Detroit Free Press Marijuana is a dangerous substance that can cause paranoia, psychosis and severe anxiety and panic, psychologists warned Wednesday. A review of research into the drug that first appeared in China nearly 5,000 years ago shows it can impair perception, motor skills and reaction times, but that it also has medicinal qualities for a range of illnesses.
Cannabis affects almost every body system.
Ashton reviewed studies on the recreational use of marijuana, also known as cannabis, and its potency and impact on the body and brain. Her research, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, shows it is still popular among young people. Sixty percent of British college students said they have tried the drug and 20 percent said they use it regularly. In a recent survey, some users admitted to smoking up to 15 joints or more a day. Contrary to common belief, chronic users can develop a tolerance for and dependence on cannabis that can lead to withdrawal effects similar to those of alcohol and opiates, Ashton said.