Cannabis Induced Psychopathology
March 28, 2017 A. Farah
Legalization and commercialization of marijuana in the US have reduced perceived risks of cannabis use across all age groups, reinforcing the misconception that cannabis abuse and dependence are safe and without neuropsychiatric consequences. Cannabis use has acute effects like psychosis and agitation, and long-term consequences including cognitive decline, permanent psychotic disorders, prolonged depersonalization, dependence, and withdrawal. Repeated cannabis exposure is an established contributory cause of schizophrenia through gene-environment interaction, involving multiple genes. In utero cannabinoid exposure impairs brain maturation in developing infants and predisposes them to neurodevelopmental disorders. Clinicians should be aware of these risks and can offer treatments to achieve abstinence and neuroprotective strategies for new-onset cannabis-induced psychosis and in utero exposure.