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2w ago

Canadian Cannabis Potency Surge Tied to Rising Psychosis and Schizophrenia Risks

A CMAJ review attributes soaring THC levels to legal cannabis commercialization, offering clinical guidance accompanied by proposed regulatory measures to safeguard vulnerable users.

Scientists are currently studying whether cannabis use may cause schizophrenia.
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Overview

  • Legal dried cannabis in Canada now averages about 20 percent THC, reflecting a roughly fivefold increase since the early 2000s.
  • Use of products exceeding 10 percent THC, frequent consumption, younger age, male sex and prior mental-health disorders all correlate with higher risk of cannabis-related psychosis.
  • An Ontario cohort study reported a 14.3-fold increase in schizophrenia-spectrum diagnoses after cannabis-related emergency visits and a 241.6-fold rise following cannabis-induced psychosis.
  • The CMAJ synthesis advises immediate cessation of cannabis for individuals with psychotic symptoms and recommends antipsychotic medication for severe or prolonged cases.
  • Motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy are highlighted as strategies to support cessation, and the review calls for enhanced public-health education and regulatory oversight.