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CANBERRA - Smoking cannabis, particularly among young people, substantially increases the risk of mental illness and worsens existing mental health conditions, researchers have found.
Their report, issued yesterday by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer, analyses links between marijuana use and mental disorders.
Where There's Smoke: Cannabis and Mental Health, prepared by the Mental Health Council of Australia, says the drug's dangers are underestimated and calls for an education campaign.
The research found cannabis use could trigger psychosis in some people, and could induce schizophrenia in those with family histories of mental illness.
There was a link between early and frequent cannabis use and later depression, but little evidence to suggest people turned to cannabis because of existing mental health conditions.
The council's chief executive, John Mendoza, said there was now proof smoking cannabis had serious mental health risks.
"You increase that risk further if you have a family history of mental illness," Mr Mendoza said.
"You increase the risk again if you begin using at a young age, when brain development is at crucial stages.
"And you increase the risk a further step if your use is regular and prolonged, and if you use the substance in a way that increases its potency, such as through the use of bongs."
Mr Palmer said the report showed authorities needed to re-examine the way they dealt with cannabis use.
He recalled his time spent as a detective rounding up offenders in drug busts.
"I'm not sure how effective the deterrence was in those incidents, and I'm not sure how many habits we changed.
"I suspect the answer in the first case is not very, and in the second case, not many."
He backed the need for an education campaign similar to those used for tobacco smoking and binge drinking.
- AAP
