Cannabis News
No Increase in Psychosis Due to Cannabis Legalization Says New Study
A person may develop psychosis through the use of psychedelic drugs, meditation, or profound spiritual encounters. The experience itself can give you the impression that you are experiencing a parallel reality in which the boundaries between time and space are dismantled and you are exposed to new dimensions of significance and meaning. It’s a fascinating, disconcerting, and frequently frightening experience as you fight to process fresh, strong sensory information while losing touch with everyday reality. You might think you’re getting signals from more spiritual planes of existence or that you know things that others don’t know. Even the most disorganized and perplexing facts can be processed and understood by the human mind, but it can take time, be painful, and be unpredictable. When studying altered states of consciousness, psychedelics can be a useful tool, but you should be ready for the risk that you might cross a line you can’t get back from.
The human mind has a predisposition to look for relationships and patterns everywhere. Unfortunately, when it comes to comprehending cause and effect, this predisposition might get us into trouble. It’s not always true that one thing led to another just because two things are related. The association might just be a coincidence, or it might be the result of an underlying third element. This is a fundamental tenet of scientific investigation, yet it is frequently disregarded in our haste to understand a complicated world. We run the danger of misinterpreting the data and drawing the wrong conclusions when we infer causality and effect from correlation alone. Therefore, if you notice a correlation, step back and think about all the other variables that might be in play. Then you can begin to develop a thorough understanding of the root causes.
The idea of cannabis and psychosis, which has been rammed down our throats for the past few decades, was the subject of a recent study that examined the literature. It’s interesting that they didn’t discover, or at the very least, didn’t observe, a rise in psychosis among cannabis users. Consequently, the idea that cannabis causes psychosis is unfounded.
This isn’t to suggest that a strong marijuana high can’t act as a trigger for someone to engage in psychotic behavior, but it’s most definitely not what started it.
There has been much discussion in the field of cannabis study on its potential connection to psychosis. While research has linked extensive cannabis usage to an increased risk of schizophrenia, the two conditions’ causal connection is still up for debate. Understanding the potential health effects of cannabis usage is crucial given the legalization of medical marijuana in many jurisdictions, the drop in price, and the rise in THC content. In this study, the authors assessed the relationship between state cannabis legalization rates and privately insured people’ rates of psychosis-related medical claims. They discovered that jurisdictions that allowed commercial sales and recreational activities may have greater rates of antipsychotic prescriptions and diagnoses for psychosis. The authors additionally considered variations in results due to sex, age, and race/ethnicity.
Over 63 million people were tracked in the study, and 2 billion person-months of data were gathered. With nearly 77% of the person-months recorded among people 65 or older and 64.6% among White recipients, women made up the majority of the follow-up period. The analysis discovered 20.8 million antipsychotic prescriptions that were filled and 7.5 million diagnoses of psychosis. Cannabis was permitted for either medical or recreational use in 29 states. In contrast to states without a policy, those with legalized cannabis did not have significantly higher rates of antipsychotic prescriptions or diagnoses related to psychosis, according to the results of the multivariate study.
Let me simplify this because it could all sound a little complicated.
This study examined a large number of individuals and gathered extensive data on them. They discovered that many persons had received a psychosis diagnosis and medication for it. The use of cannabis for recreational or medical purposes is legal in some US states. They discovered, however, that there was no difference between states with and without cannabis legalization in the number of patients who were given a psychosis diagnosis or prescribed treatment.
And from the beginning, this has always been the case. You see, the idea that marijuana causes psychosis is not brand-new. Since the beginning of Reefer Madness, it has been marketed. Despite the governments’ use of this to support their prohibition of cannabis, there haven’t been any notable changes since legalization.
This study effectively demonstrates that while cannabis may act as a catalyst, it is not the root cause of any problem. This is crucial because alcohol itself sometimes acts as a catalyst. So too can a nasty breakup. These things do occur, and a person predisposed to psychosis would be vulnerable in any given circumstance.
The topic of limiting the many in order to preserve the few is one that is complicated and divisive and has been discussed for ages. It has always been difficult to strike a balance between preserving individual freedom and serving the greater good.
For the “protection” of their inhabitants, many governments and groups have justified the restriction of fundamental human rights; yet, the distinction between security and tyranny is frequently hazy. A lack of intellectual diversity and the suppression of opposing viewpoints can result from the restriction of personal liberties including the freedom of speech, movement, and assembly.
History has demonstrated that these limitations frequently result in negative outcomes. For instance, the government in Nazi Germany justified the exclusion of Jews as a measure to preserve the “purity” of the German race, yet this policy actually led to the systematic killing of millions of people. Similar to today’s Red Scare, which occurred in the 1950s in the United States and saw the government curtail the rights of anyone believed to have communist affiliations, it resulted in the oppression of innocent persons and a chilling impact on free speech.
Furthermore, constraints on the masses frequently serve to safeguard the interests of the powerful and wealthy. Voting rights restrictions and political repression are frequently employed to uphold the status quo and protect the authority of those in charge.
Furthermore, it’s critical to recognize that underprivileged communities are frequently disproportionately affected by such restrictions. For instance, it has been demonstrated that low-income communities and communities of color suffer greatly when their freedom of movement and assembly is restricted in response to public health emergencies.
The banning of cannabis makes this obvious. The most vulnerable individuals are frequently the ones most impacted by this legislation. In addition, if cannabis usage is to be restricted because “some people may experience a psychotic reaction,” we must consider the impact on the underprivileged and the downtrodden.
This is not to argue that we should abandon those who suffer from mental illness. Of course not, we should take care of them and make sure they are aware of all the potential consequences of smoking.
You are in charge of your physical and mental wellness. Nobody is more familiar with your body than you are. Take full responsibility for your health because of this, and only put things in your body that you fully understand and are at ease with. And let’s face it, this is especially true of pharmaceuticals.
You have to be your own gatekeeper when it comes to ingesting narcotics. They don’t always have your best interests in mind, whether it’s the government or big pharma. In fact, there are moments when they don’t even know what they’re doing. Studies on psychosis and marijuana use are a good example of this, as they tend to favor a certain narrative over a fact-based evaluation of the evidence. As a result, it is up to you to conduct your own research, formulate thoughtful inquiries, and reach judgments.
Also, I am aware that it is simpler stated than done. In today’s environment, it’s rare to go a day without hearing what’s healthy for you and what isn’t from some alleged expert. But in the end, you are the one who must deal with the effects of the things you put into your body.
So show courage. Take charge. Don’t just eat what some suit tells you to without question. Do your own homework, dammit. Most essential, believe in your gut. Something is probably not right if it doesn’t feel right.
I’m not suggesting that you go rogue and begin experimenting with harmful chemicals, though. That will only lead to disaster. But I’m saying that you shouldn’t be scared to look into things, ask for alternatives, and make choices that you feel are in your best interests in terms of your health and well-being.
Therefore, my friends, keep in mind that you are in control of your health and wellbeing. Never allow someone else to lead you in a direction with which you are not at ease. And keep in mind that you are the only one who has to live with the decisions you make in the end.
MARIJUANA AND PSYCHOSIS, READ ON…
