People with schizophrenia and some who use cannabis may have certain genes in common, according to new research.

The findings may partly explain the following, long-established link between cannabis use and psychotic disorders: The rate of people who smoke pot is higher among those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia than it is in the general population. In addition, studies have shown that using cannabis can lead to psychotic episodes or worsen a person’s existing symptoms, which suggests that the substance could trigger the psychotic disorder.

But the new results suggest that part of the association between the two might actually be due to both of them being linked with the same genes, said Robert Power, a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

“To some extent, those genes that we have identified as being ‘schizophrenia-inducing’ are also genes that can contribute to cannabis use,” Power said.

Power and his colleagues looked at the pot-smoking habits of 2,082 healthy people as well as their genetic profiles, focusing on the genes that have been identified as related to schizophrenia.

The results showed that people who had genes linked with schizophrenia were also more likely to use cannabis, and use it more frequently, compared with people who didn’t have the schizophrenia-risk genes, according to the study, published today (June 24) in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Full Report: http://www.livescience.com/46483-cannabis-and-schizophrenia-genetic-link.html?cid=514636_20140624_26621886

I think THC (or some ingredient of the green dragon) may have some antipsychotic effects, offset by heavy use no doubt, but then the idea of self-medicating for such things applies to tobacco also.

Bubblecar said:

People with schizophrenia and some who use cannabis may have certain genes in common, according to new research.

The findings may partly explain the following, long-established link between cannabis use and psychotic disorders: The rate of people who smoke pot is higher among those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia than it is in the general population. In addition, studies have shown that using cannabis can lead to psychotic episodes or worsen a person’s existing symptoms, which suggests that the substance could trigger the psychotic disorder.

But the new results suggest that part of the association between the two might actually be due to both of them being linked with the same genes, said Robert Power, a researcher at the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

“To some extent, those genes that we have identified as being ‘schizophrenia-inducing’ are also genes that can contribute to cannabis use,” Power said.

Power and his colleagues looked at the pot-smoking habits of 2,082 healthy people as well as their genetic profiles, focusing on the genes that have been identified as related to schizophrenia.

The results showed that people who had genes linked with schizophrenia were also more likely to use cannabis, and use it more frequently, compared with people who didn’t have the schizophrenia-risk genes, according to the study, published today (June 24) in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

Full Report: http://www.livescience.com/46483-cannabis-and-schizophrenia-genetic-link.html?cid=514636_20140624_26621886

You might have to stop squeezing grass into your e-smoker Mr Car.

I agree with transition. Self-medication.

I know a family with two siblings, one of whom has schizophrenia and has never used pot, whereas the other had used pot a lot but has never had any mental illness.

mollwollfumble said:

I know a family with two siblings, one of whom has schizophrenia and has never used pot, whereas the other had used pot a lot but has never had any mental illness.

If that’s not good evidence, I don’t know what is.

That’s all thoroughly confusing.

But what do we really know about pot…

It causes the growth of hair on the face and the palms, and introduces you better class of black man.

transition said:

I think THC (or some ingredient of the green dragon) may have some antipsychotic effects, offset by heavy use no doubt, but then the idea of self-medicating for such things applies to tobacco also.

Perhaps you are referring to this.

Medical use of cannabis. Cannabidiol: a new light for schizophrenia?

From memory, CBD is produced as the other constituents break down ie: hashish is higher in CBD.