The Artifact Hypothesis: Deconstructing Schizophrenia Through the Lens of Prohibition, Adulterated Cannabis, and Neurodevelopmental Psychopathology

Abstract

This preprint explores the hypothesis that a significant proportion of modern schizophrenia diagnoses among youth may be a diagnostic artifact resulting from prohibition era policies and the consumption of highly potent adulterated cannabis. By synthesizing historical psychiatric literature, epidemiological data from Denmark and Canada, and neurobiological research on the endocannabinoid system, the paper argues that the rigid categorical framework of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders often misclassifies substance induced toxic psychosis as an endogenous neurodevelopmental disease. The analysis highlights how fear of legal repercussions led to concealed drug use in emergency departments, forcing clinicians to default to primary psychotic disorder diagnoses. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the role of high potency THC and synthetic adulterants in disrupting adolescent cortical development and triggering latent genetic vulnerabilities. The paper advocates for transitioning toward dimensional psychopathology models such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology to better address the intersection of environmental toxicity and mental health without relying on outdated and stigmatizing categorical labels. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Cannabis, Psychosis, Prohibition, Nosolog y

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

• State of the evidence: Cannabis ↕Mixed

  Argues that a significant proportion of youth schizophrenia diagnoses may be a diagnostic artifact of prohibition-era policies and high-potency adulterated cannabis, and advocates dimensional models of psychopathology.

  Synthesized October 19, 2026

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on cannabis, most cited first.