MSDNC | The high potency cannabis that is now widely available may raise the risk of both psychosis and addiction, a report published Monday in The Lancet Psychiatry finds.
The potency of cannabis — measured by how much THC is found in the product — has been rising for nearly half a century, increasing by approximately 0.29% each year from 1970 to 2017, according to earlier research. THC is the chemical in cannabis responsible for its psychoactive effects.
That change could have important implications for public health, experts say.
“With the increasing strength of cannabis available in the U.S. and around the globe, it’s important to understand the long-term health outcomes that might be associated with using these types of products as compared to what has traditionally been available,” said Ziva Cooper, director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
Marijuana is legal for recreational use in 19 states plus Washington, D.C., according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Vermont is the only state that has a potency cap for cannabis products, though other states are looking into adding limits.
The finding that high potency cannabis is associated with a greater risk of psychosis and addiction “definitely should give people pause,” Cooper, who was not involved with the new research, said.
In Monday’s study, researchers analyzed data from 20 studies that included a total of nearly 120,000 cannabis users. They found that people with a first episode of cannabis-related psychosis were much more likely to have been using a product with high levels of THC than a product with low levels of the intoxicating chemical. Those using high potency weed were also much more likely to become addicted, compared to those who used low potency cannabis.
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