Schizophrenia and Marijuana

“Can pot be a cause for the psychotic breakdown? Can pot actually help schizophrenics?” Dan Mitchell at The Big Money’s new marijuana blog says there is no causal relationship. “There is some indication that pot-smoking schizophrenics have better cognitive functioning than their nonindulging peers. But schizophrenics also show a greater propensity than does the general population to becoming dependent on pot. Obviously, the relationship between the disorder and marijuana is a complicated one. THC, a chemical found in pot, tends to increase paranoia and in high doses can even cause hallucinations or even brief bouts of psychosis. But another component, cannabidiol, has anti-psychotic effects.”