On Tuesday (18.09.18) the high court ( pardon the pun) made it legal to smoke and grow dagga in your home. The Constitutional Court has deemed it unconstitutional to put a ban on the psychoactive drug.
And while there are many who have experienced the medicinal benefits of marijuana, the “normalization” of weed smoking could have an adverse effect on those suffering from severe mental illness.
So, we’ve listed four reasons why marijuana can worsen the state of your mental disorder:
- It has been widely reported that THC, the chemical responsible for inducing a ‘high’, may cause anxiety and psychotic behaviours in users – depending on the frequency of use, genetics, and mental state.
- The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre conducted a study where there was substantial evidence that THC has an effect on one’s neurotransmitters and serotonin levels, thus creating symptoms of depression.
- Studies involving people with bipolar disorder show that cannabis use is associated with more frequent periods of illness, and shorter periods of wellness between episodes.
- While the argument that marijuana causes schizophrenia is inconclusive, a study that followed the habits of two sets of Swedish men. The men who had used marijuana by the age of 18 were found to be 2.4 times more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Whether you’re suffering from a mental disorder or not, you cannot ignore the fact that the regular consumption of marijuana has mind-altering capabilities.
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