It's well known to induce psychoses in the vulnerable
There's a wealth of evidence to prove that people with underlying mental health problems, especially schizophrenia will have their condition exacerbated by using marijuana.
In a lot of cases, the condition would never develop, but smoking a lot of weed will increase the chances significantly.
I used to smoke a LOT when I was younger, with my 'partner in crime'. He later went on to develop full blown paranoid Schizophrenia, was convinced his parents were trying to kill him, and ultimately ended up hanging himself a few years ago.
So the notion that weed is an entirely harmless drug and makes everyone into cuddly teddy bears is a complete fallacy.
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HoratioFellatio Taking the the out of psychotherapist, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:36,
Reply)
Fair enough
But even taking into account the different levels of usage, the number of people seriously damaged by alcohol abuse is a hell of a lot greater than those damaged by cannabis.
Plus it's very hard to distinguish cause and effect in these things - many people with mental disorders find that cannabis helps to calm them, and I don't think there have been any really decent double-blind studies because of the ethical issues. Maybe those people who go crazy on weed would have gone more crazy without it and were self-medicating. Without extensive (and unbiased) research, it's very hard to be sure.
Final point: as you say, it's mostly about exascerbating existing conditions. Whether drug use can *induce* schizophrenia is a different question from whether it makes it worse (or better).
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flatfrog Staring vacantly into space, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:44,
Reply)
The obvious point here
is that pumping you body full of psychotropic narcotics is never going to do you any good.
And as for the alcohol/weed argument - alcohol only causes lasting damage after years of abuse, and the effects are more gradual, more visible and more easily reversible.
Yes, people can get pissed up and get violent, but they wake up with a hangover and they're back to normal. Bringing on full blown paranoid schizophrenia isn't something a couple of paracetamol can cure.
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HoratioFellatio Taking the the out of psychotherapist, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:51,
Reply)
While mental illness should not be encouraged,
"alcohol only causes lasting damage after years of abuse"
try arguing that point with the medics in A&E departments
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no_funny_name heart of gold, nerves of steel, knob of butter, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:56,
Reply)
Whereas one puff of a joint and you're a paranoid nutjob?
Obviously no mind-altering substance is good for you. But in terms of damage to *others*, weed is way down the list.
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flatfrog Staring vacantly into space, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 14:41,
Reply)
also this
but then again, it would not be too wise for someone with "underlining mental health problems" to drink too much booze.
Edit: Ja, what FF said
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no_funny_name heart of gold, nerves of steel, knob of butter, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:47,
Reply)
fair do's, i concede that it can do some messed up and horrible stuff to people with the wrong mental disposition in the first place, and my apologies if my post seemed a little insensitive, what happened to your friend sounds like a horrible thing.
but compare any of the figures relating to this drug to alcohol and cigarettes and it rapidly starts to look like the tiniest of worries.
it bugs me that there is still such a mssive worry being generated by the government over this drug when they couldn't care less (i know this is an understatement, but for the sake of brevity i'm simplifying) about one that is already killing hundreds of thousands a year, and is no doubt ( i can't be fucked to go google the figures, as i said, i'm a stoner) responsible for the massive mental degradation of all of it's addicts, testimony to which is abundance of piss-covered tramps in town centres who before hitting the bottle would never have considered such a lack of personal care.
all in all, it's the hypocrisy that gets me, that and the fact that i'm made to feel like a psychotic leper if i discuss this with people who have no understanding of the other side of the argument.
(, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:49, Reply)
I have exactly the same story
to the point i'm inclined to ask if you live in sussex, as that's so close to the person I knew.
But then there's a difference between exacerbating and cause - someone troubled enough to do a frenzied knife attack very probably had issues in the first place, as the hundreds of people i've met since who have also taken the drug at varying points in the lives for various periods, haven't stabbed me or anyone else up lately - they're all pretty normal, insofar as any of us are.
However, as the chap above me mentions, there's never been a sufficient study to show that a condition wouldn't have developed without it, so it's very hard to say, even if it does greaten existing conditions. Without empirical evidence, that's a bit like saying cheeseburgers make your hair fall out because lots of bald men eat cheeseburgers.
Personally, I hate the stuff. Never had any joy out of it, just vomiting.
(, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 13:55, Reply)
also this.
Just ask any nurse in a psych ward.
Interestingly, certain types of grass are "worse" - notably the more trippy kinds (not surprisingly), i.e. super skunk etc. And some kinds can actually help - something to do with the constituent chemicals.
It can induce psychotic episodes in those who wouldn't have got them if they didn't smoke it.
(, Thu 16 Oct 2008, 14:30, Reply)
