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It's long been known that marijuana use can raise a user's odds for a psychotic episode New research suggests the link is stronger than believed, especially for vulnerable teens Today's weed is much more potent than the drug sold in decades past, perhaps upping the risk WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors have long known that excessive marijuana use can trigger psychosis, especially in the young. But new research suggests the link is stronger that ever imagined before. Teens who use cannabis face 11 times the odds for a psychotic episode compared to teens who abstain from the drug, new Canadian research contends.

The teen years may be an especially vulnerable time in this regard, the researchers noted. “We found a very strong association between cannabis use and risk of psychotic disorder in adolescence. Surprisingly, we didn’t find evidence of association in young adulthood,” said lead author André McDonald , who led the study as part of his PhD work at the University of Toronto.



The findings were published May 22 in the journal Psychological Medicine . McDonald finished the research while at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). Psychotic episodes involve a dangerous psychiatric state in which people lose their connection with reality.

These episodes can get so out of control that people may need hospitalization. It's long been known that marijuana use can help trigger psychosis, and the potency of cannabis is much stronger now than .

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