Cannabis Use

Chromosome 22

-A genetic component of schizophrenia -A person can have the met or val allele -If a person has the met and met allele, there is no effect on their risk for developing schizophrenia -One met and one val allele and a person smokes cannabis, it doubles your risk and if a person has two val, it increases the risk of schizophrenia five times

Brain Imaging

-Brain imaging studies have also shown that the hippocampus and amygdala are smaller in cannabis users

Risk For Schizophrenia: Cannabis Use

-Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia, an earlier onset of psychosis and there is a dose response

Prodomal Symptoms

-Early symptoms of schizophrenia which often appear in adolescence, and marijuana use has been seen to trigger and exacerbate these early symptoms

Cannabinoid System

-Serves a regulatory function in controlling the release of glutamate and GABA has an effect on neuronal synaptic connections and on the dopamine system

Delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabiol (THC)

-The active ingredient in marijuana -Has been shown to quadruple a teen's chance of developing this disorder -Interacts with the cannabinoid system and disregulates the system -Neuropruning or untangling of brain cells happens to teenagers in their normal brain development, and THC is believed to interfere with this normal developmental neuropruning process