Cannabis and psychosis: how important is the link?
Addiction March 25, 2004 DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00697.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that the question of whether cannabis use causes psychotic illness has remained unanswered for about 150 years, and contends that cannabis's illegal status has hindered human research even as animal studies have proceeded. |
Abstract
Sir—Does cannabis use cause a psychotic illness? About 150 years ago this question was already being asked, particularly recognizing the risk of ‘madness’ among young people, while at the same time the practice of using cannabis as a ‘medicine for insanity’ was being carried out in asylums (Mills 2003). It is interesting that over a century later the same question still remains unanswered, despite the fact that cannabis has continued to be the most widely used illegal substance around the world. The illegal status of cannabis has hindered research on humans for many years, even though biological studies on animals have been carried out.