Cannabis Queries

It remains premature at best and sensational at worst to claim (“Reefer Madness,” Madeleine Kearns, March 7) that a definitive causal relationship exists between cannabis use and the onset of psychiatric disorders, particularly among those not predisposed to these conditions. Further, the fact that cannabis has been used by various populations for decades at disparate rates, yet rates of psychosis and other psychiatric disorders have generally remained static over this same period of time, strongly argues against this assertion.

The relationship between cannabis and psychiatric illness is complex and multidirectional. For instance, there is evidence that some people predisposed to psychosis or other psychiatric disorders may be at higher risk for adverse events following cannabis exposure, which may in some cases exacerbate symptoms of the disease. It is also well established, however, that those with psychiatric illness typically use all intoxicants, including cannabis, at higher rates than does the general public. In many cases, this is because mental-health patients are self-medicating with cannabis. In other cases, this relationship persists because many people predisposed to psychosis are similarly predisposed to using cannabis.

If anything, the concerns raised by Drs. Murray and Di Forti provide an argument in favor of legalizing and regulating cannabis so that it can be better kept out of the hands of young people and so that sensitive populations, like those with a history of mental illness, can be made better aware of its potential side effects. By contrast, sensationalizing cannabis and opining for its continued criminalization achieves neither result.

Paul Armentano

Deputy Director, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Washington, D.C.

Correction

In “Friends, and Enemies, of the People” (Jay Nordlinger, February 7), Yuri Andropov was described as premier of the USSR. Andropov was in fact chairman of the Supreme Soviet. Nikolay Tikhonov was the premier.