabis related increase it still remains low. It will typically shift one decimal to the left but there are still a lot of zeros after the decimal separator.
- Little_green_chicken
  
  I love it how you can so confidently proclaim that dope isn’t enough…I’ve experienced ‘real’ medical help, and it was a fucking disaster…what do you have to say to those whose brain chemistry simply isn’t suited to synthetic drugs…are we the ones who are flawed? Or are the powers that be only willing to invest credibility in drugs they can make money off? Wake up friend.
  - http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi
    
    Hey…don’t get titchy with me…they’re the ones with the study that claims pot makes psychosis more likely…which is probably a two pronged way to pimp the sales of risky pharmaceuticals while attacking pot users in the same breath.
    
    My point is that they skew the conclusion to make an unsupportable claim. There are plenty of people with high anxiety and other issues that benefit from pot…because it’s comparatively mild and doesn’t massively alter their brain chemistry (which is better than we can say for Prozac or Ritalin)…
    
    …but it isn’t a cure all and it isn’t a perfect solution for everyone. My better half works in a rehab with countless substance users…a percentage of whom are also people with psychological/psychiatric issues that self medicated via illegal substances (which is how they wound up in rehab). For some people…that works…for others, it didn’t work and their psych issues manifested dangerously no matter what they used.
    
    Some of these folks needed very serious help…not a few joints…pretending otherwise is clinging to fantasy or just venting personal issues because of your own experiences…which are relevant for you…but not the end all and be all of the situation.
  - Belcat2
    
    Honestly, even the psychiatrists are not always 100% sure of what effects a drug will have. So yeah your first tries might not have worked that well, perhaps the next drug to try might have worked better. You’re lucky pot works for you, it might not have been.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

I wonder if those results skew another way when we measure the number of undiagnosed people with anxiety and other mental illnesses that gravitate toward marijuana as a form of self medication…and then snap anyway because, honestly, dope isn’t enough…they need real medical/psychological help…not short term quick fixes.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

Had a seizure once…or something like it. As I was passing out and hit the floor, I could recall remembering the sound of a favorite Johnny Cash song playing in my head as I fell. Instead of struggling or crying out, all I can remember thinking before blacking out was “What a great song to hear on the way out…I do love Johnny Cash.” Let’s hear it for non-panic based responses to crisis moments
EricDoriean

As well as the pre-existing psychotic symptoms part, these ‘news’ reports when they come out every once and a while, never talk about the type of marijuana and how its grown. When purchassed illegally because of backward laws, often it is grown indoors and with a whole bunch of chemicals. This is not the same experience @ all as outdoor grown species and much more likely to cause mental issues.
- rockaboutmusic
  
  not to mention,pesticides and herbicidal chemicals
http://twitter.com/EricDoriean Eric (Snorky)

As well as the pre-existing psychotic symptoms part, these ‘news’ reports when they come out every once and a while, never talk about the type of marijuana and how its grown. When purchassed illegally because of backward laws, often it is grown indoors and with a whole bunch of chemicals. This is not the same experience @ all as outdoor grown species and much more likely to cause mental issues.
Anonymous

From the BMJ study:

“Furthermore, we used a rather broad outcome measure, defined as a minimum of one positive rating on a G section item, representing psychotic experiences rather than clinically relevant psychotic disorder.”

In other words, the study asked people to say if they used cannabis and if they had experienced one of a series of “subclinical” symptoms of psychosis, like an hallucination. If they had just one yes in 10 years they counted towards the study’s findings. This in no way corresponds to the common definition of psychosis, as used by doctors and psychiatrists to diagnose patients. But you won’t find that distinction anywhere in the media echo chamber running with these studies.

Note that the media never uses absolute figures, because “a 40% increase” sounds really scary. But a 40% of what exactly ? The risk of psychosis is so low that even after a cannabis related increase it still remains low. It will typically shift one decimal to the left but there are still a lot of zeros after the decimal separator.
Crumpled Sheepskin

Hi all,
This is a copy of a letter i sent to the independent drugs council.

Please press these guys for some large public real evidence based experiments.

As a united public we have all the power to change things we feel are incorrect.

One voice Our voice.
Letter to the independent drugs council.

Hi,
I am over thirty and a have been a regular cannabis user for over 15 years and suffer no ill effects from it.

There is more harm caused in this world from our addiction to economics and unsustainable consumerism.

After all poverty, disease and hunger all are still present because we are socially addicted to money and this addiction allows us to maintain profitable problems such as hunger and disease.

Ask your self who economically profits from all the disease and hunger and poverty because it certainly isn’t human/social evolution.

In fact as scientists we should be fully aware who pays our wage and how that compromises our studies.

The shamanistic drugs which may have had a hand in the birth of our communication systems helped us evolve and we have allowed them to be usurped and replaced by economic greed.

This is purely a physical crutch which can corrupt our inner reality. This in turn has an effect upon the reality data we process back outwards.

I would like to engage you in a discussion about a study on the effects socially and medically of over thirties cannabis consumers.

These studies would take place upon the premises of a test group of members only over thirties medically and non medically dependent subjects.

While attending the club members would be subject to cognitive and psychological tests and questionnaires.

An ongoing diary would also be kept on the observations of how cannabis consumers interact with other consumers inside and directly outside of a social public environment.

Results of these studies might be compared to similar studies performed in pubs with alcoholic consumers.

I am aware this idea is in its’ infancy and will need a full experimental design.

The reason for this study is to gather unknown data on the large sector of over thirties cannabis consumers.

We are the unrepresented and no data exists on our experiences with cannabis and indeed any other shamanic drugs once readily available and beneficial for us.

I have sent countless e-mails and letters to the non scientific economically driven politicians with no response.

We should be aware also that cannabis/hemp is a cash crop and eco friendly and as scientists we have to provide a better future for our species.

Just taking the tenure and working for unscrupulous funders is no longer acceptable and will not provide us with the scientists of tomorrow.

I ask for your help in forming a science and public based pressure group that will provide a factual logical voice to our concerns.

Many Thanks

Richard Conlon
Crumpled Sheepskin

Hi all,
This is a copy of a letter i sent to the independent drugs council.

Please press these guys for some large public real evidence based experiments.

As a united public we have all the power to change things we feel are incorrect.

One voice Our voice.
Letter to the independent drugs council.

Hi,
I am over thirty and a have been a regular cannabis user for over 15 years and suffer no ill effects from it.

There is more harm caused in this world from our addiction to economics and unsustainable consumerism.

After all poverty, disease and hunger all are still present because we are socially addicted to money and this addiction allows us to maintain profitable problems such as hunger and disease.

Ask your self who economically profits from all the disease and hunger and poverty because it certainly isn’t human/social evolution.

In fact as scientists we should be fully aware who pays our wage and how that compromises our studies.

The shamanistic drugs which may have had a hand in the birth of our communication systems helped us evolve and we have allowed them to be usurped and replaced by economic greed.

This is purely a physical crutch which can corrupt our inner reality. This in turn has an effect upon the reality data we process back outwards.

I would like to engage you in a discussion about a study on the effects socially and medically of over thirties cannabis consumers.

These studies would take place upon the premises of a test group of members only over thirties medically and non medically dependent subjects.

While attending the club members would be subject to cognitive and psychological tests and questionnaires.

An ongoing diary would also be kept on the observations of how cannabis consumers interact with other consumers inside and directly outside of a social public environment.

Results of these studies might be compared to similar studies performed in pubs with alcoholic consumers.

I am aware this idea is in its’ infancy and will need a full experimental design.

The reason for this study is to gather unknown data on the large sector of over thirties cannabis consumers.

We are the unrepresented and no data exists on our experiences with cannabis and indeed any other shamanic drugs once readily available and beneficial for us.

I have sent countless e-mails and letters to the non scientific economically driven politicians with no response.

We should be aware also that cannabis/hemp is a cash crop and eco friendly and as scientists we have to provide a better future for our species.

Just taking the tenure and working for unscrupulous funders is no longer acceptable and will not provide us with the scientists of tomorrow.

I ask for your help in forming a science and public based pressure group that will provide a factual logical voice to our concerns.

Many Thanks

Richard Conlon
Tchoutoye

Just one example of how this research is biased against self-medication with a plant that everyone can grow in their own garden:

Researcher Hans-Ulrich Wittchen has financial affiliations with Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Wyeth, and Schering-Plough. He is currently or in the past 3 years has been a consultant for Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-Laroche, Novartis, Pfizer, and Wyeth.
- Tchoutoye
  
  Wittchen is one of two principal researchers of this study. The other one is Roselind Lieb, who has also worked for Wyeth (now Pfizer). Wyeth is known for manufacturing an over-the-counter analgesic (ibuprofen), as well as prescription antidepressants. Analgesic and antidepressant are precisely the main medicinal effects of cannabis.
Tchoutoye

Just one example of how this research is biased against self-medication with a plant that everyone can grow in their own garden:

Researcher Hans-Ulrich Wittchen has financial affiliations with Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Wyeth, and Schering-Plough. He is currently or in the past 3 years has been a consultant for Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman-Laroche, Novartis, Pfizer, and Wyeth.
Mowa

Psychosis can be dangerous and destructive. Permanent psychosis is schizophrenia – the fifth most disabling disease in America. “Psychosis” in indeed a nondescript term that far surpasses the psychosomatic responses most users of cannabis experience.
Mowa

Psychosis can be dangerous and destructive. Permanent psychosis is schizophrenia – the fifth most disabling disease in America. “Psychosis” in indeed a nondescript term that far surpasses the psychosomatic responses most users of cannabis experience.
Lucas

i agree with you when you say: “If one can stay focused and concentrated, cannabis can be a pleasant, mind-opening and ultimately healing experience”.

cannabis might RAISE the risk of psychosis, which means there always were the risk. it’s like you having too much paracetamol when you have stomach and intestine problems.
Lucas

i agree with you when you say: “If one can stay focused and concentrated, cannabis can be a pleasant, mind-opening and ultimately healing experience”.

cannabis might RAISE the risk of psychosis, which means there always were the risk. it’s like you having too much paracetamol when you have stomach and intestine problems.
Anonymous

Psychosis is a general term for the reactions to fear and misunderstanding, it can be negative or positive.
it can be drug induced or perception induced with body chemicals involved .foods can cause chemical reactions .what is gained or lost by drugs is still open to discovery,as people react differently to things.
i find it interesting that the weed is the target of so much controversy when so many drugs are used that
cause our body harm,and justified by doctors and drug company’s. awareness of self alone can cause
a psychotic reaction. usually it is peoples fear of the unknown and the reaction of imaginations that drive
this. negative mental issues are rare in the weeds grown naturally or hybridized.potency increases the reaction for sure, but body harm is at an acceptable level.for the gain, gain being self awareness comfort,relaxation. most natural herbs.are fairly safe,unless toxic. if the psychosis becomes pathos,we have a problem, if not wheres the problem.as the influence wears off so quickly.leaving little negative affect on the body.
we use so little of our brain,taking it out for a spin,or a joy ride once and a while mostly helps.
try taking a big dose of knowledge and see what happens,.you will have to tame that raging bull.
and may very well loose your sanity and find it and loose it and find it and.
rockaboutmusic

Psychosis is a general term for the reactions to fear and misunderstanding, it can be negative or positive.
it can be drug induced or perception induced with body chemicals involved .foods can cause chemical reactions .what is gained or lost by drugs is still open to discovery,as people react differently to things.
i find it interesting that the weed is the target of so much controversy when so many drugs are used that
cause our body harm,and justified by doctors and drug company’s. awareness of self alone can cause
a psychotic reaction. usually it is peoples fear of the unknown and the reaction of imaginations that drive
this. negative mental issues are rare in the weeds grown naturally or hybridized.potency increases the reaction for sure, but body harm is at an acceptable level.for the gain, gain being self awareness comfort,relaxation. most natural herbs.are fairly safe,unless toxic. if the psychosis becomes pathos,we have a problem, if not wheres the problem.as the influence wears off so quickly.leaving little negative affect on the body.
we use so little of our brain,taking it out for a spin,or a joy ride once and a while mostly helps.
try taking a big dose of knowledge and see what happens,.you will have to tame that raging bull.
and may very well loose your sanity and find it and loose it and find it and.
- hmmm
  
  “Psychosis is a general term for the reactions to fear and misunderstanding, it can be negative or positive.”
  
  That is simply not true. If you have ever worked with any psychosis sufferers, you will know first hand that there is NO positive side to psychosis,
  
  There are of course many ‘states of mind’ where reality seems somewhat compromised (hypnogogic imagery, certain meditative states, peak experiences) but they are NOT related in any way to psychotic mind states.
- Belcat2
  
  Sorry, a number of commercial drugs are based on plant ones. They aren’t less or more safe because of that. I would say they would be safer, because their concentrations are known. I believe both kinds (herbal/commercial) can have side effects and cause people to do bad things, but there’s no putting the cat back in the bag, they are here. And it seems like pot is one of the less dangerous ones.
Anonymous

not to mention,pesticides and herbicidal chemicals
Anonymous

Wittchen is one of two principal researchers of this study. The other one is Roselind Lieb, who has also worked for Wyeth (now Pfizer). Wyeth is known for manufacturing an over-the-counter analgesic (ibuprofen), as well as prescription antidepressants. Analgesic and antidepressant are precisely the main medicinal effects of cannabis.
WhiteRose

There are so many different kinds and unscrupulous drug dealers that lace their product to get their buyers addicted to other drugs. Though China does the same thing with their pharmaceuticals. I think as with any medicine it has its plus and minuses. I think its great for migraines and stress. Most people that I know that are users come from families with lots and lots of troubles, I think that’s the link.
WhiteRose

There are so many different kinds and unscrupulous drug dealers that lace their product to get their buyers addicted to other drugs. Though China does the same thing with their pharmaceuticals. I think as with any medicine it has its plus and minuses. I think its great for migraines and stress. Most people that I know that are users come from families with lots and lots of troubles, I think that’s the link.
DeepCough

The link between “psychosis” and cannabis is specious at best, especially when this very plant produces a compound that essentially offsets the effects of psychosis called “cannabidiol.” Not only that, the seeds of the cannabis plants are rich in all nine essential amino acids and all three omega fatty acids, which are important for brain function (these fatty acids can also be found in salvia seeds interestingly enough), but since this is a Psychiatric study, it doesn’t take into account those chemical factors since Psychiatrists know less than dick about chemistry, period.
DeepCough

The link between “psychosis” and cannabis is specious at best, especially when this very plant produces a compound that essentially offsets the effects of psychosis called “cannabidiol.” Not only that, the seeds of the cannabis plants are rich in all nine essential amino acids and all three omega fatty acids, which are important for brain function (these fatty acids can also be found in salvia seeds interestingly enough), but since this is a Psychiatric study, it doesn’t take into account those chemical factors since Psychiatrists know less than dick about chemistry, period.
http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

“If one can stay focused and concentrated, cannabis can be a pleasant, mind-opening and ultimately healing experience.”

This sentence is key to the article, and the main important word here is IF.

I know far too many people who use marijuana in what I would like to call an incorrect manner. IF you use it to do some introspection and think, and possibly have an interesting conversation with other interesting human beings, theres just about no bad that can come of it all. However, too many, and I dare say a majority use marijuana to just giggle at silly television shows, or even worse, youtube videos. There are people who’s lives revolve around just watching stupid shit with their friends, lighting up, then sometimes watching the same stupid shit again.

The way I see mind-altering drugs is they make you more receptive to whatever you are experiencing. So if you really are delving into the rabbit hole of your subconscious through introspection then that’s what you are really getting deep into, or if you are delving into the collective-unconscious of stupid by watching mass-produced crap, thats what you are delving into. Either of these can be misconstrued as some kind of psychosis in one manner or another

In an ideal world, people would smoke some pot and bounce around ideas to better things around them because they have access to new ways of thinking, but then again I don’t think this is an ideal world.
http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

“If one can stay focused and concentrated, cannabis can be a pleasant, mind-opening and ultimately healing experience.”

This sentence is key to the article, and the main important word here is IF.

I know far too many people who use marijuana in what I would like to call an incorrect manner. IF you use it to do some introspection and think, and possibly have an interesting conversation with other interesting human beings, theres just about no bad that can come of it all. However, too many, and I dare say a majority use marijuana to just giggle at silly television shows, or even worse, youtube videos. There are people who’s lives revolve around just watching stupid shit with their friends, lighting up, then sometimes watching the same stupid shit again.

The way I see mind-altering drugs is they make you more receptive to whatever you are experiencing. So if you really are delving into the rabbit hole of your subconscious through introspection then that’s what you are really getting deep into, or if you are delving into the collective-unconscious of stupid by watching mass-produced crap, thats what you are delving into. Either of these can be misconstrued as some kind of psychosis in one manner or another

In an ideal world, people would smoke some pot and bounce around ideas to better things around them because they have access to new ways of thinking, but then again I don’t think this is an ideal world.
- justagirl
  
  you call that “using marijuana in an incorrect manner”? LOL!! i was thinking like… a marijuana enima or something of that nature.
http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

The natural stuff is so much better… you can always tell the difference.
jake

I’m so sick of people being ignorant on higher yielding THC strains. The thing is, you’ve now added the human element. Sure nature is great, but add MAN, and you can now have the plant reaching its genetic maximum by controlling variables, and guess what, that happens with everything and anything on planet earth. Stop acting like its some super potent man made killing weed, you sound like a fool.
jake

I’m so sick of people being ignorant on higher yielding THC strains. The thing is, you’ve now added the human element. Sure nature is great, but add MAN, and you can now have the plant reaching its genetic maximum by controlling variables, and guess what, that happens with everything and anything on planet earth. Stop acting like its some super potent man made killing weed, you sound like a fool.
- http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient
  
  my problem is with the people who are REALLY ignorant of the high-yielding THC strains, and don’t understand the concept of moderation. They smoke the high-yield stuff as if its the weaker stuff, and get their mind blown beyond operation.. and then fall asleep. Re-using the alcohol analogy, its like handing someone a beer-bottle filled to the brim with tequila, and they don’t know that they aren’t supposed to drink that much.
  
  (BTW, random question, you haven’t been to Miami in the last year or 2 have you? you remind me of someone i know named jake… )
- eyeoftheaxis
  
  High THC = smoke less = good thing.
  Shwagg = smoke more, trash the lungs = bad thing
  High THC & smoke more = one toke over the line for me.
  but that’s just my opinion.
jake

LMAO People are still running around claiming “big bad drug dealer is lacing his weed!” Let me tell you something, maybe in lala land, or the most absolute sktechy, dark, back alley deal you could possibly imagine, oh and in Mexico, maybe then. LOL Laced MJ, I think I have better luck hitting the powerball 5 weeks in a row than smoke laced weed.
jake

LMAO People are still running around claiming “big bad drug dealer is lacing his weed!” Let me tell you something, maybe in lala land, or the most absolute sktechy, dark, back alley deal you could possibly imagine, oh and in Mexico, maybe then. LOL Laced MJ, I think I have better luck hitting the powerball 5 weeks in a row than smoke laced weed.
- http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient
  
  I think you still believe the world is a lot nicer than it actually is.
- DeepCough
  
  That may not be the case with American weed, but in the U.K. they spray it up with wood dust and glass beads to inflate the weight of it.
  - eyeoftheaxis
    
    If you plant it, … it will grow.
    Say no to shwagg.
jake

“I know far too many people who use marijuana in what I would like to call an incorrect manner. IF you use it to do some introspection and think, and possibly have an interesting conversation with other interesting human beings, theres just about no bad that can come of it all. However, too many, and I dare say a majority use marijuana to just giggle at silly television shows, or even worse, youtube videos. There are people who’s lives revolve around just watching stupid shit with their friends, lighting up, then sometimes watching the same stupid shit again.”

Perfect, because in my childhood, I only came across drunken men who were quadruple my size and strength, boy I wish they had smoked instead!
jake

“I know far too many people who use marijuana in what I would like to call an incorrect manner. IF you use it to do some introspection and think, and possibly have an interesting conversation with other interesting human beings, theres just about no bad that can come of it all. However, too many, and I dare say a majority use marijuana to just giggle at silly television shows, or even worse, youtube videos. There are people who’s lives revolve around just watching stupid shit with their friends, lighting up, then sometimes watching the same stupid shit again.”

Perfect, because in my childhood, I only came across drunken men who were quadruple my size and strength, boy I wish they had smoked instead!
jake

I think what is far more interesting here is the fact that these compounds have evolved alongside us for thousands of years. Go smoke a rose petal, nothing happens because theres nothing in a rose petal that can bind to receptors in our body, creating its effect, almost like inputting a computer code to a PC and pressing “enter” at the command prompt. One I can think of that doesn’t do this is alcohol. Alcohol overloads the liver (basic explanation here) which in turn dumps the rest into your blood stream, overwhelming aspects of your brain causing its effect. Where as MJ, opiates, LSD, Psilocybin, ect actually bind to pretty important receptors. LSD and Psilocybin are almost identical to the main neurotransmitter in our brain, Serotonin. So replacing serotonin at the uptake receptor with D-Lysergic Acid causes the brain to function on an entirely new compound/chemical/neurotransmitter. THIS WASN’T BY ACCIDENT!
jake

I think what is far more interesting here is the fact that these compounds have evolved alongside us for thousands of years. Go smoke a rose petal, nothing happens because theres nothing in a rose petal that can bind to receptors in our body, creating its effect, almost like inputting a computer code to a PC and pressing “enter” at the command prompt. One I can think of that doesn’t do this is alcohol. Alcohol overloads the liver (basic explanation here) which in turn dumps the rest into your blood stream, overwhelming aspects of your brain causing its effect. Where as MJ, opiates, LSD, Psilocybin, ect actually bind to pretty important receptors. LSD and Psilocybin are almost identical to the main neurotransmitter in our brain, Serotonin. So replacing serotonin at the uptake receptor with D-Lysergic Acid causes the brain to function on an entirely new compound/chemical/neurotransmitter. THIS WASN’T BY ACCIDENT!
jake

Oh so popping pills that alter your brain chemistry PERMANENTLY is NOT a quick/short term fix, but smoking MJ is?

I LOVE IDIOCY! Problem is, when it far out numbers people of above average intelligence, or even just average, well, then it just becomes scary.
jake

Oh so popping pills that alter your brain chemistry PERMANENTLY is NOT a quick/short term fix, but smoking MJ is?

I LOVE IDIOCY! Problem is, when it far out numbers people of above average intelligence, or even just average, well, then it just becomes scary.
jake

Oh so popping pills that alter your brain chemistry PERMANENTLY is NOT a quick/short term fix, but smoking MJ is?

I LOVE IDIOCY! Problem is, when it far out numbers people of above average intelligence, or even just average, well, then it just becomes scary.
http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

my problem is with the people who are REALLY ignorant of the high-yielding THC strains, and don’t understand the concept of moderation. They smoke the high-yield stuff as if its the weaker stuff, and get their mind blown beyond operation.. and then fall asleep. Re-using the alcohol analogy, its like handing someone a beer-bottle filled to the brim with tequila, and they don’t know that they aren’t supposed to drink that much.

(BTW, random question, you haven’t been to Miami in the last year or 2 have you? you remind me of someone i know named jake… )
http://hormeticminds.blogspot.com/ Chaorder Gradient

I think you still believe the world is a lot nicer than it actually is.
hmmm

“I have found that the best thing for the panic reaction is to try your hardest to make it even worse.”

What you have described is a technique used in behavioural psychology – often known as paradoxical intervention (sometimes called ‘negative practice’) . You gain control over a previously involuntarily behaviour by ‘forcing yourself’ to do it. It is used frequently with chronic blushers.

If you intuitively discovered this technique, I am impressed
hmmm

“Psychosis is a general term for the reactions to fear and misunderstanding, it can be negative or positive.”

That is simply not true. If you have ever worked with any psychosis sufferers, you will know first hand that there is NO positive side to psychosis,

There are of course many ‘states of mind’ where reality seems somewhat compromised (hypnogogic imagery, certain meditative states, peak experiences) but they are NOT related in any way to psychotic mind states.
Hadrian999

I find being sober these days increases the risk of psychosis
Hadrian999

I find being sober these days increases the risk of psychosis
Lol

smoke weed erryday
Lol

smoke weed erryday
Foff

People who cannot face reality without their daily intoxicants are weak-minded idiots. They can dress their weakness and dependancy issues up in as much delusion and bull as they like, they are still pathetic, boring slaves. Legalise it and make it as strong as possible to keep these morons leashed to the brainless states that they deserve.
Foff

People who cannot face reality without their daily intoxicants are weak-minded idiots. They can dress their weakness and dependancy issues up in as much delusion and bull as they like, they are still pathetic, boring slaves. Legalise it and make it as strong as possible to keep these morons leashed to the brainless states that they deserve.
- chonus
  
  Guess you don’t like music or art much…
- Investinourftre
  
  Oh you mean like both our previous presidents, oh wait the last three i mean. Or like great minds like Bill Gates or Hugh Hefner. Or our forefathers like Washington and Jefferson? I agree a bunch of retarded idiots who can’t find themselves and are the failures of our world, thank you for standing up for the real intelligent people.
- Belcat2
  
  If you mean someone must use it daily, then yes – I think it’s excessive and an addiction, plus, you start to miss out on the actual pleasures of it, and are just relieving the addition symptions (bah!).
  But if you mean non-daily, casual use: I take it you don’t drink, smoke regular cigarettes or drink coffee?
  If you do – you are contradicting yourself. If you don’t – well, you can live your life that way, but there’s some pleasure to be had with limited use of some drugs (caffeine, alcohol, & pot), and most studies seem to say it’s perfectly fine (for the first two).
  Plus… like chonus said, it’s wicked with something artistic, wether it be music, art, or movies…
  If you are thinking pot users are too relaxed to do anything, well, alcohol users consuming the same quantity are in even rougher shape.
- Eye
  
  Have another cup of coffee….asshole.
DeepCough

That may not be the case with American weed, but in the U.K. they spray it up with wood dust and glass beads to inflate the weight of it.
Anonymous

I’m fifty-one years old. I started smoking pot when I was thirteen. I’ve been around thousands of people smoking pot. I’ve never witnessed anything I would consider psychotic. I’ve never experienced any psychosis. Just lucky? I wonder? Could this be bullshit? Hmmmm.
zedge

I’m fifty-one years old. I started smoking pot when I was thirteen. I’ve been around thousands of people smoking pot. I’ve never witnessed anything I would consider psychotic. I’ve never experienced any psychosis. Just lucky? I wonder? Could this be bullshit? Hmmmm.
Anonymous

This method works great for psychodelic experiences as well, not to mention other panic not induced by chemicals. My grandmother used to say “do the thing you fear”. She was right. The road to the self is cut through a forest of monsters. The more we fear the more we tend to run and when we run the road becomes seemingly endless. It’s better to stop on the side of the road and have a picnic with the beasts in the shadows…they really are alot more friendly than anyone ever expects the monsters to be.
little_green_chicken

I recently asked my GP about this psychosis thing, apparently about 1% of people freak out when they smoke, e.g. audio hallucinations, panic. If they stop smoking, it goes away straight away, no matter how long they previously smoked….That is the only downside science has come close to connecting marijuana to. I have suffered from hideous depression for about 11 years and have tried all the shit the drug companies and doctors tell you makes it better…I attempted suicide while on such drugs (lexapro), as I had never been so empty. When I stopped taking synthetic drugs and later started smoking marijuana every night, I started to get better. I’m sorry fundies, sorry economists, but that’s the truth. This ancient herbal remedy gave me a reason to live again. To help you all understand, weed gives you the strength to accept the things you can’t change and the power to forget terrible events (in my case, the suicide death of my 14 year old sister).

Weed gives me the power to live. Fuck anyone who wants to take that away. Fuck anyone who tries to vilify the substance, you people have no compassion.
little_green_chicken

I recently asked my GP about this psychosis thing, apparently about 1% of people freak out when they smoke, e.g. audio hallucinations, panic. If they stop smoking, it goes away straight away, no matter how long they previously smoked….That is the only downside science has come close to connecting marijuana to. I have suffered from hideous depression for about 11 years and have tried all the shit the drug companies and doctors tell you makes it better…I attempted suicide while on such drugs (lexapro), as I had never been so empty. When I stopped taking synthetic drugs and later started smoking marijuana every night, I started to get better. I’m sorry fundies, sorry economists, but that’s the truth. This ancient herbal remedy gave me a reason to live again. To help you all understand, weed gives you the strength to accept the things you can’t change and the power to forget terrible events (in my case, the suicide death of my 14 year old sister).

Weed gives me the power to live. Fuck anyone who wants to take that away. Fuck anyone who tries to vilify the substance, you people have no compassion.
Little_green_chicken

I love it how you can so confidently proclaim that dope isn’t enough…I’ve experienced ‘real’ medical help, and it was a fucking disaster…what do you have to say to those whose brain chemistry simply isn’t suited to synthetic drugs…are we the ones who are flawed? Or are the powers that be only willing to invest credibility in drugs they can make money off? Wake up friend.
http://voxmagi-necessarywords.blogspot.com/ VoxMagi

Hey…don’t get titchy with me…they’re the ones with the study that claims pot makes psychosis more likely…which is probably a two pronged way to pimp the sales of risky pharmaceuticals while attacking pot users in the same breath.

My point is that they skew the conclusion to make an unsupportable claim. There are plenty of people with high anxiety and other issues that benefit from pot…because it’s comparatively mild and doesn’t massively alter their brain chemistry (which is better than we can say for Prozac or Ritalin)…

…but it isn’t a cure all and it isn’t a perfect solution for everyone. My better half works in a rehab with countless substance users…a percentage of whom are also people with psychological/psychiatric issues that self medicated via illegal substances (which is how they wound up in rehab). For some people…that works…for others, it didn’t work and their psych issues manifested dangerously no matter what they used.

Some of these folks needed very serious help…not a few joints…pretending otherwise is clinging to fantasy or just venting personal issues because of your own experiences…which are relevant for you…but not the end all and be all of the situation.
Axistao

Some of us, who have seen the lies and hypocrisy of ‘drug studies’ by the ‘Tsarist Occupation Governments’ are now more crazy than they and they’re instruments could ever imagine or register. So mad, and so full of fire and light and ‘multiple worlds of intuition’ that whatever the ‘Tsar’ evaluates to be ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ physically and psychologically; qualifies, to some of us as a kind of living hell, a definition of the square! In the world of squares what else would you expect from a scientific study into cannabis but uptight conservative and sensational remarks. Light up and be somebody, beware of the Mass Tricked Mayor. Sew, grow, sell and get high as Kites, and screw too.
Axistao

Some of us, who have seen the lies and hypocrisy of ‘drug studies’ by the ‘Tsarist Occupation Governments’ are now more crazy than they and they’re instruments could ever imagine or register. So mad, and so full of fire and light and ‘multiple worlds of intuition’ that whatever the ‘Tsar’ evaluates to be ‘normal’ or ‘healthy’ physically and psychologically; qualifies, to some of us as a kind of living hell, a definition of the square! In the world of squares what else would you expect from a scientific study into cannabis but uptight conservative and sensational remarks. Light up and be somebody, beware of the Mass Tricked Mayor. Sew, grow, sell and get high as Kites, and screw too.
Anonymous

Then I should be frikkin nuts!
Guest

Then I should be frikkin nuts!
http://www.nickmeador.org/ ndmeador

“Although the link between cannabis and psychosis is well-established, it had been unclear whether cannabis triggers the disorder.” Just another example of sloppy reporting. Since it’s UNCLEAR, it’s irresponsible for them to suggest that there actually is a causal link. It could be that people more susceptible to psychosis are more likely to smoke cannabis, or some other non-causal link. Too often they assume causation because two things are correlated.

Anyway, I think BananaFamine’s intro is wonderful. By the 1950s intellectuals and progressive psychologists were saying that everyone had “neurosis.” I think it’s safe to say that “psychosis” is now the predominant mentality in the industrialized world. But there’s no going back now! Down the rabbit hole we go!
http://www.nickmeador.org/ ndmeador

“Although the link between cannabis and psychosis is well-established, it had been unclear whether cannabis triggers the disorder.” Just another example of sloppy reporting. Since it’s UNCLEAR, it’s irresponsible for them to suggest that there actually is a causal link. It could be that people more susceptible to psychosis are more likely to smoke cannabis, or some other non-causal link. Too often they assume causation because two things are correlated.

Anyway, I think BananaFamine’s intro is wonderful. By the 1950s intellectuals and progressive psychologists were saying that everyone had “neurosis.” I think it’s safe to say that “psychosis” is now the predominant mentality in the industrialized world. But there’s no going back now! Down the rabbit hole we go!
JamesMurphy

You’re an idiot. Psychosis is a pretty serious mental condition that has nothing in common with ‘discovering your subconcious’ or whatever the fck. Its hell and it can ruin your life.

I stopped reading after the first two sentences btw. If you write articles like this and you don’t bother to investigate what you are talking about then why should I bother reading what you have to say.

You’re an idiot.
http://www.peakstates.com.au Nemi

I went into ‘pychosis after 5 smokes (over a period of 2 months. no psychiatrist was able to diagnose my condition as it did not fit into one category properly. Now after 30 years of continuous study of consciousness and its workings, I know I was experiencing a state of exceptional health and mental clarity. However the shift to this state was to big for me to integrate into everyday consciousness, so I spent , bakc then a couple of years finding ways to shut it down. Only years later I could undo the mechanisms I used to shut down the states and now am able to freely access them without any danger of psychosis.
http://www.peakstates.com.au Nemi

I went into ‘pychosis after 5 smokes (over a period of 2 months. no psychiatrist was able to diagnose my condition as it did not fit into one category properly. Now after 30 years of continuous study of consciousness and its workings, I know I was experiencing a state of exceptional health and mental clarity. However the shift to this state was to big for me to integrate into everyday consciousness, so I spent , bakc then a couple of years finding ways to shut it down. Only years later I could undo the mechanisms I used to shut down the states and now am able to freely access them without any danger of psychosis.
Waxindignant

“I find being sober these days increases the risk of psychosis” ha ha amen to that bro.

Yeah, they took a bunch of stoners and followed them around for ten years! And the study found they got paranoid. haha!! well, duh!
Waxindignant

“I find being sober these days increases the risk of psychosis” ha ha amen to that bro.

Yeah, they took a bunch of stoners and followed them around for ten years! And the study found they got paranoid. haha!! well, duh!
- Belcat2
  
  Well yeah, watching for that cop being your back… ;P
Anonymous

Guess you don’t like music or art much…
http://www.nickmeador.org/ ndmeador

Actually, now that you mention it, that technique has also been used with phobias. For example, someone with an “irrational fear” of spiders would have prolonged, direct exposure to spiders.

I also like @GoodDoktorBad’s description of “a picnic with the beasts in the shadows.” Haha
justagirl

you call that “using marijuana in an incorrect manner”? LOL!! i was thinking like… a marijuana enima or something of that nature.
eyeoftheaxis

If you plant it, … it will grow.
Say no to shwagg.
eyeoftheaxis

High THC = smoke less = good thing.
Shwagg = smoke more, trash the lungs = bad thing
High THC & smoke more = one toke over the line for me.
but that’s just my opinion.
Anonymous

Could the paranoia asscociated with cannabis use simply be the combination of drug induced alterations of perception in combination with the fear of being caught. That combination repeated again and again over many hours. The fear of a police raid, the fear of being shot, the fear of extended imprisonment and the true logical fear of your own government (you are not paranoid when there is someone out to get you, to destroy you and even possibly kill you).
So do those true fears, of a government and it’s police force gone out of control, cause psychosis in some cases. Let’s be honest, when subjected to those fears over and over again some people will break. So is it the drug or is it the insanity of a government declaring war upon it’s own citizens for gains at the voting booth, a government that forces it’s citizens to live in fear for causing no harm to anyone.
So what causes the psychosis the drug or the war on drugs (the war on unapproved drug users).
rtb61

Could the paranoia asscociated with cannabis use simply be the combination of drug induced alterations of perception in combination with the fear of being caught. That combination repeated again and again over many hours. The fear of a police raid, the fear of being shot, the fear of extended imprisonment and the true logical fear of your own government (you are not paranoid when there is someone out to get you, to destroy you and even possibly kill you).
So do those true fears, of a government and it’s police force gone out of control, cause psychosis in some cases. Let’s be honest, when subjected to those fears over and over again some people will break. So is it the drug or is it the insanity of a government declaring war upon it’s own citizens for gains at the voting booth, a government that forces it’s citizens to live in fear for causing no harm to anyone.
So what causes the psychosis the drug or the war on drugs (the war on unapproved drug users).
Anonymous

To get the truth you merely need to follow the money. The leading investors in the “Drug Free America” (which has never and will never happen) are the alcohol, tobacco, and Pharmaceutical industries. Don’t believe me? Look it up, it has been proven time and time again the whole War on Drugs was created for profit and to keep the impoverished out of the public eye to keep a Utopia in appearance. The CIA and DEA have distributed drugs to many areas of the world i.e. project Pegasus, project Euphoria, project Phoenix. Wake up wake up thinkers of our world.
Investinourftre

To get the truth you merely need to follow the money. The leading investors in the “Drug Free America” (which has never and will never happen) are the alcohol, tobacco, and Pharmaceutical industries. Don’t believe me? Look it up, it has been proven time and time again the whole War on Drugs was created for profit and to keep the impoverished out of the public eye to keep a Utopia in appearance. The CIA and DEA have distributed drugs to many areas of the world i.e. project Pegasus, project Euphoria, project Phoenix. Wake up wake up thinkers of our world.
Anonymous

Oh you mean like both our previous presidents, oh wait the last three i mean. Or like great minds like Bill Gates or Hugh Hefner. Or our forefathers like Washington and Jefferson? I agree a bunch of retarded idiots who can’t find themselves and are the failures of our world, thank you for standing up for the real intelligent people.
Anonymous

Well yeah, watching for that cop being your back… ;P
Anonymous

I can’t say I’ve used that for a panic attack, but I have used this for anxiety. Say you can’t sleep, you’re worrying about it too much, so you amplify the feeling, make it stronger – and then let go. You will then automatically relax, and you try go with this relaxation, you will be more relaxed than you were before you tried it.
Anonymous

Actually, I think I do understand. People put up barriers all the time; deliverately pull the wool over their own head (best example I can think of is homophobic people who are actually attracted to men, but people have all kinds of illusions). If you smoke pot, especially a strong amount, the erotic feeling will be very strong. To someone who doesn’t want to think about that, it’s a massive shock..
Anonymous

Actually, I think I do understand. People put up barriers all the time; deliverately pull the wool over their own head (best example I can think of is homophobic people who are actually attracted to men, but people have all kinds of illusions). If you smoke pot, especially a strong amount, the erotic feeling will be very strong. To someone who doesn’t want to think about that, it’s a massive shock..
Anonymous

Sorry, a number of commercial drugs are based on plant ones. They aren’t less or more safe because of that. I would say they would be safer, because their concentrations are known. I believe both kinds (herbal/commercial) can have side effects and cause people to do bad things, but there’s no putting the cat back in the bag, they are here. And it seems like pot is one of the less dangerous ones.
Anonymous

If you mean someone must use it daily, then yes – I think it’s excessive and an addiction, plus, you start to miss out on the actual pleasures of it, and are just relieving the addition symptions (bah!).
But if you mean non-daily, casual use: I take it you don’t drink, smoke regular cigarettes or drink coffee?
If you do – you are contradicting yourself. If you don’t – well, you can live your life that way, but there’s some pleasure to be had with limited use of some drugs (caffeine, alcohol, & pot), and most studies seem to say it’s perfectly fine (for the first two).
Plus… like chonus said, it’s wicked with something artistic, wether it be music, art, or movies…
If you are thinking pot users are too relaxed to do anything, well, alcohol users consuming the same quantity are in even rougher shape.
Anonymous

Honestly, even the psychiatrists are not always 100% sure of what effects a drug will have. So yeah your first tries might not have worked that well, perhaps the next drug to try might have worked better. You’re lucky pot works for you, it might not have been.
Sundance

This technique is slightly different, as it is an experiential one rather than a cognitive one. What you are describing with the spiders is systematic desensitization. It too can be very effective against phobias and other anxieties.
Eye

Have another cup of coffee….asshole.
Foxtrot_dude99

There is a well-established link between cannabis usage and psychosis?

Well, that’s news to me. Most of the studies I come across say the exact opposite.

It’s true that not every alcoholic causes domestic abuse, but it’s safe to say a lot of domestic abuse comes from alcohol.

Somehow, I have the feeling the same for cannabis.

That, and perfectly normal/happy people don’t need to do drugs or drink.
Foxtrot_dude99

There is a well-established link between cannabis usage and psychosis?

Well, that’s news to me. Most of the studies I come across say the exact opposite.

It’s true that not every alcoholic causes domestic abuse, but it’s safe to say a lot of domestic abuse comes from alcohol.

Somehow, I have the feeling the same for cannabis.

That, and perfectly normal/happy people don’t need to do drugs or drink.
Chrysla

Sorry – I don’t agree with most people on here. I grew up surrounded by people smoking cannabis but never partook myself. I know, to some of you that will make me automatically ineligible to comment. I never had a problem with others using, but I just didn’t ever want to smoke anything. Now, however, when I see some of the people that smoked, they have trouble holding jobs and are paranoid. I also have noticed that the people that I knew smoking in high school have much more profound problems than the people I knew that started in college or older. There may be something to the fact that the brain is still developing when you are a teenager and can more easily be permanently damaged. I also have a colleague whose son has had to get brain scans – the ones with wavy lines – not the pictures, since he was about 12 and it is very easy to see a change in his brain chemistry when he started to heavily use cannabis. We all thought that it would go away as he decreased his use. Unfortunately, he is now in his late twenties and cannot drive, hold a job, or complete his college degree due to his extreme paranoia. He did get a GED after four years of trying. He still lives at home. Anyway – this is what I see from personal experience – the younger you are, the heavier you use = more problems. The ones that started later, do not seem to have the problems. I think this is interesting news from the British Medical Journal as it mirrors what I have seen.
- DeepCough
  
  Bah, you just want an affirmation to your narrow beliefs about how “Drugs Are Bad.”
Chrysla

Sorry – I don’t agree with most people on here. I grew up surrounded by people smoking cannabis but never partook myself. I know, to some of you that will make me automatically ineligible to comment. I never had a problem with others using, but I just didn’t ever want to smoke anything. Now, however, when I see some of the people that smoked, they have trouble holding jobs and are paranoid. I also have noticed that the people that I knew smoking in high school have much more profound problems than the people I knew that started in college or older. There may be something to the fact that the brain is still developing when you are a teenager and can more easily be permanently damaged. I also have a colleague whose son has had to get brain scans – the ones with wavy lines – not the pictures, since he was about 12 and it is very easy to see a change in his brain chemistry when he started to heavily use cannabis. We all thought that it would go away as he decreased his use. Unfortunately, he is now in his late twenties and cannot drive, hold a job, or complete his college degree due to his extreme paranoia. He did get a GED after four years of trying. He still lives at home. Anyway – this is what I see from personal experience – the younger you are, the heavier you use = more problems. The ones that started later, do not seem to have the problems. I think this is interesting news from the British Medical Journal as it mirrors what I have seen.
DeepCough

Bah, you just want an affirmation to your narrow beliefs about how “Drugs Are Bad.”
http://www.pinupforpeace.com Nosubject13

What they mean by psychosis is a range of symptoms going up to those mimicking schizophrenic. All it takes is a raise in serotonin levels. i have personal experience with this and it’s not the first scientific evidence(http://www.jneurosci.org/content/27/49/13369.full) that marijuana is not as safe as we told ourselves. i think it’s a beautiful example of how we all need to look at our inner arrogance. Yeah, the drug is natural, so is everything (including humans but we can stay away from that since baby’s are on board).
This is not bs. and just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone (inner arrogance). There’s actually a bunch of ill side effects that many people have before psychosis that they think is from food they eat or whatever the current bs trend is.
What really speed up the process in many cases of this is synthetic cannabinoids that are even stronger than todays(untested) marijuana (which we know is many times stronger than our parents). We already had solid evidence that cannabinoids have a direct effect on seratonin. Now this is enough to know already that it has psychosis effects on sensitive people. As the marijuana got stronger over the years it happened to more and more ‘regular’ people.
If you are having stiff muscles, strange vision and depth perception issues, anxiety that mj can’t make go away then you need to consider stopping marijuana and it’ll take years to go away so don’t just take a break.
I can write forever on this topic but no one will listen or better yet they don’t understand the way their brain works and will continue to bend their perception of reality as it suits their emotional state.
peace,
daniel
http://www.pinupforpeace.com Nosubject13

What they mean by psychosis is a range of symptoms going up to those mimicking schizophrenic. All it takes is a raise in serotonin levels. i have personal experience with this and it’s not the first scientific evidence(http://www.jneurosci.org/content/27/49/13369.full) that marijuana is not as safe as we told ourselves. i think it’s a beautiful example of how we all need to look at our inner arrogance. Yeah, the drug is natural, so is everything (including humans but we can stay away from that since baby’s are on board).
This is not bs. and just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone (inner arrogance). There’s actually a bunch of ill side effects that many people have before psychosis that they think is from food they eat or whatever the current bs trend is.
What really speed up the process in many cases of this is synthetic cannabinoids that are even stronger than todays(untested) marijuana (which we know is many times stronger than our parents). We already had solid evidence that cannabinoids have a direct effect on seratonin. Now this is enough to know already that it has psychosis effects on sensitive people. As the marijuana got stronger over the years it happened to more and more ‘regular’ people.
If you are having stiff muscles, strange vision and depth perception issues, anxiety that mj can’t make go away then you need to consider stopping marijuana and it’ll take years to go away so don’t just take a break.
I can write forever on this topic but no one will listen or better yet they don’t understand the way their brain works and will continue to bend their perception of reality as it suits their emotional state.
peace,
daniel
GoodDoktorBad

There are enough neat and tidy clinical definitons fror “psychosis”. It’s a broad yet polarizing term made up by those well meaning souls who assigned themselves keepers of the human psyche. The penchant to generalize humans into little groups never ceases to amaze me. No one fits neatly into the containers that are labeled with these generalities. I ask, do we earn the label or does the prexisting label earn us? How often does the lie become the truth through suggestion?
Anonymous

There are enough neat and tidy clinical definitons fror “psychosis”. It’s a broad yet polarizing term made up by those well meaning souls who assigned themselves keepers of the human psyche. The penchant to generalize humans into little groups never ceases to amaze me. No one fits neatly into the containers that are labeled with these generalities. I ask, do we earn the label or does the prexisting label earn us? How often does the lie become the truth through suggestion?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3XG27HF2HY56OGDDVGCNE5ZB3E Michael

I think this is one of the most disturbing cannabis effects. You should not really be addicted to using it.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3XG27HF2HY56OGDDVGCNE5ZB3E Michael

I think this is one of the most disturbing cannabis effects. You should not really be addicted to using it.
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