Regular cannabis use impacts the development of a chronic life-long psychotic disorder in at-risk individuals and is associated with an earlier age of onset of psychosis. However, there is currently no way to identify who is at risk of developing psychosis with cannabis use. Therefore, the concern is due to the unknowns surrounding cannabis use and psychosis development.
Another concern is that there is an epidemiological correlation between ongoing use of cannabis by those who have developed psychosis and the chance of relapses and hospitalization time with respect to psychotic episodes.
One study of first-episode psychosis patients examined links between cannabis and psychosis. It was found that cannabis use in this group of patients was notably more common than in the general population.
More research in this area, such as longitudinal studies, would be a huge asset in understanding the link between cannabis and psychosis.
Interesting read of a cohort study on cannabis use and psychosis – check it out!:
