RESEARCHERS: WE'VE PROVED LINK BETWEEN CANNABIS, MENTAL ILLNESS

The report found cannabis use could trigger psychosis in some people.

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.