Cannabis and mental health

Cannabis is an illegal drug which can affect your mental health. This
factsheet is about the effects that cannabis can have on your mental
health. And how to get help and support. You may also find this factsheet
useful if you care for someone who uses cannabis.

• Cannabis is known by different names such as marijuana and

weed.
• Cannabis is a drug that can make you feel happy or relaxed. And
anxious or paranoid.
• THC is the main chemical in cannabis which can change your mood
and behaviour.
• Skunk is the most common name for stronger types of cannabis
which has more THC.
• Research has found a link between cannabis and developing
psychosis or schizophrenia.
• Psychosis is when you experience or believe things that other
people don’t.
• Schizophrenia is the name of a mental illness. If you have
schizophrenia, you can have psychosis and other symptoms.
• If cannabis is affecting your health or how you feel, you can see
your GP.

This factsheet covers:

1. What is cannabis?
2. How does cannabis work?
3. How can cannabis make me feel?
4. Can cannabis affect my mental health?
5. What is the difference between psychosis and schizophrenia?
6. Is cannabis addictive?
7. How can I get help if cannabis is affecting my health?
8. What about confidentiality?
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1. What is cannabis?

Cannabis is an illegal drug made from the cannabis plant.1 You can smoke
or eat cannabis. You can smoke it on its own or mix it with tobacco to
make a ‘joint’ or ‘spliff’. It can also be cooked in food or brewed in tea.

People use cannabis for different reasons. Sometimes they use it to

relieve mental or physical symptoms. This is called self-medication. This
may make you feel better in the short term. But in the longer term it can
increase problems or create new ones.

Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Britain.2 Young people are
more likely to use it than older people.3

Cannabis can be called marijuana, dope, draw, ganja, grass, hash, herb,
pot, and weed, and other things.

Stronger types of cannabis can be called skunk, super-skunk, Northern

Lights, Early Girl and Jack Herer.4

You can find more information about cannabis, on the FRANK website.
You can find the details of the website in the Useful Contacts section of
this factsheet. The website tells you what cannabis looks like, how it is
used and the law on cannabis.

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2. How does cannabis work?

Cannabis will go into your bloodstream when smoked. It will quickly be

carried to your brain and stick to your receptors. This will affect your mood
and behaviour.5

Cannabis contains lots of different chemicals known as cannabinoids.

Some examples are cannabidiol (CBD)6 and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).7
THC is the main active ingredient in the cannabis plant. The more THC
there is in cannabis, the greater the effect will be.8

Skunk is a stronger variety of cannabis. It contains higher levels of THC.9

Evidence suggests that the effects of skunk are faster and stronger than
milder cannabis.10

CBD can lessen the unwanted psychoactive effects of THC such as

hallucinations and paranoia. It can also reduce anxiety. This means that
the effects of THC will be lower if there is more CBD in the plant.11

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3. How can cannabis make me feel?

The effects of cannabis can be pleasant or unpleasant. Most symptoms

will usually last for a few hours. But there can be unpleasant long term
symptoms. Especially if you used cannabis regularly over a long period of
time. The risks can also be worse if are young and smoke strong
cannabis, like skunk.12

What are the pleasant effects of cannabis?13

Cannabis can make you feel happy, relaxed, talkative or laugh more than
usual.You may find that colours and music are brighter and sharper.
Pleasant effects are known as a ‘high.’

What are the unpleasant effects of cannabis?

Cannabis can cause hallucinations, changes in mood, amnesia,
depersonalisation, paranoia, delusion and disorientation.14 You might find
it harder to concentrate or remember things. You may find that you can’t
sleep well and you feel depressed.15 You may also feel hungry or like time
is slowing down.

You might have lower motivation. And cannabis can affect how you sense
things. You may see, hear or feel things differently. This is known as
hallucinating.16 Hallucinations can be a sign of psychosis.

Psychosis can be a symptom of mental illness, including schizophrenia,

schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder. These can be called
‘psychotic illnesses.’

You can find more information about:

• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective disorder
• Bipolar disorder

at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquries team on 0121 522 7007

and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

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4. Can cannabis affect my mental health?

Regular cannabis use is linked to an increased risk of anxiety and

depression.17 But most research seems to have a focus on the link
between psychosis and cannabis.

Using cannabis can increase the risk of later developing psychotic illness,
including schizophrenia.18 There is a lot of reliable evidence to show a link

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between the use of stronger cannabis and psychotic illnesses,19 including
schizophrenia.20 But the link is not fully understood. 21

Cannabis may be one of the causes of developing a mental illness, but it

isn’t be the only cause for many people. Not everyone who uses cannabis
will develop psychosis or schizophrenia. And not everyone who has
psychosis or schizophrenia has used cannabis. But you are more likely to
develop a psychotic illness if you smoke cannabis. And are ‘genetically
vulnerable’ to mental health problems. 22

‘Genetically vulnerable’ means that you are naturally more likely to

develop a mental health problem. For example, if people in your family
have a mental illness, you may be more likely to develop a mental health
problem. if someone in your family has depression or schizophrenia, you
are at higher risk of getting these illness when you use cannabis.

Cannabis can have the following effects.

• Long term use can have a small but permanent effect on how well
you think and concentrate.23
• Smoking cannabis can cause a serious relapse if you have a
psychotic illness.24
• Regular cannabis use can lead to an increased risk of later
developing mental illness. Especially if you use cannabis when you
are young.25

You can find more information about, ‘Does mental illness run in
families’ at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121
522 7007 and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

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5. What is the difference between psychosis and schizophrenia?

Psychosis and schizophrenia aren’t the same illness.

Psychosis is the name given to symptoms or experiences, which include

hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations make someone experience
things differently to other people. This might be seeing things or hearing
voices. Delusions are when people have unusual beliefs that other people
don’t have. 26

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects how someone thinks or feels.

Symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations and delusions. But
often it will have other symptoms like feeling flat or emotionless, or
withdrawing from other people.

You can find more information about:

• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia

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at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007
and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

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6. Is cannabis addictive?

Cannabis can be addictive.

About 1 in 10 regular cannabis users become dependent on it. Your risk of

getting addicted is higher if you start using it in your teens or use it every
day.27

You can develop a tolerance to cannabis if you use it regularly. This

means you need more to get the same effect.28

If you become addicted, you may feel withdrawal symptoms when you
don’t use cannabis. For example, you might:29

• be irritable,
• have cravings,
• have sleep problems,
• be restless, and
• have mood swings.

You might smoke cannabis with tobacco. If you do you may become
addicted to nicotine. This means you are at risk of getting diseases such
as cancer and heart disease. So, if you stop using nicotine or cut down
you could experience nicotine withdrawal too.30

You can get information on stopping smoking tobacco by clicking the

following link: www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/take-steps-now-to-stop-
smoking/
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7. How can I get help if cannabis is affecting my health?

Can I see my GP?

Speak to your GP if cannabis use is affecting your physical or mental
health. Be honest with your GP about your cannabis use and symptoms.
Your GP may not offer you the right support if they don’t know the full
picture.

Your GP might:31

• offer you treatment at the practice, or

• refer you to your local drug service.

You can find local drug treatment support by clicking on the following link:
www.talktofrank.com/get-help/find-support-near-you

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What can my local drug service do?
The service can offer counselling, support groups and advice. They can
help you to:

• reduce your cannabis use,

• stop using cannabis,
• reduce the affect that cannabis has on your life, and
• support you to not start using again.

The service may be provided through the NHS or through charity.

You may be able to self-refer to this type of service. If you can’t self-refer
speak to your GP or health professional.

Should I be referred to a specialist mental health service?

Your GP should refer you to a specialist mental health service if they think
you have psychosis.32 The service could be the Community Mental Health
Team or an Early Intervention Psychosis service.

Both psychosis and schizophrenia can be treated using antipsychotic

medication and talking treatments.

You can find out more about:

• Antipsychotics
• NHS Mental Health Teams (MHTs)
• GP’s - What to expect from your doctor

at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007

and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

Can I be excluded from services?

You shouldn’t be excluded from:

• mental health care because of cannabis misuse,33 and

• a substance misuse service because of psychosis.34

Can I see a therapist?

A therapist may be able to help you to understand the reason why you use
drugs.

There are lots of different types of therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

(CBT) is suggested as a treatment if:35

• you misuse drugs, and

• have a common mental health problem such as depression or
anxiety.

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You can find more information about, ‘Talking therapies’ at
www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries teams on 0121 522 7007
and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

Can I get further support?

You can.
• Speak to a specialist drug service such as Frank.
• Join a support group such as Marijuana Anonymous UK.

Details of Frank and Marijuana Anonymous UK can be found at the end of

the factsheet in the ‘Useful contacts’ section.

You can find out more about:

• Drugs, alcohol and mental health

• Worried about your mental health?

at www.rethink.org. Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007

and ask them to send you a copy of our factsheet.

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8. What about confidentiality?

You might be worried about telling your GP or other health professionals

that you are using cannabis. But health professionals must stick to
confidentiality laws. This means that they usually won’t be able to tell
other people or services about what you have told them. Unless you
agree.

They can only tell other people about what you have said if:

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or to others, 36

• there is a risk of a serious crime,37
• you are mentally incapable of making your own decision,38 or
• the NHS share your information under ‘implied consent’.39,40

For example, you might tell your doctor that you are planning to hurt
yourself. Your doctor could decide to share this information with or
healthcare or social care professionals. They should only do this to
protect you and make sure you’re safe.

You can find more information about, ‘Confidentiality’ at www.rethink.org.

Or call our General Enquiries team on 0121 522 7007 and ask them to
send you a copy of our factsheet.

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FRANK
Gives confidential advice to anyone concerned about using cannabis or
other drugs.

Telephone helpline: 0300 123 6600. Open 24 hours a day

SMS: 82111
Email: through website
Live chat: through website. Open 2pm – 6pm everyday.
Website: www.talktofrank.com

Marijuana Anonymous
They are run by people who have experience of cannabis use. They offer
a 12-step recovery programme for people who want to quit cannabis use
and are free to use.

Telephone: 0300 124 0373

Email: helpline@marijuana-anonymous.org.uk
Website: www.marijuana-anonymous.org.uk

DrugScope
Gives online information on a wide range of drug related topics. They do
not have a helpline.

Website: www.drugscope.org.uk

Narcotics Anonymous
They run online meetings and face to face meetings all over the country
for people who want to stop using drugs. They offer sponsorship.

Telephone helpline: 0300 999 1212. Open 10am – 12 midnight.

Website: www.ukna.org

Adfam
A national charity for families and friends of drug users. It offers support
groups and confidential support and information.

Telephone admin: 020 3817 9410

Address: 2nd Floor, 120 Cromer Street, London, WC1H 8BS
Email: admin@adfam.org.uk
Website: www.adfam.org.uk

Release
They give free non-judgmental, specialist advice and information to the
public and professionals on issues related to drug use and drug laws.

Telephone helpline: 020 7324 2989

Address: 61 Mansell Street, London E1 8AN
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Email: ask@release.org.uk
Website: www.release.org.uk

Addaction
A charity that supports people to make positive behavioural change. Such
as a problem with alcohol, drugs, or mental health and wellbeing. They
give support for families too. They have different services in different parts
of the country.

Telephone admin: 020 7251 5860

Address: Part Lower Ground Floor, Gate House, 1-3 St. John's Square,
London, England, EC1M 4DH
Email: info@addaction.org.uk
Website: www.addaction.org.uk

Change Grow Live (CGL)

A charity that supports people to make positive behavioural change. Such
as a problem with alcohol, drugs, or mental health and wellbeing. They
give support for families too. They have different services in different parts
of the country.

Webchat: via website

Website: www.changegrowlive.org/

Turning Point
Works with people affected by drug and alcohol misuse, mental health
problems and learning disabilities.

Address: Standon House, 21 Mansell Street, London, E1 8AA

Email: through the website
Website: www.turning-point.co.uk

DNN Help
You can get free rehabilitation treatment through your local drug team. But
you can pay for private treatment if you want to. This is an online
treatment finder for private rehabilitation services.

Website: www.ddnhelp.com

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out-the-facts.pdf (accessed 19th December 2019) Page 2.
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out-the-facts.pdf. (accessed 19th December 2019) Page 1.

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4 DrugScope. What is skunk?
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(accessed 19th December 2019).
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www.drugscope.org.uk/resources/drugsearch/drugsearchpages/skunk/ (accessed 19th
December 2019).
10
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© Rethink Mental Illness 2014
Last updated: December 2019
Next update: December 2022
Version: 3

This factsheet is available

in large print.
Last updated 01/10/2010