A recent study told us that cannabis for therapeutic use made it possible to reduce the number of overdoses due to overuse of painkillers, this time we learn that cannabis could be used to treat and prevent schizophrenia.
The positive effects of cannabidiol
According to Prof. Patrick Mc Gorry, director of the Center for Research on Adolescent Health (Australia), marijuana has promising effects in psychotic disorders. While one of the compounds in the plant (THC or tetrahydrocannabinol) is widely considered dangerous because it increases the risk of psychosis in around 10-20% of consumers, another component (CBD or cannabidiol) appears to be relieve psychosis, depression and anxiety.
Prof. Mc Gorry’s team hopes to be able to launch therapeutic trials to show that therapeutic cannabis can be just as effective as drugs for treating schizophrenia, without the side effects of these same drugs (in particular weight gain and metabolic problems).
Developing a CBD treatment
“We must not confuse the recreational use of marijuana. There is no question of encouraging young people with psychotic disorders to smoke cannabis. But we want to work on CBD and put it in place. a treatment which contains this compound, in particular for the young people who suffer from psychosis at the early stage “insists the doctor.
At this time, cannabis for therapeutic use is not permitted in Australia. Last July, a survey was launched among a representative sample of the population to ask them “are you in favor of the legislation of cannabis for medicinal purposes?”. Almost 66% responded positively, 14.4% said they would oppose this legislation and more than 19% are undecided.
