Legalization of Cannabis – what’s the impact on mental health?

• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.1146
• Publication Date: 2023-08-08T09:24:31Z
• Authors: S. Torres; T. Rocha; J. Leal; J. Moura; A. Lopes
• Keywords: Legalization; Effects of cannabis

Introduction With the increasing push to legalize cannabis in Western nations, there is a need gauge potential impact of this policy change on vulnerable populations, such as those with mental illness, including schizophrenia, mood and anxiety disorders. Objectives Understand effects people illness policies legalizing societies. Methods Literature review performed PubMed Google Scholar databases, using keywords “cannabis”, “mental health”, “psychiatry”. Results Cannabis use modifiable risk factor for development exacerbation illness. The strongest evidence psychotic disorder, associated early consistent youth young adults. Cannabis-related health adverse events precipitating Emergency Department (ED) or Medical Services presentations can include anxiety, suicidal thoughts, attenuated symptoms, account 25–30% cannabis-related ED visits. Up 50% patients symptoms presenting requiring hospitalization will go develop schizophrenia. legalization various jurisdiction subsequent emerging focus research area, our understanding who (e.g., age groups factors) are an emergency situation starting become clearer. Conclusions There’s provide reconciliation addiction vulnerability allostatic hypotheses explain comorbidity mentally ill users, well further aid developing rational framework assessment treatment problematic these patients. Disclosure Interest None Declared