Don't believe the hype?
Question
What are the true mental health risks of smoking weed? I've seen the hype in the news and assumed that it was in relation to 'heavy' users but wondered if people who only smoked it occasionally were at risk or not.
Answer
There has been a lot of media coverage on the effects of smoking weed (cannabis) over the last few years, particularly since its reclassification.
Research suggests that, as with any recreational drug use, people with existing psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder (manic depression) and schizophrenia should refrain from smoking cannabis. This is simply because it can exacerbate the existing symptoms the person may have, and even lead to what is commonly known as drug induced psychosis.
For those who do not have a mental illness, smoking cannabis can make users paranoid and anxious, depending on the user's situation. As Mind point out, heavy users may experience lethargy, loss of communication skills and a general lack of ambition. Their faculties do return, however, if they stop smoking. The idea that cannabis use causes long-term memory loss may arise because most heavy smokers are too 'stoned' to absorb much information in the first place: cannabis is not thought to affect memories which are already in place, only the ability to store new ones.
You've mentioned you do not smoke a large amount of cannabis but it's important to know that there is evidence from a wide range of sources that long term and short-term use of cannabis can trigger a psychotic episode or schizophrenia in people who are at high risk of developing schizophrenia, e.g. people who have close family members who have schizophrenia.
For further information about the risks of smoking cannabis, and the impact it may have on mental health, you may like to consider checking out the Rethink bulletin board.
If you would like to talk about your concerns with someone, in complete confidence Talk to Frank is available on 0800 917 8765. Rethink also run an information line on 020 8547 3937.
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