Using high-strength cannabis puts people at a bigger risk of developing psychosis and becoming addicted, according to new analysis. Twenty studies involving nearly 120,000 individuals found those who use cannabis products with a high level of tetrahydrocannabinol - THC - are more likely to suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia.
THC is the main psychoactive substance in cannabis, meaning it affects how the brain works, thereby influencing the user’s mood, reactions, thoughts and emotions. The risk of developing a psychotic disorder was five times higher among those who use high-strength cannabis on a daily basis compared to those who never use it, according to one study reviewed.
In contrast, researchers from the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath found using less potent cannabis regularly was not linked with an increased risk of psychosis. The analysis also found a higher risk of addiction, or "cannabis-use disorder", among those who use high THC products compared to users of milder forms of the drug.
Cannabis is the third most widely used drug globally after alcohol and nicotine, with research suggesting around one in five 16 to 24-year-olds in the UK have used it in the past year. The researchers say the findings could be vital in informing drug policy as more countries move to legalise cannabis, because THC concentrations in certain products have surged in recent years.
One study indicated a four-fold increase in the likelihood of developing an addiction among users of high THC cannabis compared with those using products with lower concentrations. The study is thought to be the first systematic review of the available evidence on the link between cannabis strength and mental health problems and addiction.
The studies varied in size, scope and design, so the report’s authors were unable to quantify the risk posed by high THC cannabis, but they told the PA news agency the link between strong cannabis use and the risk of addiction and psychosis was a “consistent finding”.
New legal markets have facilitated the development of high-THC cannabis extracts, as well as increasing the potency of herbal cannabis, the authors said. They pointed to the example of Washington state in the US, where herbal cannabis of 20% THC concentration and cannabis extract of 60% THC concentration can be purchased legally.
The study’s authors also noted that as potency has increased, so have rates of people seeking treatment for cannabis addiction. Data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction revealed a 76% increase in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction in the past decade, the researchers said.
Lead author Kat Petrilli, from the University of Bath’s Department of Psychology, said: “Our systematic review found that people who use higher potency cannabis could be at increased risks of addiction as well as psychosis when compared to people who use cannabis products with lower potencies. These results are important in the context of harm reduction which aims to minimise the negative consequences associated with drug use.
She continued: “While the safest level of use for cannabis is of course ‘no use’, it is important to acknowledge that a significant number of people across the world use cannabis regularly and to ensure they can make informed decisions that could reduce any possible harms associated with it.”
Senior author Dr Tom Freeman added: “Our findings suggest that people who use cannabis could reduce their risk of harm by using lower potency products. In places where cannabis is legally sold, providing consumers with accurate information on product content and access to lower potency products could help people to use cannabis more safely.”
The authors noted that despite anecdotal evidence of a link between cannabis use and anxiety and depression, there was no clear link between THC concentration and other mental health problems. Just one study included in the review suggested an association.
The study Association of cannabis potency with mental ill health and addiction: A systematic review was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. It is published in The Lancet Psychiatry.
