Marijuana and Schizophrenia: A Pizzen Catastrophy

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. He is an expert in medical marijuana treatment.

Photo courtesy: wittysparks.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I'm getting schizoid myself every once in a while when I'm trying to keep up with Cannabis Therapeutics, something unusual pops up on the screen.

Cannabis doctors in California who together have more than 300,000 patients are reporting that cannabis/marijuana is effective treatment for a variety of mental illnesses. (see many of my previous posts).

What popped recently is Marijuana Doubles the Risk of Schizophrenia in the Journal Addiction from Otaga, New Zealand in March, 2005.

Comments on the report indicate that schizophrenia patients also use alcohol, cocaine, heroin, caffeine, ecstasy, amphetamines and heavy use of tobacco which has a strong effect on the brain.

Concurrently, there are posted comments from schizophrenic patients who state that if marijuana caused schizophrenia, there would be a worldwide pandemic of schizophrenia.

The use of cannabis has literally exploded since the 1960's. There is NO increase in schizophrenia which hovers around one percent in the general population.

It is my observation as a funded research pharmacologist that many Cannabis researchers are using the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) as cash cows.

The U.S. government is going hysterical trying to assert that marijuana is harmful and addicting. At the same time, they publish that as many as 50 million Americans smoke marijuana once in a while with minimal ill effects and minimal withdrawal effects.

Some psychiatrists state that schizophrenics do smoke marijuana the same as many, normal people. At the same time MJ users legal or otherwise know that a high dose of strong MJ can produce an uncomfortable HIGH which causes schizophrenic-like symptoms. They don't enjoy this and try to avoid it. Besides, it costs too much to get high with good marijuana selling for at least $400 per ounce.

Nevertheless, we know of some "stoners" who seem to seek the high. As a physician who has interviewed no less than 5,000 patients over medical marijuana, I have yet to observe one whom I determined to be psychotic or high.

In case you are wondering about the Pizzen Factor, we included this link to the Doctor's article to satiate your curiosity: PTSD and the Pizzen Factor

Watch for more streaming video question and answer segments about medical marijuana with Bonnie King and Dr. Phil Leveque.

Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com: Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

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Lester December 14, 2010 2:15 pm (Pacific time)

A mentally ill person should not experience any voices at all if they are taking their anti-psychotic correctly. Sativa strains had a weird "voices" effect on me. While I totally believe with the right strain a mentally ill person could receive benefits and experience a high with the right CBD that is totally comfortable to them. The governments need to lighten up.

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Joey May 3, 2010 2:58 pm (Pacific time)

I am a schizoaffective which is a mood disorder w/ schizophrenic symptoms. When im not high im paranoid, my mood is all over the place and im constantly hearing demonic voices but whn i do use marijuana i am calm and the voices either stop or they stop sounding demonic and stop saying evil things. i have used marijuana for my symptoms for almost 5 years and i have found MJ to be very effective

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David May 31, 2009 3:06 pm (Pacific time)

i've been using marijuana as a self medication for my schizophrenia for 6 years.. i haven't taken seroquel in that 6 years since i've started and i have found that the marijuana not only calms me down but also makes social interaction easier, my focus is clearer, and it also stops the "voices." i believe that in some cases marijuana helps minimize the symptoms..

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Drew July 3, 2008 5:27 am (Pacific time)

I am a paranoid schizophrenic with a horrible past i have tried many kinds of anti-psychotics the one im "on" currently is seroquel which i take 700mg at bed time
i feel really drowsy and have had times where i felt my body was gonna shut down
I was told by my doctor that marijuana would make things worse, but i have found it makes it way better i notice no difference in the amount of hullucinations but i can take them a lot better when im high and dont get paranoid
i would like to talk to you personally and do self studies because the side effects are way better then the meds they give you

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