The conclusion stated in the abstract is (partly): Pre-onset cannabis use may hasten the onset of psychotic as well as prodromal symptoms.

The conclusion does not appear to justified from the results.

Isn’t it equally possible that people who have increasing mental irregularities self medicate with cannabis, alcohol or tobacco use?

I would tend to agree with the above statement. It is actually fairly well documented that people with mental disorders also tend to self medicate. Searching Psych Info for comorbidity and pschiatric disorders returns over 200 results with just a 5 minute search. This tendancy seems to occur with all levels and types of addiction; many mental disorders and disabilities and all ages. So far as I can see, the determination of what comes first has not yet been proved. I’m not seeing the correlation between the timing of the onset of prodromal symptoms and the marijuana use. How to be absolutely positive that there were no previously internalized symptoms?

It is not commonly known that Ely Lilly is a major funding group of this study. Big Pharma and Alcohol Interests stand to loose Billions if they cannot stop Medical Cannabis and the healthful substitution of self medication over Big Doctor monopolies. For 50 years these groups have propagated Propaganda. Scare tactics and Mis-information has been condoned and promulgated to protect their Greed over the sacrificed lives of patients. Booze has been ignored while the less damaging Cannabis has beeen vilified. Thanks Doc.s!!!!

Emory University is The U. of California-Berkley of Shotlanta!
There are Dr’s. of Petroleum Engineering, who have smoked since high school, etc. They attended schools such as UMR-Rolla MO. Misery.
Great study though, and a very interesting article; as all of this site is…
If you know the Atlanta area, ‘since’ the 60′s it will tell you something about Culture here!
Remember Operation Jackpot, from SC to GA to FL.? Remember, The Atl. Pop Fest.? With The Beatles, and locals. Attendance in S. Atl. small town was about a 1/2 M. Remember, Music Midtown for a decade. Attendance one year was a 1/3 of a M people. I went for a Decade to the shows coherent, clean, and sober… Now 16 yrs. and 3 mos.; but I do appreciate the article and its comments… Carry on…

The study in question was funded by NIMH grants MH067589 (K23) and MH081011 (RO1).

Did they screen the patients for the use of other drugs as well?

It is unlikely that these patients used only cannabis. Once a young person rejects the syndicate of the soulless’ system they usually try just about any drug available … and that pretty much guarantees psychotic episodes.

And the solution is antidepressants and neuroleptics which, once began, guarantee psychotic episodes during withdrawal.

Exciting work Ladies & Gentlemen ,The dangers of repeated use of cannabis are as evermore present to prompt such research .The coallition between usage and mental health is another strong factor in the war on drugs. I know there are benefits to cannabis use I.E medical usage, but the research described in your article gives US insight to a growing problem …that “weed” is just as harmful if not less than alchohol hence the popularity .Your research is vital, keep up the Good work and maybe one day everybody will know what it is to have a sound body&mind.

In 1972, I I became the Director of a drug crisis and suicide prevention counseling organization. We had approximately 50 counselors and ten coordinators. We had a treatment center and ran two phones twenty four hours a day. We also had 24 / 7 open house for drop in “bad trip and overdose” clients . We worked with people who who were both on the edge and many that had gone over the deep end into to complete psychosis. We saved quite a few individuals that were in the process of killing themselves. Myself and the officers of our group would go with the police to intervene with suspects who were beyond threatening and had actually cut themselves, or were holding guns to their heads, or had swallowed and injected an amazing assortment of pharmaceuticals. in the three years that I was there we had only two clients that were in any form of crisis with Marijuana. They had both soaked powdered pot in water and had injected it. They turned bright red and we took them to the hospital. we had many clients that were in crisis with booze, drunk, fighting, and beating there spouses senseless.When people like the previous commenter make claims that Marijuana compares in any way to Alcohol; I know immediately that I’m dealing with prejudice and pure ignorance. The bias inherent in the narrative is oblivious. I should not be surprised given the 60 + years of propaganda that their would be a market for “Medical Studies” to justify the incredible damage that has and is being done to save us from “Reefer Madness”. It has been a huge cash cow for a large number of of Police, Judges, Lawyers (on both sides), and research scientists. We are talking about justifying the destruction of thousands and thousands of lives and careers. The Narco Police smash into homes of peaceful, normal, people with assault weapons and put them in cages. They often go out afterward and have Alcoholic Drug parties.
I defense of Mr. B’ I did read a study from Brittan that gave the figure of 10,000 to one for the psychological symptoms described in this article. Does the arrest of 80,000 + regular people an awful lot like the researchers and even like you’re self seem to be a bit of overkill. I guess that billions of dollars is quite an incentive. Maybe I should get in on the TAKE.