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 shah
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 Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' 
#11559834 - 11/30/09 11:32 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis'
Cannabis is an illegal drug in most countries
People who smoke potent skunk are more at risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who simply use cannabis, scientists suspect.
According to new research, regular users double their risk of psychosis but heavy skunk users increase theirs seven-fold.
UK experts have a theory it is down to skunk's composition - it contains more of the chemical that gets users stoned.
The work is published in British Journal of Psychiatry.
The findings come only weeks after the UK's chief drugs adviser was sacked after he criticised the government's decision to reclassify cannabis up to Class B from C.
Public education about the risks of heavy use of high-potency cannabis is vital
Researcher Dr Di Forti
The authors of the latest research from the Institute of Psychiatry were quick to stress that their work is merely to inform.
And they point out that drug use only accounts for the minority of cases of psychotic illnesses - somewhere between 10% and 15%. Other risk factors, such as family history of mental health problems, play a far bigger part.
But they say cannabis drugs, and particularly stronger skunk, should be considered a potential health hazard in a similar way to alcohol.
Lifestyle choices
Just as downing a bottle of whiskey a day is riskier than drinking half a glass of wine each evening with your dinner, smoking strong skunk every day poses a greater threat than smoking some cannabis every now and then, they say.
When Dr Marta Di Forti and colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry screened 280 patients admitted to their hospital with psychotic symptoms for the first time, they found most - nearly 80% - were heavy skunk users.
You never truly know what you're getting and stronger cannabis, such as skunk, can increase the chance of suffering a nasty reaction
Chris Hudson, addictions expert at the charity Frank
They also questioned healthy controls of a similar age and social background, who they recruited through newspaper ads and the internet, about their personal drug use.
They found no real difference between the two groups in whether they had ever used cannabis or their age at first use.
But the patients with psychosis were twice as likely to have used cannabis for longer than five years, and over six times more likely to use it every day.
Moreover, among those who had used cannabis, patients with psychosis were seven times more likely to use skunk than controls.
The experts believe skunk is particularly damaging because it contains more THC than hash.
Potency
This is the main psychoactive ingredient and has been shown to produce psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions in experiments.
Unlike skunk, hash contains substantial quantities of another chemical called cannabidiol or CBD and research suggests this may act as an antidote to the THC, counteracting its psychotic side effects.
Dr Di Forte said their findings were concerning, particularly as skunk has come to dominate the UK cannabis market in recent years.
"Public education about the risks of heavy use of high-potency cannabis is vital."
She said more far work was needed to assess the exact risks of smoking different types and quantities of cannabis.
Experts do know that the risks go up with both duration and amount of use.
A spokesman from The Legalise Cannabis Alliance UK said: "We don't need to worry about the health harms of people smoking cannabis per se, whether it is skunk or not.
"What is a concern is that as a result of prohibition some dealers put other stuff into the cannabis they sell that may be damaging. I've heard of lead and glass being put in it."
Chris Hudson, addictions expert at the charity Frank, said: "You never truly know what you're getting and stronger cannabis, such as skunk, can increase the chance of suffering a nasty reaction."
Edited by shah (11/30/09 11:34 PM)
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LSDreamer
Psychedelic Atheist
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: shah]
#11559846 - 11/30/09 11:35 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Typical. I knew this was coming out of the UK as soon as I saw the title.
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Germican
Wyld Stallyn
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: shah]
#11559847 - 11/30/09 11:35 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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And lets see where the funding for the study came from.
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ram327
Stranger
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: Germican]
#11559877 - 11/30/09 11:41 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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It sucks that you're right. It sounds like this was just based on statistics. I also highly doubt that they've included variables that may be the real determining factor.
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RazzleCap
Punkass Trippin
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: ram327]
#11559896 - 11/30/09 11:44 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Did it occur to them that many people who already have psychotic illnesses (often undiagnosed) may be predisposed to finding and using a chemical to 'correct' their mood swings/psychosis?
It's like saying that turning on a lightbulb will produce a bunch of moths. They're already there, the light just draws them in.
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"If the words 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' don't include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp it was written on."
"Let us declare nature to be legitimate. All plants should be declared legal, and all animals for that matter. The notion of illegal plants and animals is obnoxious and ridiculous."
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shah
Alchemist
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: ram327]
#11559899 - 11/30/09 11:44 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've noticed that the UK seems to always be producing the studies stating marijuana is bad for you in some physical/mental way.
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smack
Introvert
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: shah]
#11560020 - 12/01/09 12:21 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
shah said:
I've noticed that the UK seems to always be producing the studies stating marijuana is bad for you in some physical/mental way.
And they keep calling potent weed, "skunk"
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14:31
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wowitch17
Growery is Better
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: smack]
#11560086 - 12/01/09 12:45 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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this article tops the UK retardation meter
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bluecurry
Dragons don't
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: wowitch17]
#11560246 - 12/01/09 01:30 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is it me or is slandering against potent alternatives to freely available drugs counterproductive to ANY side in the debate about drugs (be you against or in support)?
A prime example are the laws pertaining to Ice methamphetamine within the U.S. where, as far as my understanding go, if the meth is above a certain purity you get a heavier charge.
I understand that this article is from the UK, however I would not be surprised to see some ridiculous 'skunk' rule proposed if marijuana ever becomes decriminalized within the U.S.
If your weed is actually potent enough to require smoking less quantity, you'll not only be in possession of a POWERFUL MIND ALTERING HALLUCINOGEN THAT CAUSES PSYCHOSIS, but that 1/8th you have just became distribution quantity because the lowered dose requirement.
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guest1
Mycena
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: wowitch17]
#11560265 - 12/01/09 01:36 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
"And lets see where the funding for the study came from."
Edited by guest1 (12/01/09 03:51 AM)
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rodfarva
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=====-----=-=-=-=-I
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: RazzleCap]
#11560331 - 12/01/09 02:10 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RazzleCap said:
Did it occur to them that many people who already have psychotic illnesses (often undiagnosed) may be predisposed to finding and using a chemical to 'correct' their mood swings/psychosis?
It's like saying that turning on a lightbulb will produce a bunch of moths. They're already there, the light just draws them in.
Brilliant.
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tha_doctor
student of the Plant Teachers
Registered: 10/23/09
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 Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: shah]
#11560363 - 12/01/09 02:28 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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True or not, if cannabis was legal and bought from shops, people could select which strain of cannabis they want to smoke. They could buy a less potent variety. They don't necessarily need to go for the strongest stuff which dealers always try to obtain and sell.
By the way, last time i checked, the strain Skunk isn't the strongest. White Widdow easily is. I think 'Skunk' is just another propaganda tool.
It's hurendously stupid how some people say "The weed your parents were smoking back in the day was harmless. But today's weed......" That sugests politicians were being silly for not legalising weed ages ago when it was "harmless".
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Me_Roy
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: RazzleCap]
#11560445 - 12/01/09 03:08 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
RazzleCap said:
Did it occur to them that many people who already have psychotic illnesses (often undiagnosed) may be predisposed to finding and using a chemical to 'correct' their mood swings/psychosis?
It's like saying that turning on a lightbulb will produce a bunch of moths. They're already there, the light just draws them in.
Well put.
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A lotta cats a livin' in the neighborhood
Some are bandits,
Some are very, very good as I would tell it to ya'
- I-Roy
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Hemlock
Learner
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: Me_Roy]
#11560479 - 12/01/09 03:29 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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"People who smoke potent skunk are more at risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who simply use cannabis."
I stopped paying attention after this. I mean, really, who smokes skunks any more these days anyways?
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 ToiletDuk
Cat Psychiatrist
Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 73,283
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: LSDreamer]
#11560498 - 12/01/09 03:41 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
LSDreamer said:
Typical. I knew this was coming out of the UK as soon as I saw the title.
 Yeah, me too.
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bear jesus
long time lurker
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: ToiletDuk]
#11560549 - 12/01/09 04:13 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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any title with skunk in it i know is going to be propaganda filled stupidity....
what confused me the most is they are just saying this about bud, but what would they say if they were doing tests using bubble hash or some nice honey oil?
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The pastafarian Jesus.
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ToiletDuk
Cat Psychiatrist
Registered: 05/16/03
Posts: 73,283
Loc: Earthfarm 1
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: bear jesus]
#11560558 - 12/01/09 04:20 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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The British press would probably try to assert that those two forms would kill on contact.
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ShroomerRoss
Registered: 08/29/08
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: bear jesus]
#11560562 - 12/01/09 04:22 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
People who smoke potent skunk are more at risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia than those who simply use cannabis
 theyre acting like skunk isnt even the same plant as cannabis.
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AsAboveSoBelow
The matrix has you
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: ToiletDuk]
#11560563 - 12/01/09 04:22 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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I think the U.S. will actually have weed legalized before the brits
this article came from the BBC? It looks like a badly researched debate topic in highschool.. lulz
Also, I liked the part where they say skunk contains more THC than hash ..
Yes, indeed, the more refined form of cannabis contains less THC than the raw plant ....
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You're gonna get hurt real bad 
They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind
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ShroomerRoss
Registered: 08/29/08
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Re: Skunk 'poses bigger psychosis risk than cannabis' [Re: AsAboveSoBelow]
#11560567 - 12/01/09 04:29 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Yes, indeed, the more refined form of cannabis contains less THC than the raw plant ....
the us are way ahead in terms of legalization.
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