Marijuana Use and Increased Psychosis

The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine was chartered in 1863 by Congress to advise the nation on issues of science. The academy currently comprises approximately 6,300 scientists, who volunteer to seek objective, scientifically balanced answers to difficult questions facing the nation. The National Academy of Sciences alone has approximately 2,350 members, of which 190 have received Nobel Prizes.

The National Academy drafted a report in January 2017 titled The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids.  The most important mental health finding of the academy’s report did not deal with social anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder. In fact, the single largest collection of Nobel Prize–winning scientists the world has ever seen reported on the connection between marijuana use and disassociations from reality. The report’s lead finding on marijuana and mental health read as follows:

Cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses; the higher the use the greater the risk.

The Lancet, a highly respected British medial journal, recently published research showing that regular consumers of cotemporary high THC marijuana are five time more likely to develop psychosis compared to those who do not use marijuana.[1] 

[1] Smoke Screen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know, Kevin A, Sabet, PH.D., (Forefront Books, 2021), p. 33.