If you or someone you love struggles with schizophrenia, chances are you've heard that cannabis acts more as a trigger than a treatment.

But how accurate are these claims?As of this time, researchers can't define what causes schizophrenia - associating its whereabouts with several different factors, including genetics, viruses, poor nutrition, and polluted environments.¹ Furthermore, some scientists believe drug use - including marijuana - may play a role in the condition.Throughout this article, we'll examine the link between schizophrenia and cannabis. From there, we'll discuss its safety and whether or not you should be taking it as a viable means of schizophrenia treatment.

What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition defined by disruptions in perceptions, emotions, thought processes, and social interactions. The severity of the disorder varies from person to person, but it remains a lifelong illness with no cure.²Symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into three categories:

Positive Symptoms

• Exaggerated or distorted perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors

• Hallucinations (i.e., hearing voices or seeing things that don't exist)

• Paranoia

Negative Symptoms

• Inability to initiate plans, speak, or express emotions

• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

Disorganized Symptoms

• Abnormal behaviors and movements

• Confusion (disordered thinking and speech)

• Difficulty with logical thinking

As mentioned, the causes of schizophrenia remain unclear. However, scientists believe several factors, such as genetics, environment, and diet, play a role.Most people will develop and be diagnosed with schizophrenia in their late teens to early thirties. In men, schizophrenia tends to appear in late adolescence or early twenties. A diagnosis is usually made in women's early twenties to early thirties.³

Traditional Treatment for Schizophrenia

As discussed, schizophrenia is a lifelong condition and requires lifelong treatment. This is usually done through two measures: medication and psychotherapy. Antipsychotic medications are the most commonly prescribed for schizophrenia. Simply put, these help to control dopamine (a brain neurotransmitter) and, in turn, decrease signs and symptoms.4If Psychosis recedes due to the medication, a person struggling with schizophrenia will participate in psychological and social (psychosocial) interventions. The primary purpose of these psychotherapies is to help patients identify negative thought patterns and develop coping mechanisms through this new understanding. This traditional form of treatment has been effective in easing schizophrenia symptoms, allowing patients to go on and live fulfilling lifestyles. However, as natural alternatives become more mainstream, a number of herbal candidates have started to be questioned.

Cannabis for Schizophrenia: What’s the Research Say?

One of these top candidates is marijuana. Yet, the connection between cannabis and schizophrenia has always had a bad rap.Simply put, cannabis can potentially induce Psychosis - one of the most concerning symptoms of schizophrenia. Psychosis isn't a mental health disorder in and of itself. Instead, it's a symptom that causes disrupted thoughts and makes it difficult to tell what's real and what isn't.

The cause of this Psychosis is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical compound responsible for a "high." In most individuals, a psychosis goes away once a "high" ends. However, in people with schizophrenia, Psychosis may outlast this "high."Research doesn't 100% understand the connection between marijuana and schizophrenia. But it's believed that cannabis can worsen symptoms of the condition.

More so, that cannabis may increase the number of psychotic episodes, leading to more hospital visits.6Furthermore, there's the possibility that cannabis can induce schizophrenia in individuals who are already susceptible to the condition. More specifically, through a gene called AKT1 or COMT.7People with AKT1 and COMT are more likely to develop schizophrenia than those without the gene. These results were found to be especially heightened when individuals consumed marijuana.8

Should You Consume Cannabis if You Have Schizophrenia?

No! Cannabis isn't alleviated schizophrenia symptoms, and, as research has concluded, there's a high probability it will worsen symptoms.Cannabis may initially seem like a prominent alternative treatment. Especially when considering that people with schizophrenia are more likely to consume marijuana than the general population.9However, due to cannabis's psychosis-inducing properties, there's far more risk than reward.

More specifically, cannabis can further delusions and hallucinations within susceptible individuals, increasing the risk of hospital visits needed by a schizophrenic patient.If you or a loved one struggles with schizophrenia, it's best to take the traditional treatment route and avoid medical marijuana at all costs. If you're interested in alternative therapies, a number available hold much more potential for relieving schizophrenia symptoms.It's worth noting that this risk may be furthered by other psychedelic substances, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (magic mushrooms).