A recent extensive study reveals that daily users of high-potency cannabis face a significantly elevated risk of developing psychosis, with genetic predispositions to schizophrenia compounding this risk. Conducted using large datasets, the research emphasizes the urgent need for preventive strategies targeted at high-risk populations. The study, published in Psychological Medicine, examines genetic mechanisms behind the cannabis-psychosis relationship, employing polygenic risk scores (PRS) to assess genetic factors related to schizophrenia and cannabis use disorders among 1592 participants from the EU-GEI and 145,244 from the UK Biobank.
Findings indicate that high-potency cannabis, defined as cannabis with Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels of 10% or more, is linked to an increased likelihood of psychosis, independent of genetic susceptibility. Researchers found no interaction between genetic predisposition and cannabis use, suggesting they influence psychosis through distinct pathways. Although the PRS for schizophrenia showed no direct correlation with the frequency of cannabis use among psychotic individuals, there was a notable association among those without psychosis. The study highlights growing cannabis use and potency, advocating for early identification of at-risk individuals to implement preventive measures.
