MARIJUANA MAY INCREASE PSYCHOSIS RISK

LONDON -- Using marijuana seems to increase the chance of becoming
psychotic, researchers report in an analysis of past research that
reignites the issue of whether pot is dangerous.

The new review suggests that even infrequent use could raise the small
but real risk of this serious mental illness by 40 per cent.

Doctors have long suspected a connection and say the latest findings
underline the need to highlight marijuana's long-term risks.

The research, paid for by the British Health Department, was published
in The Lancet.

"The available evidence now suggests that cannabis is not as harmless
as many people think," said Stanley Zammit, a study author and a
lecturer in the department of psychological medicine at Cardiff University.

The researchers said they couldn't prove that marijuana use itself
increases the risk of psychosis.