Mental Health

How will legalizing marijuana affect our a person's mental health issues?

A new study suggests people with mental illness are more than seven times as likely to use marijuana weekly than people without a mental illness.
For the first time, researchers at Northwestern University have analyzed the relationship between casual use of marijuana and brain changes – and found that young adults who used cannabis just once or twice a week showed significant abnormalities in two important brain structures.
High doses can produce a temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia) in some users.
Associations have also been found between marijuana use and other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. A person predisposed to schizophrenia who uses marijuana has their symptoms amplified and often onset is accelerated.
Regular use of marijuana during adolescents found to increase the risk of psychosis, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression in adulthood.
The risk of serious mental illnesses is 2-5 times greater for those starting marijuana use before age 16.

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