Are medical researchers desperate to associate cannabis with schizophrenia?

For years, researchers have tried to link schizophrenia to cannabis use. We have seen several studies – many of which I have analyzed in great detail – that attempted to bridge the gap between correlation and causality.

Of course, I don’t think these researchers are necessarily evil – but as we go through this study together, I’ll point out some logical fallacies in their conclusions.

That’s not to say that there is no connection between cannabis and schizophrenia.

It is absolutely true that cannabis can trigger a psychotic episode in people with genetic markers for developing schizophrenia. These people usually have other people in their families who also have the disease.

Yet the tone of most research on the subject always tends to suggest “cannabis is a cause,” which is undeniably wrong.

As the article progresses, we take a look at the latest study covered in a July 26 CNN article.

The article in question is entitled; “Schizophrenia-related marijuana use disorder is on the rise, study results show”. Allow me to show you how weak this connection really is.

What the study claims …

Let’s start with the study itself – which was done in Denmark, a place where cannabis is NOT legal except for medical purposes.

This means that their sample population is highly localized and in an environment where access is restricted.

This already influences the results as it does not provide an exact breakdown of “normal cannabis behavior” but rather focuses on the cannabis use disorder.

As you read the article, you will find that the title obviously claims a link, only to withdraw that statement later;

“Previous research has shown that people who use cannabis are at increased risk of developing schizophrenia, and the association is particularly driven by heavy use of the drug. Lots Researchers suspect that consumes cannabis perhaps on “Component cause“That interacts with other risk factors to cause the condition. (Emphasis added) ”

Lead researcher Carsten Hjorthøj said:

Of course, our results have to be replicated elsewhere before firm conclusions can be drawn, ”continued Hjorthøj. “But I’m pretty confident that we’ll see similar patterns in places where problematic cannabis use has increased or where cannabis potency has increased, as many studies suggest that high potency cannabis is likely the reason it is associated with Schizophrenia is. “

What is problematic cannabis use?

A cannabis use disorder is usually defined as problematic use of the drug: developing a weed tolerance; Consume cannabis in larger quantities or for a longer period of time than intended; not being able to reduce consumption; spend a lot of time procuring, consuming, or recovering from the effects of cannabis; Abandoning important activities and commitments in favor of cannabis; and continued use of the drug despite negative consequences.

Basically an addiction.

Is Schizophrenia On The Rise?

Around 21 million people worldwide suffer from schizophrenia. Hjorthøj claims that according to a study, cases of schizophrenia have increased in Denmark, but the picture is less clear in other countries.

“Many textbooks in psychiatry state that the incidence of schizophrenia is constant over time and regardless of geographic location,” said Hjorthøj.

“And this has often been used as an argument against the hypothesis that cannabis could cause schizophrenia,” he added. “It turns out, however, that there is very little research to support this notion.”

This is an interesting tidbit hidden in conversation and overlooked by the casual reader, but for a research shark like me – I SMELL BLOOD!

First, if the original premise of schizophrenia was based on “very little research,” it would suggest that schizophrenia may have been far more common than before.

The fact that data is now pouring in doesn’t mean that these undiagnosed schizophrenia cases didn’t exist before cannabis legalization.

In fact, modern screening tools could be responsible for the surge in schizophrenia data as they can assess these things faster and more accurately.

The new study was based on data from the Danish National Health Register and included all people born in Denmark before December 31, 2000 who were 16 years of age or older between January 1, 1972 and December 31, 2016.

The results may help explain the “general increase in the incidence of schizophrenia that has been observed in recent years” and provide some support that the “long-observed association between cannabis and schizophrenia is likely to be partly causal”, says it in the study. – CNN

The problem is that the “long-watched” associations exist for virtually any drug or traumatic experience.

In fact, alcohol use – which has VERY LITTLE STUDIES on a factor in schizophrenia – is also a potential risk factor and has not been considered in nearly 37% of Danes with problem drinking habits.

Rather, the researchers used the DSM-5 and focused solely on people with CUD. The problem with this assessment is that most schizophrenic people self-medicate, that is, did the schizophrenia come first or was it “caused” by the cannabis.

And researchers really want to prove that. I’m still not sure why

Perhaps this way pharmaceuticals can monopolize cannabis again because of its “dangers to the general public”.

It is important to understand, however, that this type of language and “evidence” is all it takes for a fanatical politician to pass repressive laws and claim that “science supports them”.

However, without comparison with other substances – if there are similar findings in, for example, an alcohol abuse disorder, this would suggest that the “type of drug is irrelevant” and that only the “right type of trauma” is required to induce psychosis.

This is the main problem with these studies. Until we have data on drug users and the association with schizophrenia, we cannot scientifically claim that “cannabis is a cause”.

Nor how common these triggers are compared to other substances, stress triggers, etc.

That’s not to say that cannabis doesn’t induce psychosis either. We know that cannabis is a psychoactive substance and that some people react differently than the norm.

This substance induced transient psychosis could be the trauma needed to decipher the schizophrenia in the individual.

However, this could be true for a million different things.

SCHIZOPHRENIA AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA, READ MORE …

CAN CANNABIS CAUSE SCHIZOPHRENIA IN PEOPLE? READ THIS!

OR..

Does cannabis help with schizophrenia and disorder?