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New Study Indicates Cannabis-Associated Psychosis Risk Is Minimal
05-01-08|NORML

Albany, NY: There is little increased risk of incidences of psychosis or schizophrenia stemming from the use of cannabis, according to clinical data to be published in the journal Human Psychopharmacology.

The study found that participants who used cannabis, but no other illicit substances did not score higher on a Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) compared to those respondents who used legal drugs only. However, those participants who used cannabis and other illicit drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine did score higher on the SQP tests.

The study’s results contradict widely reported news reports alleging that marijuana use is associated with a much higher risk of psychosis.

"Some previous work on the link between marijuana use and psychotic symptoms has not controlled for other drug use at all," said NORML Advisory Board member Mitch Earleywine, who co-authored the study. "Other studies only use rough measures of lifetime use of a few drugs. We focused on nine different drugs and emphasized the stimulants, which work in a neurotransmitter system linked closely to psychosis."

A prior review of cannabis and psychosis conducted by Britain’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) stated in a 2006 release that, "the current evidence suggests, at worst, that using cannabis increases lifetime risk of developing schizophrenia by one percent."

Earleywine concurs with that assessment. "In my opinion, if cannabis has any impact on psychosis at all it would only appear in folks who have a genetic predisposition who also use heavily early in life," he said.

NORML published a white paper last May which called for the regulation of cannabis as a means to discourage its use by patients who may be predisposed to certain mental illnesses.

Advocates for tougher marijuana laws in Britain have been trumpeting the pot-and-psychosis link as a major impetus for Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s expected move to elevate cannabis from a Class C to a Class B drug. The ACMD declined to back the move in a recent meeting on April 4, with 20 out of the panel’s 23 experts deciding there was not sufficient new scientific evidence to justify a change.

For more information, please contact NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano at: paul@norml.org

Full text of the study, "Polydrug Use, Cannabis Use, and Psychosis-Like Symptoms," will appear in Human Psychopharmacology.


More Than 230 Cities, 35 Countries To Hold Marijuana Rallies This Weekend
05-01-08|NORML

New York City, NY: Marijuana law reform activists in over 230 cities across the globe will hold marches this weekend to protest the criminal prohibition of cannabis. The worldwide event, known as the "Global Marijuana March," will be held on Saturday, May 3rd. Over 400 cities since 1999 have participated in the event, which is coordinated by Cures-Not-Wars in New York City and Cannabis Culture Magazine in Vancouver.

The following NORML affiliates are participating in this year's marches: University of Arkansas NORML, Arizona NORML, Bakersfield NORML, Cascadia NORML, Dallas/Fort Worth NORML, Houston NORML, Humboldt State University NORML , Maui NORML , Illinois NORML, Maine-ly NORML, MassCann NORML (MA), Missouri NORML, Oregon NORML, Philly NORML, Greater St. Louis NORML, Texas NORML, Willamette Valley NORML, Nevada NORML, New Zealand NORML, NORML Canada, NORML Saskatchewan, and Norway NORML.

A full list of cities participating in this year's event, along with contact information, is available online at: 2008 Global Marijuana March

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