Spring Break
Study fails to show dangers of marijuana
Justin Gero
Issue date: 8/10/07 Section: Ed-Op
Recently the media has been buzzing about the new research that links marijuana use with an increased risk of psychotic disorders. This research has reignited the debate over whether or not marijuana use is safe.
The study, conducted in the U.K. and published in The Lancet, a prestigious European medical journal, concluded that marijuana use can increase the risk of psychotic illnesses by 40 percent for casual users and up to 200 percent for heavy users. The findings scared many, and have the U.K. government considering more arrests, tougher laws and longer jail sentences to combat marijuana.
It sounds bad, but by contrast a study done by Johns Hopkins University found that alcohol increases the risk of psychosis by 800 percent for men and 300 percent for women. The study conducted in The Lancet; however, could not directly link marijuana to increased psychotic illness.
It did suggest a correlation between the two, but did not find that marijuana was the cause of the increased risk. The Statistical Assessment Service (STATS), a non-profit organization affiliated with George Mason University, looked into the new study and found something interesting.
They said: "If marijuana produces what seems like such a large jump in risk for schizophrenia, have schizophrenia rates increased in line with marijuana use rates? A quick search of Medline shows that this is not the case - in fact, some experts think they may actually have fallen."
What people have failed to see is the difference between correlation and causation. This study uses some correlations between drug use and psychosis that imply that marijuana is the cause of this increased risk, but nowhere can it prove this conclusion.
What news reports have failed to mention is that in another study on marijuana, published in the same medical journal, it was concluded that: "The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. … It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat … than alcohol or tobacco."
The study, conducted in the U.K. and published in The Lancet, a prestigious European medical journal, concluded that marijuana use can increase the risk of psychotic illnesses by 40 percent for casual users and up to 200 percent for heavy users. The findings scared many, and have the U.K. government considering more arrests, tougher laws and longer jail sentences to combat marijuana.
It sounds bad, but by contrast a study done by Johns Hopkins University found that alcohol increases the risk of psychosis by 800 percent for men and 300 percent for women. The study conducted in The Lancet; however, could not directly link marijuana to increased psychotic illness.
It did suggest a correlation between the two, but did not find that marijuana was the cause of the increased risk. The Statistical Assessment Service (STATS), a non-profit organization affiliated with George Mason University, looked into the new study and found something interesting.
They said: "If marijuana produces what seems like such a large jump in risk for schizophrenia, have schizophrenia rates increased in line with marijuana use rates? A quick search of Medline shows that this is not the case - in fact, some experts think they may actually have fallen."
What people have failed to see is the difference between correlation and causation. This study uses some correlations between drug use and psychosis that imply that marijuana is the cause of this increased risk, but nowhere can it prove this conclusion.
What news reports have failed to mention is that in another study on marijuana, published in the same medical journal, it was concluded that: "The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. … It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat … than alcohol or tobacco."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Pantagruel
posted 8/10/07 @ 2:11 PM EST
The 70 year war on pot is a fraud on innocent citizens!
See ya at the SEATTLE HEMP FEST! 08/18-19/07
mystikast
posted 8/11/07 @ 6:47 PM EST
legalize marijuana! this drug war is rediculous
Derek
posted 8/13/07 @ 2:44 PM EST
Great article. He hits the nail right on the head. Prohibition was based on a lie, and the policy makers need to lie and mislead to keep and justify their failed policy. (Continued…)
Diana
posted 8/13/07 @ 7:31 PM EST
Thank you for this fantastic article. It disappoints me to no end that mainstream journalism seems either unwilling or unable to perform its own critical analysis of the information it reports on. (Continued…)
Stuart Wyatt
posted 8/14/07 @ 4:54 AM EST
A very good article! It sickens me that my country is having a major 'reefer madness' campaign, whilst blatantly ignoring the medicinal properties of cannabis. (Continued…)
Ken Biron
posted 8/15/07 @ 11:48 PM EST
I live in North Central British Columbia. Cops here realize that Weed is not a problem, they deal with the aftermath of "Tweakers", "Downers" and "coconuts". (Continued…)
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