A study by Danish researchers has discovered a link between Marijuana usage and cases of schizophrenia, The Blaze reports.

The comprehensive study looked at the case histories of 6.9 million people from 1972 to 2021 and concluded that THC, the active ingredient in Marijuana, triggers or worsens mental illness and specifically schizophrenia in young men.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness characterized by psychotic behavior that can include hallucinations, delusions, confused thinking, and an altered reality and is attributed to a dopamine imbalance in the brain.

The researchers concluded that up to 30% of young men (21 to 30 years of age) diagnosed with schizophrenia could have avoided it if they had not used cannabis. This suggests that thousands of cases of schizophrenia may be attributed to Marijuana.

The researchers noted when the age group of the men was expanded to 16 to 49 years of age, they attributed 15% of schizophrenia cases to marijuana usage.

Though the increase was not so pronounced in females, the researchers concluded that 4% of the schizophrenia cases were also due to consuming Cannabis.

One of the main messages which activists use to push for the legalization of marijuana is that it is a safe drug.

It is estimated that schizophrenia affects 1 in 300 people worldwide and is considered one of the world’s leading causes of disability. According to The Blaze, 22 US states have legalized marijuana for recreational use under the safe drug mantra.

READ: Study: Significant number of young men could have been spared schizophrenia had they avoided marijuana

Of course, this is not the first time researchers have warned of this link:

• Marijuana use by teens linked to permanent brain abnormalities later in life, increased schizophrenia risk: study
• San Diego ER seeing up to 37 marijuana cases a day — mostly psychosis
• Liberal parents who let their children smoke cannabis are warned that the drug is causing up to a THIRD of psychosis cases in London and strong ‘skunk’ can cause schizophrenia-like symptoms
• Smoking cannabis can lead to maniac behaviour: Hyperactivity, aggression and delusion are all strongly linked with the drug, researchers warn: Daily Mail
• Significant link between cannabis use and onset of mania symptoms: Science Daily