Dangers of recreational use of marijuana:

As a psychiatrist for many years, I have seen many, many young people who use marijuana. Most of the people who use it and come to see me, and other psychiatrists, want to be seen because they don’t understand why they’re not getting places in life. Why they can’t succeed in college, why that can’t do well at work, why their friends are getting married, having kids and they’re not. When I explore their history of alcohol and drug use - which is a standard part of every new consult with a patient- I often hear them describe regular marijuana use. I educate them that regular marijuana use is known to cause apathy, loss of motivation and drive, memory problems, rebound anxiety as it leaves the body as well as other health consequences. This is a major reason they have the difficulties they come in to talk about. Most people don’t believe it and they don’t want to hear it.

In addition, marijuana use is well known to trigger psychosis in individuals who have an underlying predisposition to psychosis. Although marijuana itself does not usually cause psychosis, it often does in those people who have a predisposition to psychosis, such as people with a family history of psychosis. The psychotic illness is then triggered by marijuana use, and destroys their lives. Most psychotic illnesses are never cured, rather symptoms can be managed with powerful medications that have potentially serious side effects. Most of these patients eventually realize what has happened and they stop using marijuana, but then it’s too late.

These issues are very, very significant for patients. Although in my many years of experience as a physician I have witnessed that occasional marijuana use might not be dangerous for most people, it is very dangerous for many.