Remember two years ago when some scientists announced that marijuana causes psychosis and the press, along with the entire nation of Great Britain, went borderline psycho just from thinking about it?
Well, Paul Armentano at NORML reports that a new study has proven that the whole thing was just a bunch of crazy talk:
In non-sciency terms, this means that when rates of marijuana use go up, rates of mental illness do not. Therefore, we can conclude that marijuana apparently doesn't cause anyone to develop psychosis who otherwise wouldn’t have.
It's really a shame that this now-debunked junk science about marijuana and psychosis led the British government to increase penalties for marijuana. But, as we know all too well, fits of ignorance and distortion are causally linked to an increased risk of bad drug legislation.
Well, Paul Armentano at NORML reports that a new study has proven that the whole thing was just a bunch of crazy talk:
“[T]he expected rise in diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychoses did not occur over a 10 year period. This study does not therefore support the specific causal link between cannabis use and incidence of psychotic disorders. … This concurs with other reports indicating that increases in population cannabis use have not been followed by increases in psychotic incidence.”
In non-sciency terms, this means that when rates of marijuana use go up, rates of mental illness do not. Therefore, we can conclude that marijuana apparently doesn't cause anyone to develop psychosis who otherwise wouldn’t have.
It's really a shame that this now-debunked junk science about marijuana and psychosis led the British government to increase penalties for marijuana. But, as we know all too well, fits of ignorance and distortion are causally linked to an increased risk of bad drug legislation.
Looking for the easiest way to join the anti-drug war movement? You've found it!
Drug Enforcement Increases Your Risk of Going Crazy
This is a chicken or egg paradox. Which came first? Did drug enforcement drive all the prohibs crazy? Or is drug enforcement just a kind of magnet that attracts all the prohibitionist crazies out there?
Yes, that is quite the reefer madness rerun that hit GB
I think it's their way of covering up their unwillingness or inability to do anything about their huge problem with an antisocial and violent youth alcohol culture. They ain't covering up nothing, de Emperor got no clothes. What a pile the law is.
It wouldn't surprise me if mental illness is caused by the stress of being treated as a criminal and stigmatized as a dope addict, and coping with black market prices, because you prefer an illegal drug to booze and pills. Getting raped in an all-American prison could do it too.
-newageblues
stupidity looks itself in th mirror
I think that, sometimes, culture and society (relationships) don't allow ourselves to live beyond our original "madness", the autistic state we're all born in... our (less) "crazyness" depends of an emotional, social (etc) development... not of psychoactive substances that dynamically intervene in an particular person, set and setting... we use them (drugs) to treat psychotic crisis, "personality" or to fight sickness, diseases or infections of all kinds in first world countries... some illegal drugs were once legal... some are just now allowed... it's also a complex subject because it involves politics, economics, social questions, but the only question is:why do pharmaceutical companiess... coff... sorry... society choose the drugs that I can take?
and i think that to discuss every 8 or 10 phenomenas that im seeing first sight above, would take hours of talking and sharing different ideas and perspectives... it would be nice ...
im smoking for peace.. as always...
Sol
Hi Scott, First of all, the
Hi Scott,
First of all, the scientists of the earlier study did not "announce that marijuana causes psychosis."
Here's one of the authors of that study, as quoted in an AP story:
Secondly, in your attempt to be "non-sciencey," you are getting the science wrong. The more recent study didn't say anything about "rates of mental illness." It only looked at "diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychosis," which make up only a small portion of all mental illnesses.
One form of mental illnesses that I'm pretty sure does increase with incidence of cannabis use is defined in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as "Cannabis Dependence."
psychotic disorders
Glad to here pot doesn't cause psychotic disorders. All this time I thought I was crazy?
Rachel:Care to give us your science based comparison of alcohol
vs. cannabis-newageblues
Hypocrisy made paramount
Paranoia the law. Perhaps after Rachel gave her comparison of alcohol vs cannabis she can explain in detail, based on her conclusions, why cannabis consumers deserve to be thrown in cages like animals while Saint Wino and Captain Sixpack get a hearty slap on the shoulder.
It's July 4th weekend- watch out for the drunk drivers!
even more than usual. They just can't or won't control themselves, they keep killing. Happy Hypocrites Day, alcohol supremacists.
-newageblues
weed
weed doesn't cause psychosis.
the unfathomable levels of stupidity and ignorance displayed by prohibitionists and law enforcement, however, are just mind boggling.
i think that's probably what they meant when they said marijuana causes psychosis. weed opens your eyes to a world that is based on logical decisions and rational thought, and once you get there it's difficult to watch everyone else running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
Post new comment