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Buzzby

Cannabis 'Could Reverse Psychosis'
NEWS.com.au | 12/01/2005

AUSTRALIAN researchers believe cannabis, a drug believed to increase the risk of psychosis, may also be able to reverse psychotic behaviour.

Scientists at Melbourne's Monash University say they have found a chemical compound in cannabis, cannabidiol, that reverses drug-induced behavioural disturbances in mice.

Use of cannabis had been linked with an increased risk of developing psychosis because of the effects of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which also gives users a high, researcher Leonora Long said.

"The interesting thing is that you have these two compounds in the cannabis plant that produce opposing effects," Ms Long said.

"One is liable to produce psychotic symptoms, while the other may be protective against psychosis.

"Cannabidiol may also help alleviate the symptoms of epilepsy and also pain associated with inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis," she said.

Ms Long said previous research had shown that THC produced behavioural deficiencies in rodents that mimicked symptoms of human psychosis.

The researchers now plan to investigate the effects of cannabidiol and THC together in rats and mice to see how the two compounds interact and to mimic human consumption of cannabis.

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Tolerance4all

Have they been basing their claim that Cannabis causes psychotic behaviour on these studies using THC only? How much THC is administered during these studies?

First it comes out that THC counteracts the cancer causing properties in Cannabis. It now seems to be clear that in order to make legitimate claims concerning affects of Cannabis use, you must test with whole Cannabis! I would think that we could question any studies conducted without using whole Cannabis.

Buzzby

That's a very good point! A lot of these animal studies use dosage levels 100 times as great as any human being would use medically or recreationally. I might have a psychotic episode if I smoked a couple of ounces all at once (after I woke up).

If the study conditions don't replicate something that happens in the real world they don't have much bearing on the human experience.

bopapi

100 times as great? damn that rat is trippin

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Smoke weed everyday.

SouthAfrica. goood sh*t..

imported_Peace_Frog

All their research did was reinforce something we already know about CBD. Then they act like it's interesting because it conflicts with their unsubstantiated propaganda about THC.

 

Tokamak

Here's a thought: what's so bad about a psychotic episode? Psychosis is defined as a "mental illness in which a person loses contact with reality and has difficulty functioning in daily life." So long as this is transient, what's the big deal? People consume large amounts of alcohol soley to achieve this state. Nobody's calling for a ban on alcohol because users may lose touch with reality and can't function normally for a while. Furthermore, these studies never seem to mention if the "behavioural deficiencies" they observed in rats are permanent or only temporary.

Peace.

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"He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know."
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

ThaDrewski

They also fail to specify what "psychotic behaviors" the rodents displayed. I don't understand how one can gauge the level of psychosis in these animals since "psychosis" is so subjective. It's also a relatively abstract term that can be used in a number of ways, especially when considering that, psychologically, humans and rats are on totally different planes.

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Tha Drewski

Buzzby

If you've ever had a psychotic episode you'd know what's so bad about it.

Imagine having demons eating you from the inside out. Imagine having aliens controlling your brain and making you do things you'd never want to do. Imagine having everyone you love turned into malevolent robots.

A psychotic episode is nothing like getting drunk. Psychosis is more frightening and painful than most non-psychotics can imagine.

ThaDrewski

Do all psychotic episodes manifest in such extremes?

Are there not different types of psychoses?

Does a rat having a psychotic episode experience demons eating their way out of them? If so, how would the researchers observing them know?

Buzzby

No. They come in many styles, sizes, and colors.


There are many types. If you're interested in learning about them, find a copy of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th. Edition.


That's a good question. My guess would be that they observed bizarre changes in behavior rather than interviewing the rats.