According to a new study, more people are becoming addicted to weed due to the high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC—the part of the marijuana plant that gives you high.

The study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry on Monday claimed that those who use higher-potency cannabis are more likely to get addicted and face mental health issues than those who use lower-potency products—typically 5 to 10 milligrams per gram of THC.

"One of the highest quality studies included in our publication found that use of high potency cannabis, compared to low potency cannabis, was linked to a four-fold increased risk of addiction," study co-author Tom Freeman, a senior lecturer in the department of psychology and director of&nbsp;the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, in an email told the CNN.

The research further found that as marijuana became more potent, cases of marijuana-associated psychosis also saw a spike.

Psychosis is a state of mind where it "loses contact with reality" by hearing voices and having delusions, Freeman said.

"A report by the United Nations found that in the past two decades, the proportion of people seeking treatment for cannabis addiction has risen in all world regions apart from Africa," he said.

"The evidence linking cannabis potency to addiction and psychosis was very clear," he was quoted as saying.

There was a 76 per cent rise in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction over the past decade, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found.

And the "cannabis potency continued to rise during the same time," Freeman said citing the findings.

In the research, scientists established a “standard THC unit" of 5 milligrams that is said to produce mild intoxication for nonregular users.

Freeman and his team at the University of Bath said that in a gram of herbal cannabis—the dried and harvested tops of marijuana plants —THC concentrations increased by approximately 2.9 milligrams each year.

(With inputs from agencies)

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According to a new study, more people are becoming addicted to weed due to the high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC—the part of the marijuana plant that gives you high.

According to a new study, more people are becoming addicted to weed due to the high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC—the part of the marijuana plant that gives you high. The study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry on Monday claimed that those who use higher-potency cannabis are more likely to get addicted and face mental health issues than those who use lower-potency products—typically 5 to 10 milligrams per gram of THC. "One of the highest quality studies included in our publication found that use of high potency cannabis, compared to low potency cannabis, was linked to a four-fold increased risk of addiction," study co-author Tom Freeman, a senior lecturer in the department of psychology and director of the addiction and mental health group at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, in an email told the CNN. The research further found that as marijuana became more potent, cases of marijuana-associated psychosis also saw a spike. Psychosis is a state of mind where it "loses contact with reality" by hearing voices and having delusions, Freeman said. "A report by the United Nations found that in the past two decades, the proportion of people seeking treatment for cannabis addiction has risen in all world regions apart from Africa," he said. "The evidence linking cannabis potency to addiction and psychosis was very clear," he was quoted as saying. There was a 76 per cent rise in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction over the past decade, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction found. And the "cannabis potency continued to rise during the same time," Freeman said citing the findings. In the research, scientists established a “standard THC unit" of 5 milligrams that is said to produce mild intoxication for nonregular users. Freeman and his team at the University of Bath said that in a gram of herbal cannabis—the dried and harvested tops of marijuana plants —THC concentrations increased by approximately 2.9 milligrams each year. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Highly potent marijuana creating addicts worldwide, says study

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who once famously termed COVID-19 as 'psychosis', has said he contracted coronavirus but recovered without suffering any symptoms.

Lukashenko, 65, has resisted calls for strict lockdown measures to contain the pandemic, dismissing fears about COVID-19 as a “psychosis” and suggesting remedies such as drinking vodka, taking saunas and playing ice hockey.

Public frustration over his handling of the pandemic has fuelled the biggest protests in years against his rule ahead of a presidential election on August&nbsp;9. He has jailed two of his main electoral rivals in a widening crackdown on dissent.

"I apologise for my voice, lately I have to talk a lot. But the most surprising thing is that today you are seeing a person who managed to power through coronavirus standing on his feet," he said on Tuesday during a visit to a military base, according to state-run news agency Belta.

"Like I said, 97% of our people go through this illness without symptoms and thank God I've managed to get into this group of asymptomatic people," added Lukashenko.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in fact estimates that about 40% of people infected with Covid-19 don't experience any symptoms.

Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994, has not limited his own public appearances during the pandemic and went ahead with an annual military parade in May.

Belarus, with a population of 9.5 million, has registered 67,366 coronavirus infections with 543 deaths.

Lukashenko did not say when or how he might have contracted the virus. He met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Moscow last month. Putin was fine, TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who once famously termed COVID-19 as 'psychosis', has said he contracted coronavirus but recovered without suffering any symptoms.

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who once famously termed COVID-19 as 'psychosis', has said he contracted coronavirus but recovered without suffering any symptoms. Lukashenko, 65, has resisted calls for strict lockdown measures to contain the pandemic, dismissing fears about COVID-19 as a “psychosis” and suggesting remedies such as drinking vodka, taking saunas and playing ice hockey. Public frustration over his handling of the pandemic has fuelled the biggest protests in years against his rule ahead of a presidential election on August 9. He has jailed two of his main electoral rivals in a widening crackdown on dissent. "I apologise for my voice, lately I have to talk a lot. But the most surprising thing is that today you are seeing a person who managed to power through coronavirus standing on his feet," he said on Tuesday during a visit to a military base, according to state-run news agency Belta. "Like I said, 97% of our people go through this illness without symptoms and thank God I've managed to get into this group of asymptomatic people," added Lukashenko. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in fact estimates that about 40% of people infected with Covid-19 don't experience any symptoms. Lukashenko, who has ruled since 1994, has not limited his own public appearances during the pandemic and went ahead with an annual military parade in May. Belarus, with a population of 9.5 million, has registered 67,366 coronavirus infections with 543 deaths. Lukashenko did not say when or how he might have contracted the virus. He met Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military parade in Moscow last month. Putin was fine, TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Belarus president, who dismissed COVID-19 as 'psychosis', says he caught it and recovered

High-potency cannabis, especially when used daily, is "strongly linked" to the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and paranoia, scientists said Wednesday.

In Amsterdam and London —&nbsp;where high-THC marijuana has long been the rule rather than the exception —&nbsp;50 and 30 percent of new psychosis cases, respectively, were associated with potent forms of the drug.

The findings, reported The Lancet, bolster a growing body of research connecting pot to a range of mental health disorders.

With piecemeal legalisation and decriminalisation, consumption in North America and Europe has increased markedly over the last two decades, even as levels of the drug's mind-bending molecule, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have risen four- or five-fold. &nbsp;

"The use of cannabis with a high concentration of THC has more harmful effects on mental health than the use of weaker forms," said lead author Marta Di Forti, a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London.&nbsp;

"Our findings also indicate for the first time how cannabis use affects the incidence of psychotic disorder at a population level."

Across 11 European cities or regions, and a 12th in Brazil, one in five new cases of psychosis were associated to daily cannabis use, and one in ten to high potency pot, the study found.

Trainwreck, gorilla glue 
If high-THC cannabis -- including strains such as "trainwreck", "gorilla glue", and "hindu kush" -- were no longer available, "12 percent of cases of first-episode psychosis could be prevented across Europe," the researchers calculated.

In Amsterdam, the incidence of first-time psychosis would likely drop from 38 to 19 per 100,000 people per year, while in London, the number of cases would decline from 46 to 32 per 100,000 people.&nbsp;

"As the legal status of cannabis changes in many countries and states, and as we consider the medicinal properties of some types of cannabis, it is of vital public health importance to consider the potential adverse effects that are associated with daily cannabis use, especially high potency varieties," said Di Forti.

The researchers established a baseline by identifying -- in the cities and regions examined -- all individuals known to have experienced a first episode of psychosis from 2010 to 2015. They found 901 cases.

These were then compared to 1,237 healthy adults to tease out the risk factors associated with psychosis.

All participants provided information about how frequently they had used marijuana and other drugs over a period of years. The scientists also classified the potency of the cannabis consumed as either "high" (over 10 percent THC) or "low" (under 10 percent THC).

In some locations, THC levels are 20 percent or higher, they noted.

Nearly 30 percent of patients who had experienced a first episode of psychosis were daily cannabis users, compared with less than seven percent of those in the control group.

For high potency pot, the corresponding figures were 37 and 19 percent.

Adjusting for social factors and other drug use, the authors found that daily cannabis users were three times more likely to experience psychosis for the first time than people who had never used it.

For daily use of high-potency cannabis, this increased to five times.

While the correlation between marijuana use and mental disorders was strong, a cause-and-effect relationship can only be inferred, the authors cautioned.

However the registrar at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Adrian James, said the findings were to be "taken seriously," and that his institution "is reviewing the mental health effect of cannabis use."

David Nutt, head of the centre for neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, said it was "important to realise that THC is well known to produce psychosis in healthy volunteers -- people without a predisposition to mental illness".

High-potency cannabis, especially when used daily, is "strongly linked" to the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and paranoia, scientists said Wednesday.

High-potency cannabis, especially when used daily, is "strongly linked" to the risk of developing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and paranoia, scientists said Wednesday. In Amsterdam and London — where high-THC marijuana has long been the rule rather than the exception — 50 and 30 percent of new psychosis cases, respectively, were associated with potent forms of the drug. The findings, reported The Lancet, bolster a growing body of research connecting pot to a range of mental health disorders. With piecemeal legalisation and decriminalisation, consumption in North America and Europe has increased markedly over the last two decades, even as levels of the drug's mind-bending molecule, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), have risen four- or five-fold. "The use of cannabis with a high concentration of THC has more harmful effects on mental health than the use of weaker forms," said lead author Marta Di Forti, a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London. "Our findings also indicate for the first time how cannabis use affects the incidence of psychotic disorder at a population level." Across 11 European cities or regions, and a 12th in Brazil, one in five new cases of psychosis were associated to daily cannabis use, and one in ten to high potency pot, the study found. Trainwreck, gorilla glue If high-THC cannabis -- including strains such as "trainwreck", "gorilla glue", and "hindu kush" -- were no longer available, "12 percent of cases of first-episode psychosis could be prevented across Europe," the researchers calculated. In Amsterdam, the incidence of first-time psychosis would likely drop from 38 to 19 per 100,000 people per year, while in London, the number of cases would decline from 46 to 32 per 100,000 people. "As the legal status of cannabis changes in many countries and states, and as we consider the medicinal properties of some types of cannabis, it is of vital public health importance to consider the potential adverse effects that are associated with daily cannabis use, especially high potency varieties," said Di Forti. The researchers established a baseline by identifying -- in the cities and regions examined -- all individuals known to have experienced a first episode of psychosis from 2010 to 2015. They found 901 cases. These were then compared to 1,237 healthy adults to tease out the risk factors associated with psychosis. All participants provided information about how frequently they had used marijuana and other drugs over a period of years. The scientists also classified the potency of the cannabis consumed as either "high" (over 10 percent THC) or "low" (under 10 percent THC). In some locations, THC levels are 20 percent or higher, they noted. Nearly 30 percent of patients who had experienced a first episode of psychosis were daily cannabis users, compared with less than seven percent of those in the control group. For high potency pot, the corresponding figures were 37 and 19 percent. Adjusting for social factors and other drug use, the authors found that daily cannabis users were three times more likely to experience psychosis for the first time than people who had never used it. For daily use of high-potency cannabis, this increased to five times. While the correlation between marijuana use and mental disorders was strong, a cause-and-effect relationship can only be inferred, the authors cautioned. However the registrar at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Adrian James, said the findings were to be "taken seriously," and that his institution "is reviewing the mental health effect of cannabis use." David Nutt, head of the centre for neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, said it was "important to realise that THC is well known to produce psychosis in healthy volunteers -- people without a predisposition to mental illness".

High-potency pot 'strongly linked' to psychosis: Study

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