Initiating Cannabis Usage for Self-Medication Linked to Higher Rates of Depression, Paranoia: Study

Marijuana users are at a significantly higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder.

Picture of a cannabis plant taken at the Cannabis Expo Brazil, a hemp and cannabis industry exhibition, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 15, 2023. Nelson Almeida/AFP via Getty Images

People who first use cannabis for self-medication purposes have been associated with a higher average rate of consumption as well as increased anxiety, depression, and paranoia, according to a new study published in the journal BMJ Mental Health.

The study participants reported a mean weekly consumption of 206 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) units. The THC unit is a standardized measure of the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.