Smoking with Schizophrenia?

One of my mates was told recently that he has schizophrenia. He's on a shitload of pills to treat it right now and it seems to be going away.

Anyway, we miss smoking weed together. What could happen if he decided to start smoking weed again? I heard from someone that once you pass 21 your brain is fully developed, would it be ok for him to start again then? May be a stupid question but I dont want to be responsible for his schizophrenia coming back.

I doubt it was the weed that caused it, it was in his family to start with and he only smoked like 5 times a month at most, and it was just normal weed, not skunk or anything really potent.

Edited by safeduck, 07 April 2012 - 07:14 PM.

Have him ask his doctor(s), it's not like he'll get arrested or anything for doing so. I don't think this is something you'll get a reliable answer for on the internets.

Smoking weed actually probably made his schizophrenia surface quicker, especially if his family has a history of it.

I would not.

Ive heard that Indica dominant strains are good for neurochemistry. Also tell him about a product called AlphaBrain is a cognitive enhancing supplement. Onnit.com.

Like you say op, weed didn't CAUSE it, but since its in his family history it probably attributed to its appearance.

Altering your mind, when it isn't sound, isn't always the best idea.... as said above... he needs to consult a doctor

yea mean i dont think its a good idea, most people have been atleast a bit paranoid from smoking at one point or another. I dont think it would be good or even safe for you two to smoke together, since he might get paranoid.

Don't bro, really.

Schizophrenia is, chemically, uneven distribution/reception of a neurotransmitter called Dopamine in your brain. Dopamine's also released when smoking cannabis, so it will maaaajorly exacerbate his Sz. Hence why people think cannabis causes Sz (it doesn't, it just makes you more likely to get it if you already have a predisposition of getting it)

Looks like his smokin' days are over bro, sorry

I'd be so scared to do that - no way I'd ever be able to enjoy getting high with someone who has a mental illness that I understand incredibly little about.

It's most likely in his genetic make up, and when that is the case, the psychoactive compounds in cannabis can bring disorders like SZ out. I wouldn't.

I wouldnt take advice from grasscity bro, none of us are neurologists or not that i know of

Well i have a friend with Schizophrenia that smokes weed and does other drugs and appears to be OK.

Don't bro, really.

Schizophrenia is, chemically, uneven distribution/reception of a neurotransmitter called Dopamine in your brain. Dopamine's also released when smoking cannabis, so it will maaaajorly exacerbate his Sz. Hence why people think cannabis causes Sz (it doesn't, it just makes you more likely to get it if you already have a predisposition of getting it)

Looks like his smokin' days are over bro, sorry

That's.. not what schizophrenia is. It's waaaaaaaaaaaay more complex.

Mental illness' are a spectrum, if anyone is interested in this sort of thing go read about John Nash, or watch some of his interviews.

A larger % of schizophrenics smoke cannabis than the % of 'healthy' people, which isn't surprising as it's the same with alcohols and other things. They tend to want to treat the symptoms by getting fucked up. I imagine getting cognitive therapy would be much more effective for your friend OP, than smoking weed

I wouldn't risk it. I don't know if they were lying or not, but in the mental hospital I work at most of the skitzo patients I talk to said marijuana had an affect on their mind.

One of them told me it increases the chatter in their head, and it sometimes gets too much

That's.. not what schizophrenia is. It's waaaaaaaaaaaay more complex. :

Just what I got taught in school a while back... Even though it was, statistically, one of the worst in the country.
Listen to this guy, his information's probably a lot more accurate than mine

its really not a good idea, like the others said, smoking probably caused his disease to surface more quickly, and if he were to resume smoking it may (or may not) cause his condition to deteriorate. in my opinion it wouldn't be worth risking any progress he has made just to smoke some weed, im not trying to be callous, im just sayin

Smoking would have definitely contributed to the surfacing of his schizophrenia. If your genetically dispositioned for it you shouldnt smoke, altering your mind when its not right in the first place is never a good idea. Get a shisha pipe and smoke tobacco if you want to have the ritual

Sorry OP, weed can trigger a full on psychotic episode in people with schizophrenia. My friend's ex has it and he went really apeshit from smoking once.

he should probably confront his doctor about his schizophrenia first

Who knows what info out there on schizophrenia and weed is bullshit or truthful.

I've read conflicting reports that weed both exacerbates symptoms of schizophrenia, and eases the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Hard to say.

doesn't weed suppress schizophrenia? o-o. My cousins friend has schizophrenia and when he smokes he says he feels normal or w/e you want normal to be.