THC Psychosis

Marijuana is now one of the most widely used substances in the world. In the United States, 38 states have legalized medical use, and 23 states have legalized recreational use.

Still considered a harmless recreational drug by many, approximately 57% of Americans support its legalization across the board.

Following widespread legalization, the marijuana industry has become a multibillion-dollar industry, with the global cannabis market expected to top $444 billion by 2030.

To be clear, cannabis plants contain a predominance of either THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] or CBD [cannabidiol]. They both interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system with different effects.

THC is psychoactive and produces a high. CBD is non-psychoactive and often comes from the hemp plant.

While some advocate for its medicinal benefits, there is growing evidence that marijuana use presents significant risks to mental and emotional well-being.

In this article, we'll explore the dangers associated with marijuana use, focusing on THC-induced psychosis, cannabis use disorder, and the broader impact on mental health.

If you saw the movie The Big Lebowski, then you’ll remember The Dude, the film’s lazy stoner protagonist. The movie makes us laugh, and in turn, encourages us to believe that getting high is funny and sociable.

If you grew up anywhere in the 60s to 80s, chances are your experience with marijuana was innocent enough for a temporary mood lift.

However, modern marijuana products bear little resemblance to that era of cannabis.

While traditional marijuana contained 2-4% THC, today's products routinely contain concentrations ranging from 15% to 99% THC. These include:

The most alarming reaction to modern usage is cannabis-induced psychosis [CIP], a condition that can develop suddenly after using high-potency marijuana – sometimes within 24 hours of use, but typically within a week.

The symptoms are serious and frightening: hallucinations, paranoid delusions, complete disconnection from reality, severe insomnia, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts.

Particularly concerning is that about 15% of adolescents using high-THC marijuana experience psychosis or serious mental health issues.

Roughly half of cannabis-induced psychosis cases that reach emergency rooms eventually develop into full schizophrenia.

The mechanism behind this isn't mysterious. High-THC products create artificial surges in dopamine that then crash below normal levels, disrupting brain wave patterns, hormones, sleep cycles, and basic cognitive function.

For developing brains – which aren't fully mature until around age 25 – these disruptions can have lasting consequences. Young brains, i.e. in teens and young adults, are still developing critical pathways, especially for decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation.

Teenagers using cannabis recreationally are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders, including depression and thoughts of suicide.

High-THC products can result in permanent changes to brain structure and compromised cognitive development, affecting educational and career prospects for their future.

Despite the general belief that marijuana is not addictive, the results say otherwise. Up to 30% of marijuana users develop a condition known as Cannabis Use Disorder [CUD], and 50% experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to quit.

Modern high-THC products create rapid tolerance in the body, forcing users to consume larger amounts to achieve the same effects. Withdrawal symptoms are real and can be severe: anxiety, irritability, anger, disturbed sleep, depression, loss of appetite, and sometimes physical symptoms like headaches, sweating, and stomach pain.

Many users report they can't sleep without marijuana, feel anxious when it's unavailable, and find their relationships and responsibilities suffering as their use increases. This is the result of how these high-potency products affect brain chemistry.

As if psychosis and disorders were not enough, commercial marijuana frequently contains high, and even dangerous, levels of pesticides, heavy metals such as aluminum, boron, bismuth, nickel, tin, zinc, and copper, and other toxins that may aggravate mental symptoms or create other health risks.