IS CANNABIS use relatively harmless, or can it cause symptoms such as hearing voices and paranoia? After studying more than 2000 users and non-users aged between 14 and 24, Jim van Los of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands concludes that it can.
“There is considerable harm associated with cannabis,” van Los claims. “It is not safer than alcohol or other drugs.” After four years, 21 per cent of cannabis users in his sample had psychotic symptoms, compared with 15 per cent of non-users. The more often people used cannabis, the stronger the effect.
“After four years, 21 per cent of cannabis users had…
