Take That "Pot Causes Schizophrenia" Fearmongers

I'd planned to do a long post ripping apart the recent stories alleging that pot causes schizophrenia. That old saw has been around since the 1930s and still the pot haters of the world haven't been able to prove their case.

Anyhow, Robert Lindsay has come along with a lengthy post on this whole business, so I'll just send you there. Globally, he notes:

"So the evidence on permanent brain damage from long-term daily marijuana use is somewhat contradictory and is still up in the air. Nevertheless, it looks like cannabis can be used by adults for up to five years, and possibly up to 15 years, even on a daily basis, without any permanent effects on the brain."

I'm on the phone to Snoop and Dre already.

Joking aside, we are kidding ourselves as a culture if we don't appropriately study cannabis treatments for depression. Because it is clear that there is something useful about the molecule and it merits further study. As for the psychosis theory, even if it's prevalence were as high as some researchers claim (about 7 percent of cases of schizophrenia may be related to pot use), then it would be no worse that the percentage of cases of mania and suicidality induced by SSRIs. It would be worse. Besides, the rate of schizophrenia has been pretty much constant at about 1 percent for eons and with broader use of weed in American culture, you'd expect many, many more schizophrenics and run-of-the-mill psychotics in our land. Where are they?

As I have noted before, there are legitimate reasons to support proper scientific research of pot in the psych realm. It may cause new brain cells to grow and has an anti-depressant effect in mice. ("Good enough for mice, good enough for me," I often say.). It's known to have positive effects on depression and anxiety. If the feds and the medical establishment are OK with looking into medical properties of Special K, then why not check into cheeba?

All of which is a long way of trotting out one of the greatest things I've ever told an interviewee. So good, it must be repeated.

"DEA Agent: "Drugs are bad. Don't do drugs."

Me: "How is medical marijuana bad?"

DEA Agent: "Marijuana causes schizophrenia."

Me: "I've read those studies and don't think it's a very strong correlation."

DEA Agent: "Well, that's what they say."

Me: "Can I tell you something?"

DEA Agent: "Sure."

Me: "I should be the most schizophrenic guy in America."