cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Linked To Schizophrenia Symptoms





Marijuana Linked To Schizophrenia Symptoms
Posted by CN Staff on June 16, 2004 at 15:57:15 PT
By Jamie Talan, Staff Writer
Source: Newsday
Some people who smoke marijuana may experience fleeting symptoms of schizophrenia, a finding scientists say could provide clues to a biochemical trigger for the severe mental illness."It points us in a new direction," said Dr. D. Cyril D'Souza, associate professor of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, and lead author of the study in the June issue of Neuropsychopharmacology.
The main ingredient in marijuana, delta-9-THC, acts on the brain's cannabinoid receptors, named after the receptor's affinity for marijuana and the brain's natural THC-like compound called anandamide. D'Souza, a schizophrenia researcher, and his colleagues knew amphetamines induced temporary symptoms of schizophrenia and wondered whether delta-9-THC would have similar effects. Amphetamines activate a brain chemical called dopamine, higher levels of which are linked to schizophrenia symptoms. D'Souza's team recruited 22 volunteers with no history of schizophrenia. They delivered two dosages of THC intravenously on three occasions and looked for behavioral, cognitive and endocrine changes.The dose was equivalent to smoking a half to two marijuana cigarettes.Most volunteers on the higher dose reported schizophrenia-like symptoms, which lasted about an hour. They included the classic hallucinations and delusions, and also absence of speech and lack of motivation. They also complained of attention and memory difficulties."The findings provide a hint that marijuana could possibly create other problems," said Michael Kuhar, a professor of neuropharmacology at Emory University in Atlanta.Several newly published epidemiological studies suggest marijuana and other drugs of abuse might trigger schizophrenia, given an underlying vulnerability. "Hopefully, others will try to replicate this study," Kuhar said. D'Souza said cannabinoid receptors seem to be in the same brain regions damaged in schizophrenia - the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Source: Newsday (NY)Author: Jamie Talan, Staff WriterPublished: June 16, 2004Copyright: 2004 Newsday Inc.Contact: letters newsday.comWebsite: http://www.newsday.com/Related Articles:How To Prevent Cannabis-Induced Distresshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18897.shtmlCannabis Use Not Linked with Psychosocial Harmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18868.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #19 posted by observer on June 17, 2004 at 12:36:26 PT
re: It's Called Being ''Stoned''
mayan writes: "Schizophrenia-like symptoms"??? It's called being "stoned". Of course smoking two joints is going to change your behavior and personality...temporarily. This is not news.Right on. When you take out the schizo- diagnostic questions that people who are high on pot are obviously going to answer yes on, and when you take out the questions dealing with the mendacity of government in regards to prohibition, you're left with people who are just like everyone else, save for the fact they enjoy taking cannabis.
http://drugpolicycentral.com/bot/pot breaking pot news
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by Agog on June 17, 2004 at 12:18:46 PT
Intentionally Skewed Research
I would suggest the experimental design was pre-ordained to reach this conclusion.INJECT with "pure" THC
Have subjects complain of "schizophrenia-like symptoms" after injectionTherefore: Cannnabis must be linked to schizophrenic behavior.I would agree, especially in those that "authorized" the research.
No where in this article is titration mentioned. Over what length of time was the THC administered, comparing that to the average length of time to smoke/share a joint. Nevermind the fact that whole cannabis wasn't used.Agog..... uh huh
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by observer on June 17, 2004 at 12:16:32 PT
''Schizophrenia Symptoms''
Schizophrenia SymptomsThis is a crock. The way that the so-called "Schizophrenia Symptoms" are determined is via a self-reporting questionaire, which includes questions like this:"Have you ever experienced the world around you looking different than it usually does? Can you describe what it was like? What do you think caused this to happen?"
http://www.toad.net/~arcturus/dd/schtypal.htmDuh! That's exactly why people use cannabis, to experience the world around one looking different. I enjoy cannabis because it changes my perspective. That's the reason I use it. Here, answering that yes, cannabis does have an effect on one, is spun as pathological. This is bunk.Look at this list; there are some real gems.Do you find yourself trying to figure out what people really mean instead of taking what they said at face value?(Blank stare.) You mean, like at any time when a prohibitionist speaks? Like when a Bush moves his lips? Like when a news announcer reports? Oh yes, I take all that at face value. See how this works, folks? This is a test for societial conformity, where non-conformity is painted as pathological, schizophrenia.Here's another one I really like. Presumably, it would be asked by an alienist seeking cause to lock someone up as crazy. "Just a few questions, Mrs Smith," asks the nicly dressed admitting shrink. (No ulterior motives there.)Do people tell you that you read too much into things?Lordy, how many of us pick apart news stories here? A well-paid government psychiatrist should have little problem painting any cnews reader as nutters. Basically, any non-conformity, any expressed doubt of Officials, Experts and Authorities will do it. You doubt the nice government person? You must be crazy!
Schizo-bot ... it doubts the Word of Officials !
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by E_Johnson on June 17, 2004 at 08:46:59 PT
Now read this about what indeces more psychosis
Here is an excerpt from the prison article in the Chronicle of Higher Education: The routines and severe forms of constraint of control units, augmented increasingly by electronic surveillance, are so harsh that prisoners cannot be considered "rational actors," Ms. Rhodes argues. In fact, many inmates who are not mentally ill become psychotic under the strain of isolation. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by FoM on June 17, 2004 at 08:34:57 PT
No I Didn't See Gaslight
EJ I didn't see that one. I should watch TCM more often. I'm missing some good classics. I remember two movies that left a dent in my head that were very old and one was Let No Man Write My Epitaph and The Enchanted Cottage.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037671/http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=99410
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by siege on June 17, 2004 at 07:30:12 PT
endocrine changes.
 What have I missed here?? our govt. don't aloud marijuana testing so who is giving it to them? Or is this a synthetic subtends. And what grade is it ? or have they made it into a condense form to make it stronger. This is one of John Walters things to give it to who he can trust to tell a lie.The govt. has given someone the idea of making it so they can shoot up and we will have more problems because it will not be pure. So the govt. has just killed our Children.People that use marijuana DON'T use THC intravenously they have more smarts than that. This is just a govt. thing to discreet cannabis for med.siege
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on June 17, 2004 at 07:20:38 PT
Being raped must cure schizophenia then!
Let's ask D'Souza if he can prove that being raped in jail cures people of these schizophenia-like symptoms he claims are induced by marijuana.Maybe we should find his email address and ask him.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #12 posted by Hope on June 17, 2004 at 06:51:11 PT
A hint of a possibility? 
"The findings provide a hint that marijuana could possibly create other problems," said Michael Kuhar, a professor of neuropharmacology at Emory University in Atlanta.(I have a feeling Kuhar or Emory University, or both, are hired guns for the prohibs. Hired with money we contributed. Paid with money they want to keep receiving. A “hint” of a possibility and needs to be “looked into further".It’s truly shameful.)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by AlvinCool on June 17, 2004 at 03:37:09 PT
Wow
Brings back memories of the monkeys forced to smoke constantly for hours during their breathing process. Plus they don't come out and say it but I assume that since they don't mention that these people have a history of marijuana use, they must all be non marijuana use people.Plus I wonder how they came to the 2 1/2 joint observation? Would that be at the 30% THC mark that John Walters lies so much about now?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on June 16, 2004 at 23:42:35 PT
FoM did you see that movie Gaslight?
Is this sound familiar or what? I feel like we're all Ingrid Bergman and our government is Charles BOyer."Alice Alquist, famed opera diva, was strangled, presumably for her famous jewels, and the murderer was never caught. Her teenaged niece, Paula, who lived with her, is taken to Italy for a presumably better life. The murderer is suave Gregory Anton, (Charles Boyer), a pianist who romances and weds Paula some ten years later, and persuades her to return to London and to live in her late aunt's house. He then proceeds to drive his vulnerable young wife mad, isolating her from other people, telling her that she loses and forgets things, and so on."He tries to convince her and everyone else that she's crazy.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 16, 2004 at 20:04:43 PT
That's Right EJ
Any time a substance is taken by IV the drug hits the brain instantly and with a big wollop for lack of the right way to say it. If someone injected me with THC or the chemical they say is just like Cannabis I'd probably be flaky for an hour or two just knowing my personal disposition. It just seems logical to me.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on June 16, 2004 at 19:37:46 PT
They were INJECTED with PURE THC
This has nothing to do with smoking pot.They couldn't get the results they wanted from smoking so they used pure injected THC.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 16, 2004 at 18:28:11 PT
Off Topic: Trinkets and Beads - World Link TV
We are watching World Link TV and it is about oil and the damage it is doing in the Amazon. It's Channel 375 on Direct TV if anyone wants to check it out.****Length: 01:00 Type of program: DocumentaryAfter twenty years of devastating pollution by oil companies in the Amazon basin of Ecuador, a new kind of oil company - Dallas based MAXUS - promises to be the first company that will protect the rainforest and respect the people who live there. The film tells the story of how MAXUS set out to convince the Huaorani - known as the fiercest tribe in the Amazon - to allow drilling on their land. It is a story which starts in 1957 with the Huaorani massacre of five American missionaries, moving through the evangelization of part of the tribe by Rachel Saint, pollution of Huaorani lands by Texaco and Shell and manipulation and buying off of Huaorani leaders by MAXUS. Filmed over two years, “Trinkets and Beads” reveals the funny, heartbreaking and thrilling story of the battle waged by a small band of Amazonian warriors to preserve their way of life.http://www.worldlinktv.org/programming/programDescription.php4?code=trinkets
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by knowhemp on June 16, 2004 at 18:10:57 PT
fact?
is this really all based just upon the reportings of test subjects when they were high off the equivelent of 1 joint? sounds like some more gutter science, or at best, a 'reccomendation to consult your doctor before smoking this'-type deal. clearly the benefits out-weigh the risks in mostly all cases and all this on top of the fact that the illegality of the herb is whats holding the worlds greatest resource at bay when we need it most! there is no good reason to keep hemp illegal in any country just because its cousin gets you high (safely)...isn't this what all the propaganda and nit picking really all about?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by mayan on June 16, 2004 at 18:06:54 PT
It's Called Being "Stoned"
"Most volunteers on the higher dose reported schizophrenia-like symptoms, which lasted about an hour.""Schizophrenia-like symptoms"??? It's called being "stoned". Of course smoking two joints is going to change your behavior and personality...temporarily. This is not news.This plant has been around much longer than we have. It's interesting how it is becoming increasingly demonized as it moves closer to total social acceptance.The way out is the way in...The Fireworks Will Fly in 'Fahrenheit 9/11' Movie June 25:
http://www.mywisecounty.com/news/061604-1.htmFahrenheit 9/11 - by Tom Tomorrow:
http://www.thismodernworld.com/weblog/mtarchives/week_2004_06_13.html#001600MoveOn PAC Acts to Counter Republican Attempts to Censor Fahrenheit 9/11: 
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-16-2004/0002194673&EDATE=O'Reilly compared Moore, Franken to Goebbels; compared Hollywood celebs to Nazi faithful:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200406140007Conservatives launch pre-emptive strike against documentary critical of Bush - 'Fahrenheit 9/11' called propaganda:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/06/16/MNGED76SI31.DTLCuomo to Spearhead 'R' Rating Appeal for "Fahrenheit 9/11"
http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_040616cuomo.htmlCensoring Michael Moore:
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=774
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on June 16, 2004 at 17:40:37 PT
I know what they say
They start having delusions that the government is accusing them of date rape and child killing on national TV.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on June 16, 2004 at 17:26:46 PT
This must be why
nobody shoots Marinol.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 16, 2004 at 16:37:05 PT
global_warming 
Well said.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by global_warming on June 16, 2004 at 16:34:54 PT
Trigger??
"Several newly published epidemiological studies suggest marijuana and other drugs of abuse might trigger schizophrenia, given an underlying vulnerability."History has recorded well the inhumane way it has treated the mentally ill, less than a human being, less than a disease, the greatest scientists of all the greatest times, have been stumped to explain "madness" and other neuro-degenerative disorders.It strikes me as far too convenient to place the potential blame on THC, while so many deranged humans still occupy this world. Especially, since MMJ is making such an inroad in todays culture.Sick people may seek to blame this or that for their problems, but even scientists become ill, yes..even scientists and doctors have been known to make moronic mistakes...Maybe we should try to more accurately point the finger towards the great unknowns that awaits us all.End the modern day crucifixions, end the cageings, end the
prohibition.
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment