Marijuana May Cause Schizophrenia

British researchers have discovered that frequent use of marijuana may increase the risk of mental illness such as schizophrenia.

Marijuana is composed of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant. individuals normally smoke it in a cigarette or in a pipe.

It is one the more frequently abused illegal drugs in most countries, with up to 20% young people in places such as Britain reporting either some use or heavy use, British researchers said, quoting government statistics.

A recent study has found that using marijuana increases the chance of one day developing a psychotic illness.

The study provides some of the strongest information yet connecting the drug to a mental disorder.

The researchers did not look directly at individuals who used marijuana but instead reviewed 35 studies in search of a potential link between psychotic illness and marijuana use.

They reviewed evidence from research ranging from one year to 27 years and only looked at studies that did not include people already showing signs of mental illness.

The researchers also adjusted for factors such as depression or a susceptibility to harder drugs, that could one day lead to a mental dysfunction to focus more directly on the connections between marijuana and psychosis.

"We have described a consistent association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms, including disabling psychotic disorders," the researchers said.

"If you compare other substances like alcohol or tobacco, it may not be as harmful, but what we are saying is neither is it completely safe," Stanley Zammit, an author and a psychiatrist at Cardiff University and the University of Bristol said.