Cannabis and Mental Illness - Is Marijuana to Blame for Psychosis?-Ep. 97

Guests : Laura Balboni Craciun, Policy Director National Shattering Silence Coalition, MA, and Arundati (Arun) Nagendra, Ph.D.

At the recent  S&PAA conference (Mindy ) and at the Johns Hopkins schizophrenia symposium (Mimi and Randye)  , as well as on our Facebook page, many families tell us their stories about cannabis - many now see it as causing, or at least triggering psychosis. That led us to this episode.

Although schizophrenia contains a spectrum of symptoms and influences, many now believe that marijuana was the last straw that “pulled the trigger” which resulted in psychosis and its aftermath - and that, if we’d known the dangers we could have done more to prevent our loved ones from serious mental illness episodes.

Do science and statistical evidence back this up?

What can the average advocate do NOW?

S&PAA Position statement re cannabis: (see more on website or SPAN website)

1. Oppose legalization of recreational cannabis use
2. Pair any legalization effort with stringent, practical harm-reduction practices.
3. Hold the cannabis industry financially accountable.
4. Implement public health initiatives that educate about the risks of cannabis use.
5. Conduct research into the effects of cannabis use.
6. Finance clinical assessment and intervention.

Links:

https://sczaction.org/

SPAN:

https://span-scz.org/

SAM - 

https://learnaboutsam.org/

Johnny’s Ambassadors -

https://johnnysambassadors.org/research/

NSSC- 

https://www.nationalshatteringsilencecoalition.org/

Oppose marijuana rescheduling to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) : https://www.votervoice.net/SAM/Campaigns/115038/Respond 

NSSC-Darrell Hermann’s peer talk on psychosis recovery (including genetic vulnerability and cannabis at 51:00 during the Q&A). 

https://youtu.be/hpR4Jv1o2Gk?si=IMn8rai6x0bokqL5

Cannabis and psychosis

http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/streetdrugs.html#

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-brain-on-food/202105/what-really-happens-in-the-brain-during-a-cannabis-high

Laura’s story in Newsweek:

https://www.newsweek.com/cannabis-triggered-son-extreme-psyhosis-awaiting-trial-i-1915792

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/thc-and-adolescents-an-overlooked-issue-in-youth-mental-health

https://johnnysambassadors.org/conference/