Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jul 2013
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2013 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Ann T. Donnelly

MENTAL ILLNESS LINKED TO POT USE

A resident physician in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale 
University School of Medicine has now weighed in to highlight the 
growing evidence linking marijuana use and schizophrenia. In the July 
1 Wall Street Journal story "Pot Smoking and the Schizophrenia 
Connection," Dr. Samuel T. Wilkinson states, "As the medical and 
scientific literature continues to accumulate ... it becomes clearer 
that the claim that marijuana is medically harmless is false. There 
is a significant and consistent relationship between marijuana use 
and the development of schizophrenia and related disorders. 
Schizophrenia is considered by psychiatrists to be the most 
devastating of mental illnesses."

The societal burden of these disorders is truly staggering, as most 
cannot hold a steady job or live independently, and a large 
proportion of homeless and jail inmates fall into these categories. 
Pot taken by those with such disorders also counteracts their 
anti-psychotic medications.

Teachers, parents, policymakers, and, newspaper editors, please look 
at this evidence. Those making money from pot are perpetrating a myth 
that this dangerous drug is no worse than alcohol.

Ann T. Donnelly

Vancouver
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