American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience

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Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications

Received: 01 December 2019    Accepted: 19 December 2019    Published: 31 December 2019
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Abstract

Background. It is scientifically undeniable that there is a relationship between cannabis use, psychoses of different types and other mental disorders. Frequent use of cannabis as well as high potency synthetic cannabis has special clinical significance for public health. Method. A review of the best and most current specialized literature published in order to clarify possible controversies that still persist. The aim is to resolve certain doubts so that scientifically supported criteria on the risks and dangers of cannabis use for mental health can be issued without any prejudices. Result. Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the US and worldwide over the past year. Some authors hypothesize about interaction bias and confounding that could annul the internal validity of many studies reporting on the dangers of cannabis for mental health. They also emphasize that cannabis use should not be criminalized. This is, however, a merely speculative or unrealistic hope that disregards the wealth of scientific data that reject the authors’ aspiration according to the available evidence consulted. Conclusion. The most qualified scientific journals, in line with the main professional institutions, have been rigorously and accurately informing their readers ˗and must continue doing it˗ of the dangers and harm caused by substance use, including cannabis. In short, the issue is to try to decrease the incidence of the related mental disorders which are sufficiently acknowledged. Mental health professionals cannot and must not be neutral or ambiguous regarding cannabis use, its collective spreading and the health risks that it entails.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20
Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 7, Issue 4, December 2019)
Page(s) 153-157
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cannabis, Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology, Mental Disorder, Legalization

References
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Author Information
  • Psychiatry and Mental Health Service of Valencia-Arnau de Vilanova-Llíria Health Department, Ministry of Universal Healthcare and Public Health, Valencia, Spain

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  • APA Style

    José Manuel Bertolín-Guillén. (2019). Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 7(4), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20

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    ACS Style

    José Manuel Bertolín-Guillén. Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019, 7(4), 153-157. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20

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    AMA Style

    José Manuel Bertolín-Guillén. Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2019;7(4):153-157. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20,
      author = {José Manuel Bertolín-Guillén},
      title = {Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {7},
      number = {4},
      pages = {153-157},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20190704.20},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20190704.20},
      abstract = {Background. It is scientifically undeniable that there is a relationship between cannabis use, psychoses of different types and other mental disorders. Frequent use of cannabis as well as high potency synthetic cannabis has special clinical significance for public health. Method. A review of the best and most current specialized literature published in order to clarify possible controversies that still persist. The aim is to resolve certain doubts so that scientifically supported criteria on the risks and dangers of cannabis use for mental health can be issued without any prejudices. Result. Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the US and worldwide over the past year. Some authors hypothesize about interaction bias and confounding that could annul the internal validity of many studies reporting on the dangers of cannabis for mental health. They also emphasize that cannabis use should not be criminalized. This is, however, a merely speculative or unrealistic hope that disregards the wealth of scientific data that reject the authors’ aspiration according to the available evidence consulted. Conclusion. The most qualified scientific journals, in line with the main professional institutions, have been rigorously and accurately informing their readers ˗and must continue doing it˗ of the dangers and harm caused by substance use, including cannabis. In short, the issue is to try to decrease the incidence of the related mental disorders which are sufficiently acknowledged. Mental health professionals cannot and must not be neutral or ambiguous regarding cannabis use, its collective spreading and the health risks that it entails.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    T1  - Controversies on the Repercussions of Cannabis Use on Mental Health: Critical Clarifications
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    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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    AB  - Background. It is scientifically undeniable that there is a relationship between cannabis use, psychoses of different types and other mental disorders. Frequent use of cannabis as well as high potency synthetic cannabis has special clinical significance for public health. Method. A review of the best and most current specialized literature published in order to clarify possible controversies that still persist. The aim is to resolve certain doubts so that scientifically supported criteria on the risks and dangers of cannabis use for mental health can be issued without any prejudices. Result. Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in the US and worldwide over the past year. Some authors hypothesize about interaction bias and confounding that could annul the internal validity of many studies reporting on the dangers of cannabis for mental health. They also emphasize that cannabis use should not be criminalized. This is, however, a merely speculative or unrealistic hope that disregards the wealth of scientific data that reject the authors’ aspiration according to the available evidence consulted. Conclusion. The most qualified scientific journals, in line with the main professional institutions, have been rigorously and accurately informing their readers ˗and must continue doing it˗ of the dangers and harm caused by substance use, including cannabis. In short, the issue is to try to decrease the incidence of the related mental disorders which are sufficiently acknowledged. Mental health professionals cannot and must not be neutral or ambiguous regarding cannabis use, its collective spreading and the health risks that it entails.
    VL  - 7
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