Psychosis study short on documentation

The prohibitionists are all excited about a study published in the last issue of Addiction alleging marijuana increases risk of psychosis but while they're drooling on their reprints, Bruce Mirken of MPP and researcher Mitch Earleywine are already debunking the data, or lack thereof with an analysis posted at Alternet. They break down the statistical weakness of the model and conclude it's much ado about nothing.

Private and government surveys have documented a massive increase in marijuana use, particularly by young people, during the 1960s and '70s, but no corresponding increase in psychosis was ever reported. This strongly suggests that if marijuana use plays any role in triggering psychosis, that effect is weak, rare, or both.

But as the authors point out, don't expect the press to catch on, nor the prohibitions to let on to the facts.