In a new study, researchers found that high potency cannabis, when used daily, is strongly linked to the risk of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and paranoia.
The findings support a growing body of research connecting pot to a range of mental health disorders.
The research was conducted by a team at King’s College London and elsewhere.
The team examined patients aged 18–64 years who presented to psychiatric services in 11 European cities or regions and a 12th in Brazil and recruited healthy people from the local populations.
They found that one in five new cases of psychosis were linked to daily cannabis use and one in ten to high potency pot.
High-THC cannabis includes strains such as “trainwreck”, “gorilla glue”, and “hindu kush”.
Differences in frequency of daily cannabis use and in use of high-potency cannabis contributed to the striking variation in the incidence of psychotic disorder across the 11 studied sites.
The team says the use of cannabis with a high concentration of THC has more harmful effects on mental health than the use of weaker forms.
The findings also indicate for the first time how cannabis use affects the incidence of psychotic disorder at a population level.
The team says if high-THC cannabis is not available anymore, about 12% of cases of first-episode psychosis could be prevented across Europe.
As the legal status of cannabis changes in many countries and states, and as scientists consider the medicinal properties of some types of cannabis, it is important to consider the potential harmful effects of daily cannabis use, especially high potency varieties.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Marta Di Forti from King’s College London.
The study is published in The Lancet.
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