This article is from the Hemp / Cannabis / Marijuana FAQ, by Brian S. Julin verdant@twain.ucs.umass.edu with numerous contributions by others.
Marijuana does not `cause' psychosis. Psychotic people
can smoke marijuana and have an episode, but there is
nothing in marijuana that actually initiates or increases
these episodes. Of course, if any mentally ill person is
given marijuana for the first time or without their
knowledge, they might get scared and `freak.' Persons who
suffer from severe psychological disorders often use
marijuana as a way of coping. Because of this, some
researchers have assumed that marijuana is the cause of
these problems, when it is actually a symptom. If you have
heard that marijuana makes people go crazy, this is probably
why.
``A Brief, Critical Look at Cannabis Psychosis'' by Amit Basu in ``The
International Journal on Drug Policy'' Vol. 3 pp. 126-127. 1992.
 
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