Influence of early use of Cannabis sativa on the development of schizophrenia and psychoses: an integrative review
Anderson Barbosa, Cláudio Kelvin Pedrosa Costa, Eva Tamires de Souza, Brena Silva Souto, Ana Oclenidia Dantas Mesquita, Robson de Jesus, José Alfredo de Oliveira Alkmin, Fabiana Chagas Oliveira de França, Emilly Anny Benevides de Abreu, Tâmara Trindade de Carvalho
Observatorio de la Economía Latinoamericana June 30, 2025 DOI: 10.55905/oelv23n6-205 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Cannabis sativa Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Botany |
| Key findings | Early Cannabis sativa use, particularly during adolescence, is associated with an increased likelihood of psychotic manifestations in adulthood, including persecutory delusions and auditory and visual hallucinations, with rising THC levels identified as an additional risk factor. |
Abstract
Correlation between Cannabis sativa use and the development of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, has been documented in several studies. Currently, this relationship is understood within a multifactorial model, where genetic, neurobiological, and environmental determinants interact. This review aims to analyze the influence of early Cannabis sativa use on the development of psychoses and schizophrenia, considering its therapeutic and recreational use contexts. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted based on scientific publications indexed in the PubMed, Virtual Health Library (BVS), SciELO, Google Scholar, Medline, and LILACS databases, covering publications in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The initial survey resulted in 3,499 studies, from which 12 references were selected within the 2015 to 2025 timeframe. Exposure to C. sativa, particularly during adolescence, has been associated with an increased likelihood of psychotic manifestations in adulthood, including persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. These effects are, in most cases, transient; however, the rising levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in current plant varieties have been identified as an additional risk factor. Therefore, further in-depth investigations based on robust scientific evidence are necessary to elucidate the impacts of early use and its implications for mental health.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |