Abstract

Cannabis use is observationally associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, but whether the relationship is causal is not known. Using a genetic approach, we took 10 independent genetic variants previously identified to associate with cannabis use in 32 330 individuals to determine the nature of the association between cannabis use and risk of schizophrenia. Genetic variants were employed as instruments to recapitulate a randomized controlled trial involving two groups (cannabis users vs nonusers) to estimate the causal effect of cannabis use on risk of schizophrenia in 34...

It has been suggested that cannabis use increases risk of driving collisions through affecting braking and choice reaction time; causing impairment of lane position, disrupting head-way and dynamic tracking; distorting time perception; reducing divided and sustained attention; and increasing caution. 

A recent Canadian study, published just two days before cannabis was legalized across the country, investigated the impact of cannabis use on driving performance in young recreational users.

The study investigated 45 recreational marijuana users between the ages of 18 and 24. Participant’s...

The controversial subject of cannabis legalisation has led to the increased urgency in understanding the full health and social implications of the drug use. Cannabis use is particularly prevalent amongst adolescence - a period of time where young people are going through significant neural development. Cannabis use is thought to affect normal neuromaturation, increasing the risk of cognitive impairment. 

A recent study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, has investigated whether young people can recover from drug-induced cognitive impairment by stopping cannabis use for an...