Chicken or the Egg: The Cannabis and Psychosis Debate

Whether cannabis use causes psychosis, or vice versa, is a topic of debate. While determining causality can be extremely difficult, and researchers acknowledge more data is needed, there is evidence to support both theories: schizophrenia-related mechanisms lead to cannabis use and cannabis use leads to psychotic disorders.

In this webinar, Michael Roeske will explore the history of cannabis potency and decriminalization, the advent of vaping and synthetic cannabis, current use trends, and epidemiological data and factors involved in the development of psychotic disorders among cannabis users. Implications for treatment, as well as larger, societal considerations, including disparities in societal responses to psychotic episodes and cannabis use in various racial and ethnic groups, will also be discussed.

By the end of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• Explain the history of increased potency and decriminalization of cannabis.
• Discuss research on the relationship between cannabis use and psychosis.
• Describe two to three treatment options for cannabis users who experience psychosis.

Presenter Disclaimer

Michael Roeske, PsyD, has a working relationship with Newport Healthcare. As such, he has both a financial and intellectual interest in the webinar content. The purpose of this presentation is to provide a balanced view on the cannabis and psychosis debate.

Accessibility

We strive to provide an inclusive, accessible experience that enables all individuals to engage with our programming. Captioning is displayed on this webinar recording and a transcript is also available. If you require any other accommodations to fully engage with this webinar recording, please contact us by email.