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When it comes to cannabis propaganda, especially as it applies to scare tactics involving youth, the film Reefer Madness<\/em> is probably the first thing that people think of.<\/p>\n Another one that many people think of is the infamous 1980\u2019s commercial in which an egg is broken and put on a frying pan with the narrator saying, \u201cthis is your brain on drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s undeniable that one of the go-to tactics for cannabis opponents when they are promoting prohibition is to make claims regarding children.<\/p>\n All of the talking points used have the same premise \u2013 that kids consuming cannabis will lead to tremendous mental and physical health issues later in life. Is any of that true?<\/p>\n Recently a team of researchers conducted a study involving twins and cannabis use. Among the sets of twins involved in the study, one twin was a heavy cannabis user and one was not.<\/p>\n Studies involving twins are rarer compared to non-twin studies, however, they provide tremendous insight for the global cannabis community for obvious reasons.<\/p>\n The goal of the study was to explore any relationship between adolescent cannabis use and adult-onset psychosis.<\/p>\n \u201cEpidemiological studies have repeatedly shown that individuals who use cannabis are more likely to develop psychotic disorders than individuals who do not. It has been suggested that these associations represent a causal effect of cannabis use on psychosis, and that psychosis risk may be particularly elevated when use occurs in adolescence. \u2026 This study, however, does not support these hypotheses, suggesting instead that observed associations are more likely due to confounding by common vulnerability factors.\u201d the researchers stated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe results suggest this association is likely attributable to familial confounds rather than a causal effect of cannabis exposure. \u2026 Our results suggest that the threat of potential harm to adolescents via meaningful increases in risk of long-term psychotic illness may be overstated. \u2026 Thus, clinical and public health interventions aimed at decreasing the prevalence and burden of psychotic illnesses may benefit from focusing their attention elsewhere.\u201d researchers concluded.<\/p>\n People consuming cannabis in their youth may not cause adult psychosis later in life according to this study, however, youth consumption is still a matter that needs to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n As with just about any intoxicating substance, youth should wait until they are older to consume cannabis unless a medical doctor prescribes it.<\/p>\n With that being said, just because someone tries cannabis when they are young does not mean that it\u2019s the end of the world. Public policies need to strike the right balance.<\/p>\n As the researchers in this study indicate, there are a number of things that can contribute to poor mental health as an adult and public health strategies need to be reflective of that.<\/p>\nTwin Cannabis Study<\/h2>\n
Taking Youth Consumption Seriously<\/h2>\n