Posted on 07/10/2002 2:36:43 AM PDT by kattracks
CNSNews.com) - Marijuana use can stimulate the symptoms of schizophrenia, according to researchers at Okayama University in Japan. Their study found similarities between the brain dysfunctions in schizophrenic patients and the disruptions in brain activity caused by marijuana use.
The Okayama University study traced schizophrenic delusions to the cannabinoid receptor protein, a chemical located inside human brain cells. The researchers examined the gene responsible for the receptor protein in patients with schizophrenia, and then compared it to the same gene in healthy patients. The comparison revealed distinct abnormalities in the gene of the schizophrenic patients.
The functioning abnormalities in the receptor protein are similar to the disruptions in the protein's functioning caused by marijuana use, the researchers said. THC, the main chemical in marijuana, produces the hallucinatory effects of marijuana by latching onto the cannabinoid receptor protein and over-stimulating it. For those already genetically prone to schizophrenia, this added stimulation might be all that is required to trigger psychotic episodes.
"This result provides genetic evidence that marijuana use can result in schizophrenia or a significantly increased risk of schizophrenia," lead researcher Hiroshi Ujike stated.
The Okayama report confirms the results of a 1987 study conducted in Sweden in which higher incidents of schizophrenia were discovered among army conscripts who had used marijuana.
The Swedish study showed that the incidence of schizophrenia among conscripts who were "heavy" and "chronic" users of marijuana was six times higher than it was among those who had not smoked.
Marijuana, however, has only been linked to schizophrenia in those who are already genetically prone to the disease. There is little evidence to suggest that it poses any such risk to those not genetically predisposed to schizophrenia.
"They (non-schizophrenics who smoke marijuana) might have altered perception while they're smoking," said Dr. William Carpenter, Director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, "but in terms of developing the disease, it may be a very small risk factor. For most people it won't happen."
Many people susceptible to schizophrenia, however, do not show any symptoms of the illness. The symptoms would only appear if triggered by an external stimulus like marijuana, according to Robert Pertwee, a pharmacology professor at Aberdeen University in Scotland.
"There are people who appear perfectly normal and have no idea they are prone to the condition," Pertwee said.
There has been much debate in recent years about the potential medicinal use of marijuana. While some experts claim the drug is effective in treating chronic pain, and in alleviating the symptoms of cancer, glaucoma, bipolar disorders and HIV, others have expressed concerns about its safety.
A report released by the National Institutes of Health stated that: "Marijuana increases schizophrenia by a factor of four to six, disorients the user, causes psychotic reaction, panic, anxiety, hallucinations, reproductive cellular disruption and cancer."
Proponents of medicinal use of marijuana counter that the proven risks associated with marijuana are no more significant than those of other, legal prescription drugs.
"The Institute of Medicine found that the negative effects associated with marijuana are not worse than medications that are available by prescription," said Robert Kampia, Director of Government Relations for Marijuana Policy Project, a movement for the legalization of medically prescribed marijuana.
Kampia acknowledged the risks of marijuana use, and stated that physicians should use much discretion when opting to prescribe the drug.
"Marijuana isn't the best medicine for all patients, it's just the best medicine for some patients, and so it should be between the doctor and the patient to determine whether marijuana is the right treatment," Kampia said.
Carpenter and Ujike both said more research was needed regarding the link between marijuana and schizophrenia.
E-mail a news tip to Rick Docksai.
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That's a question for greater minds than ours.
Destructor: In your face potheads! What do you say about your "harmless drug" now!?! 35
Zon: Do you believe everything you read? Or just when it supports your agenda. Did you believe Clinton when he said "I didn't inhale"? Did you believe President Clinton when he said " I didn't have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski"? 53
You're showing characteristics of schizophrenia.*
Destructor: No. Yes. No. No. Screw you! 56
Zon: So your only "yes" answer was that you do believe everything you read when it supports your agenda. That being the case, are you a politician?
No, I'm not a politician, but truth is on my side! 59
If truth was on your side you wouldn't find need to lash out in "assault" at as you did in your 56 post.
* schizophrenia: Any of several psychotic disorders characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances of thought and language and withdrawal from social contact 32
That's NOT what I said. I said that I have only known one real schizo in my life, and that he never smoked pot. He was not one of my pot smoking friends. He was a kid I knew when I was growing up, and his illness manifested itself around 1966 -- before any of us had even heard of pot.
Truth doesn't take sides, no matter how desperately dogma tries to conscript it.
So, how do you explain your post #53?
FYI: Most people do believe anything they read, if it fits into their "agenda." You potheads are a real good example of that fact. No matter how crazy, outrageous, or illogical a story may be, if it's pro-pot then you're all over it! The difference in us is that I'm honest about my own bias, and you're not. I wonder why?
Since we've taken this from a discussion about the issue of drugs to Psycho-analysis I have formed an opinion of you as well. You exhibit all of the signs of a latent homosexual!
"Truth doesn't take sides, no matter how desperately dogma tries to conscript it."
That is true. However, Justice and the American way are certainly on my side!
Justice takes no sides, either. That's why she wears the blindfold. She relies on the scales to weigh the evidence, of which you provide none. The American way? As defined by FDR, perhaps.
The American way that I'm referring to is the traditional American lifestyle that doesn't include abusing drugs.
Justice wasn't in the courtroom then. She was pushed out the door by the jurors, many of whom later admitted to believing he was guilty, but voted to acquit because of their racial prejudices.
The American way that I'm referring to is the traditional American lifestyle that doesn't include abusing drugs.
And what of the American way of looking at new information objectively, and rejecting old misconceptions if necessary in order to see things as they really are?
Whose misconceptions? Now we're back to your previous comment. Something about dogma, and truth remember? The reality is that it cuts both ways!
Yes it does. And the reality is that our laws and public policy haven't changed one iota from those established based on the lies and "reefer madness" hysteria put forth by Harry Anslinger almost 70 years ago, and which no research conducted since then has found to be supportable.
The lie is only picking out those pieces of the data that support a given position and ignoring the rest, producing an argument that implies that the exception is the rule
Marijuana, however, has only been linked to schizophrenia in those who are already genetically prone to the disease. There is little evidence to suggest that it poses any such risk to those not genetically predisposed to schizophrenia.
I'm no defender of pot, but you're giving way too much credit to this study. This study is a piece of junk.
In fact, there has never been a valid genetic link proven for schizophrenia, or any other psychiatric disorder.
A few years ago, it was breathlessly announced in the journal Nature that they had isolated a gene for manic-depression. This study had to be retracted in a very public and embarrassing way for this prestigious journal.
No it isn't. Taken literally, nothing is. In sufficient quantities and concentrations, even water and oxygen are lethal.
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