London - Smoking just one cannabis joint can bring on symptoms of schizophrenia, a study has found.
Researchers have for the first time looked in detail at how cannabis changes users’ brains.
They found the drug disrupts the parts of the brain associated with memory and decision-making - the same areas affected by the psychotic illness.
Cannabis abuse has previously been linked with higher rates of schizophrenia, but this is the strongest evidence yet that the drug mimics its effects.
Scientists at the University of Bristol studied rats who had been given THC, the active ingredient of cannabis, in a similar dose to someone smoking a joint. Using electrodes embedded into the animals’ brains - which cannot be done in humans - the researchers found those on the drug were “significantly impaired” in navigating a maze for up to two hours afterwards, according to the study published today in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Dr Matt Jones, lead author, said: “Cannabis is making normal people behave more like schizophrenia patients when they take it.”
He added: “Cannabis has a docile reputation in the drug world.
“Most people would accept that cannabis abusers are not at their sharpest and might have subtle impairments in memory or decision making, but sometimes small doses of the ingredient can cause psychiatric episodes similar to schizophrenia.” - Daily Mail