Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

News

Skunk-like cannabis may damage white matter in the brain, study shows

BMJ 2015; 351 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h6417 (Published 27 November 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;351:h6417

Rapid Response:

Beware of marijuana and hashish

Marijuana and hashish are addictive hallucinogens that trick and trap us by creating the fleeting euphoria of knowledge and wisdom, but the sustained sickness of confusion and paranoia. The euphoria of knowledge and wisdom, and the sickness of confusion and paranoia, are polar opposites that reinforce each other: the euphoria blinds us to the sickness, and the sickness makes us crave the euphoria. Perversely but predictably, marijuana and hashish create, aggravate, and perpetuate the very sickness of confusion and paranoia that they falsely seem to cure, thus placing all hallucinogens in a very bad light.


Competing interests: No competing interests

27 November 2015
Hugh Mann
Physician
Retired
New York, NY, USA