Anders Gillian was only 17 years old when he started to lose touch with reality.
“He believed there was a higher being communicating with him, telling him what to do and who he was,” said his mother, Christine Gillian, who lives in Nashville. ‘ he said.
Her son, who had been using marijuana since he was 14, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness with symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and incoherent speech.
He began taking antipsychotic medication but eventually stopped due to side effects. He turned to heroin to quiet the voices in his head and tragically died from an accidental drug overdose at age 22 in 2019.
“If he hadn’t started using marijuana, he might still be here today,” says Gillian, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. Despite having a family history of schizophrenia, she believes her son’s marijuana use triggered a psychotic episode and led to his condition.
Anders was part of a group of young men at heightened risk of developing psychosis due to marijuana use. Studies from Denmark and Britain suggest a connection between heavy marijuana use and mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Researchers believe that the increased potency of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, may exacerbate these symptoms in individuals predisposed genetically. THC levels in marijuana have been rising over the years.
“We’re seeing a rise in marijuana-induced psychosis among teenagers,” said Dr. Christian Thurstone, an addiction expert and child psychiatrist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver.
Is higher potency marijuana more dangerous?
Nora Borkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, stated that the higher the potency of a cannabis product, the more negative effects it is likely to have on users.
“Those who consume higher doses are at a greater risk of developing psychosis,” she explained.
Research on the adverse effects of high THC levels is limited, but a 2020 study found that high-potency cannabis products were associated with an increased risk of hallucinations and delusions compared to lower-potency variants.
“There seems to be a correlation between potency and the risk of psychosis, but further research is needed,” said Ziva Cooper, director of UCLA’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
Research suggests that a proportion of individuals with cannabis-induced psychosis may go on to develop schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Mr. Thurstone highlighted the particular concern regarding young people and adolescents.
“Current research shows that the risk of psychosis is dependent on the dose of marijuana, especially during adolescence. Higher exposure during this critical period increases the likelihood of psychosis, schizophrenia, and potentially severe mental illnesses,” he stated.
More news about marijuana and health
Another issue with high-potency products is the risk of developing cannabis use disorder or marijuana addiction. Increased exposure to stronger cannabis products may lead to addiction, although more research is required to definitively establish this connection.
“There is clear scientific evidence that marijuana can be psychologically addictive and habit-forming, and even physically habit-forming,” Thurstone warned. “It creates tolerance, requiring increased usage for the same effect.”
Approximately 1 in 10 individuals who start using cannabis may become addicted. According to the Centers for Disease Control.
How the potency of cannabis is related to psychosis
Marijuana overstimulates cannabinoid receptors in the brain, leading to a high. This stimulation can impair cognitive functions, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
While the exact mechanisms of how marijuana induces psychosis are not fully understood, scientists believe it interferes with the brain’s ability to differentiate between internal thoughts and external reality.
“In the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s, marijuana had THC content of about 2% to 3%,” noted Thurstone, highlighting the significant increase in potency levels in recent years.
Patrick Johnson, an assistant store manager at Frost Exotic Dispensary in Colorado, has witnessed the rise in potency firsthand, especially after the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2014.
Since then, 24 states, two territories, and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use.
As cannabis consumption grows across the nation, the demand for high-potency products is increasing, experts suggest.
“After legalization, I’ve seen potency rise from 19-20% to 30-35%,” Johnson remarked.
Currently, his store offers strains ranging from 14% to 30%, with most customers preferring stronger varieties.
Mahmoud Elsohly, a cannabis researcher at the University of Mississippi, explained that one reason for increased potency is users developing tolerance to the drug over time. This has led to a steady increase in THC content over the years.
“People need more potent products to achieve the desired high,” he noted.
Previously, a joint with 2% THC might have been enough, but as tolerance develops, individuals may need multiple joints or higher THC concentrations for the same effect.
Are some forms of marijuana safer?
Cannabis potency primarily refers to the THC content in the smokable parts like the flower or bud.
THC levels in flowers can reach up to 40%, while concentrates and oils may contain levels as high as 95%.
The challenge, according to UCLA’s Cooper, lies in the absence of a standardized dose for cannabis products, making it hard to predict individual reactions.
Establishing unit doses for inhaled products is also complicated. A joint can contain 100 to 200 milligrams of THC, but factors like inhalation depth and frequency of puffs affect actual exposure.
On the other hand, edibles typically contain 5 to 10 milligrams per serving. Efforts are underway to standardize dosing for edibles and regulate THC intake. For example, New York State limits edibles to 10 mg per serving.
How high can THC go?
Borkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse believes that excessively high THC levels may induce extreme reactions like agitation and paranoia, predicting that marijuana flower THC levels won’t exceed 50%.
Cooper added that there is a threshold for THC production, but manufacturers are finding innovative ways to increase potency.
“The industry is boosting THC levels in plant products by adding extra THC, like injecting it into pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes,” she said. “We’re witnessing higher THC exposure levels than ever before.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
