Scientist: Marijuana Could Make You Crazy, Only We Just Can't Prove It

Marijuana may increase psychosis risk, analysis says
Analysis of past research reignites the issue of whether pot is dangerous

CNN (AP)
Fri July 27, 2007

LONDON, England (AP) -- Using marijuana seems to increase the chance of becoming psychotic, researchers report in an analysis of past research that reignites the issue of whether pot is dangerous. Some experts governments should now work to dispel a misconception that marijuana is a benign drug.

The new review suggests that even infrequent use could raise the small but real risk of this serious mental illness by 40 percent. Doctors have long suspected a connection and say the latest findings underline the need to highlight marijuana's long-term risks.

The research, paid for by the British Health Department, is being published Friday in medical journal The Lancet. "The available evidence now suggests that cannabis is not as harmless as many people think," said Dr. Stanley Zammit, one of the study's authors and a lecturer in the department of psychological medicine at Cardiff University.

The researchers said they couldn't prove that marijuana use itself increases the risk of psychosis, a category of several disorders with schizophrenia being the most commonly known.

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