POSTED MARCH 07, 2011, 11:03 AM , UPDATED NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 2:28 PM

Ann MacDonald Contributor, Harvard Health
Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they don’t intend. Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression. In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didn’t smoke pot. Another new paper concluded that early marijuana use could actually hasten the onset of psychosis by three years. Those most at risk are youths who already have a mother, father, or sibling with schizophrenia or some other psychotic disorder. Young people with a parent or sibling affected by psychosis have a roughly one in 10 chance of developing the condition themselves—even if they never smoke pot. Regular marijuana use, however, doubles their risk—to a one in five chance of becoming psychotic. In comparison, youths in families unaffected by psychosis have a 7 in 1,000 chance of developing it. If they smoke pot regularly, the risk doubles, to 14 in 1,000. For years, now, experts have been sounding the alarm about a possible link between marijuana use and psychosis. One of the best-known studies followed nearly 50,000 young Swedish soldiers for 15 years. Those who had smoked marijuana at least once were more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia as those who had never smoked pot. The heaviest users (who said they used marijuana more than 50 times) were six times as likely to develop schizophrenia as the nonsmokers. So far, this research shows only an association between smoking pot and developing psychosis or schizophrenia later on. That’s not the same thing as saying that marijuana causes psychosis. This is how research works. Years ago, scientists first noted an association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Only later were they able to figure out exactly how cigarette smoke damaged the lungs and other parts of the body, causing cancer and other diseases. The research on marijuana and the brain is at a much earlier stage. We do know that THC, one of the active compounds in marijuana, stimulates the brain and triggers other chemical reactions that contribute to the drug’s psychological and physical effects. But it’s not clear how marijuana use might lead to psychosis. One theory is that marijuana may interfere with normal brain development during the teenage years and young adulthood. The teenage brain is still a work in progress. Between the teen years and the mid-20s, areas of the brain responsible for judgment and problem solving are still making connections with the emotional centers of the brain. Smoking marijuana may derail this process and so increase a young person’s vulnerability to psychotic thinking. (You can read more about how the adolescent brain develops in this article from the Harvard Mental Health Letter.) While the research on marijuana and the mind has not yet connected all the dots, these new studies provide one more reason to caution young people against using marijuana—especially if they have a family member affected by schizophrenia or some other psychotic disorder. Although it may be a tough concept to explain to a teenager, the reward of a short-time high isn’t worth the long-term risk of psychosis or a disabling disorder like schizophrenia.
It is legalization and not commercialization which is about my right to freely use a plant that was given to people from god or not that is on this earth already, no matter what others feel about it.
I'm voting yes cause I know for a fact weed won't be federally legalized in my lifetime. I'd happily pay a tax and have a limit on how much I can carry just so I can have peace of mind. And to all the major growers, I feel for you, but we need this to make some damn progress to get rid of prohibition.
The failed war on drugs is focused at cannabis, so lets just keep arresting 700,000 Â people per year . makes sense to me. And there are people in jail for just cannabis, and how can a schedule 1 drug be a gateway drug, when its the worst drug out there, what drug due you go to after schedule 1…
Haha, she says it's a question of commercialization and then her very next complaint is that there can be 12 plants in your home (has nothing to do with the industry). Then she tells a lie about traffic fatalities in CO. Her opponent completely destroyed her.
That is the reason we need to make it legal every where talk it off the list of drugs
psychosis
POSTED MARCH 07, 2011, 11:03 AM , UPDATED NOVEMBER 30, 2011, 2:28 PM

Ann MacDonald
Contributor, Harvard Health
Teenagers and young adults who use marijuana may be messing with their heads in ways they don’t intend.
Evidence is mounting that regular marijuana use increases the chance that a teenager will develop psychosis, a pattern of unusual thoughts or perceptions, such as believing the television is transmitting secret messages. It also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia, a disabling brain disorder that not only causes psychosis, but also problems concentrating and loss of emotional expression.
In one recent study that followed nearly 2,000 teenagers as they became young adults, young people who smoked marijuana at least five times were twice as likely to have developed psychosis over the next 10 years as those who didn’t smoke pot.
Another new paper concluded that early marijuana use could actually hasten the onset of psychosis by three years. Those most at risk are youths who already have a mother, father, or sibling with schizophrenia or some other psychotic disorder.
Young people with a parent or sibling affected by psychosis have a roughly one in 10 chance of developing the condition themselves—even if they never smoke pot. Regular marijuana use, however, doubles their risk—to a one in five chance of becoming psychotic.
In comparison, youths in families unaffected by psychosis have a 7 in 1,000 chance of developing it. If they smoke pot regularly, the risk doubles, to 14 in 1,000.
For years, now, experts have been sounding the alarm about a possible link between marijuana use and psychosis. One of the best-known studies followed nearly 50,000 young Swedish soldiers for 15 years. Those who had smoked marijuana at least once were more than twice as likely to develop schizophrenia as those who had never smoked pot. The heaviest users (who said they used marijuana more than 50 times) were six times as likely to develop schizophrenia as the nonsmokers.
So far, this research shows only an association between smoking pot and developing psychosis or schizophrenia later on. That’s not the same thing as saying that marijuana causes psychosis.
This is how research works. Years ago, scientists first noted an association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Only later were they able to figure out exactly how cigarette smoke damaged the lungs and other parts of the body, causing cancer and other diseases.
The research on marijuana and the brain is at a much earlier stage. We do know that THC, one of the active compounds in marijuana, stimulates the brain and triggers other chemical reactions that contribute to the drug’s psychological and physical effects.
But it’s not clear how marijuana use might lead to psychosis. One theory is that marijuana may interfere with normal brain development during the teenage years and young adulthood.
The teenage brain is still a work in progress. Between the teen years and the mid-20s, areas of the brain responsible for judgment and problem solving are still making connections with the emotional centers of the brain. Smoking marijuana may derail this process and so increase a young person’s vulnerability to psychotic thinking. (You can read more about how the adolescent brain develops in this article from the Harvard Mental Health Letter.)
While the research on marijuana and the mind has not yet connected all the dots, these new studies provide one more reason to caution young people against using marijuana—especially if they have a family member affected by schizophrenia or some other psychotic disorder. Although it may be a tough concept to explain to a teenager, the reward of a short-time high isn’t worth the long-term risk of psychosis or a disabling disorder like schizophrenia.
Yes they should
It is legalization and not commercialization which is about my right to freely use a plant that was given to people from god or not that is on this earth already, no matter what others feel about it.
WE WILL GROW WHAT WE WANT…WHERE WE WANT…AS MUCH AS WE WANT….FUCK YOUR RULES LMAO
WE WON !!!!
This woman seems proud of her own ignorance.
Legalize & save lives.
she needs to stop interrupting …..she is shrill and rude……….wb
Yes to marijuana. This woman is a moron.
I'm voting yes cause I know for a fact weed won't be federally legalized
in my lifetime. I'd happily pay a tax and have a limit on how much I
can carry just so I can have peace of mind. And to all the major
growers, I feel for you, but we need this to make some damn progress to
get rid of prohibition.
Legalize it nationwide
already voted yes…
What Irony, a republican against commercialization.
So much lying by the opposition.
you can't OD from pot.
Kid eats pot, kid gets super high, kid has a tummy ache, then kid is fine.
The failed war on drugs is focused at cannabis, so lets just keep arresting 700,000 Â people per year . makes sense to me. And there are people in jail for just cannabis, and how can a schedule 1 drug be a gateway drug, when its the worst drug out there, what drug due you go to after schedule 1…
She needs to smoke some soon . Then she can watch her favorite scary movie .. REEFER MADNESS.. This time it will be funny .
that woman is a piece of work
Haha, she says it's a question of commercialization and then her very next complaint is that there can be 12 plants in your home (has nothing to do with the industry). Then she tells a lie about traffic fatalities in CO. Her opponent completely destroyed her.
Ignorance should not be open to 'discussion'. legalize and move forward.
YES to marijuana!
NO to corruption!
Yes (also happens to be the only correct answer)