Health

Cannabis 'raises psychosis risk'

by AlanEvans | July 27, 2007 at 02:31 am

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Cannabis users are 40% more likely than non-users to suffer a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, say UK experts.

Writing in the Lancet, a team led by Dr Stanley Zammit from Bristol and Cardiff Universities said young people needed to be made aware of the dangers.

In an additional article, experts said up to 800 schizophrenia cases a year in the UK could be linked to cannabis use.

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dopry

at 06:49 on July 27th, 2007

uh-oh. all the medical marijuana groups are about to be in uproar.

AlanEvans

at 08:18 on July 27th, 2007

Oooh ... the debate is hotting up ... this just in:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/drugs/Story/0,,2136450,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

"Drug experts today said there was still insufficient evidence to
reclassify cannabis, after a report suggested the drug could increase
the risk of schizophrenia by at least 40%.

The Labour MP Brian Iddon
and Professor Robin Murray, of the Institute of Psychiatry, said there
would be no benefit gained by restoring cannabis to a class B drug."