Cannabis users risk paranoia and psychosis: study

SCIENTISTS have shown for the first time how cannabis users can become paranoid and lose grip of reality.

A study revealed that the drug’s most powerful active ingredient reduces activity in a part of the brain that helps keep people sane.

The inferior frontal cortex acts as a check on irrational thoughts and prevents inappropriate behaviour.

But brain scans carried out on a group of volunteers showed that tetrahydrocannabinol or THC — the chemical responsible for a cannabis “buzz” — dampens activity in the region.

This was borne out by the results of psychological tests, which revealed signs of temporary psychosis. For example, participants given THC reacted more strongly to pictures of fearful faces.

Stronger forms of can-nabis, such as skunk, contain higher levels of THC.

Experts are becoming increasingly worried about the number of cases of psychosis that seem to be linked to cannabis use.

Some users have developed schizophrenia-like symptoms so severe they’ve ended up sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

The study found that the effect of THC on the brain predicted psychotic symptoms.

Professor Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry in London pointed out that many children aged 11 and 12 were smoking cannabis, which had increased in potency in recent years.