XPost: boulder.general, co.politics, rec.drugs.cannabis   
   XPost: misc.legal   
   From: so@damocl.es   
      
   Paul Tiger wrote:   
   > The Boulder County Drug Task Force has seized a home and   
      
      
   Marijuana use boosts risk of psychosis: study   
   Last Updated Thu, 02 Dec 2004 14:52:34 EST   
   LONDON - Teens and young adults who frequently use marijuana are at higher risk   
   of developing psychotic symptoms later in life, researchers say.   
      
   Dutch scientists studied 2,437 young people aged 14-24 to identify their   
   predisposition to psychosis. Participants were questioned about their use of   
   cannabis and followed for up to four years.   
      
      
     a.. INDEPTH: Marijuana   
      
   In the study, researchers used a broad definition of psychosis, ranging from   
   occasionally hearing voices and paranoia to schizophrenia.   
      
   Jim van Os of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands and his team   
   found   
   21 per cent of cannabis users had experienced psychotic symptoms compared with   
   15 per cent among non-users.   
      
   The odds of experiencing symptoms were also higher among those who frequently   
   smoked marijuana, after adjusting for other factors, such as social and   
   economic   
   status, use of other drugs, alcohol and tobacco.   
      
   In the past, it has been difficult for scientists to figure out if cannabis   
   triggers the psychotic symptoms or whether those with mental health problems   
   are   
   more likely to use the drug.   
      
   Researchers on van Os's team found that the risk of developing symptoms was   
   about four times higher in young people with a pre-existing susceptibility to   
   mental instability.   
      
   The study appears in this week's issue of BMJ Online First.   
      
      
   >   
   > Paul Tiger, Publications Director of NORML for Boulder   
   > NORML-Boulder@paultiger.com   
   > 720-323-0570   
   > PO Box 1903   
   > Longmont, CO 80502-1903   
   > www.normlforboulder.org   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)