Pot and gaming combo could pose hidden health risks, researchers warn
- barneyelias0
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
October 03 2025
Overview
Cannabis use and excessive gaming tied to psychosis, per multiple studies.
Young men at highest risk, NIH data shows.
Recent Cases
Robin Westman, Minneapolis church shooter, worked at cannabis shop, smoked heavily.
Johsua Jahn, Dallas ICE shooter, obsessed with cannabis and violent video games, logged 10,000+ gaming hours.
Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk assassination suspect, logged 5,000 solo gaming hours.
Research Findings
June 2023 Psychopathology study: Gaming disorder may trigger psychotic episodes.
2023 BMC Psychiatry study: Insomnia, cyberbullying link gaming to psychosis.
2024 Frontiers in Psychiatry study: Adolescents develop problematic gaming faster, share psychiatric issues like autism, ADHD.
April 2025 JAMA Psychiatry study: Cannabis use disorder increases dopamine activity, heightening psychosis risk.
September 2025 Journal of Psychiatric Research study: Synthetic cannabis users show severe, persistent psychotic symptoms compared to natural cannabis users.
Key Insights
Synthetic cannabinoids cause worse psychotic symptoms, emotional dysregulation.
Natural cannabis users show some symptom improvement.
Non-users have higher initial negative symptoms but recover faster.
Youth under 17 face greater psychosis risk from substance use, per 2022 NIH study.
Expert Perspective
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert to Fox News:
Cannabis and heavy gaming tax brain similarly.
Risks multiply with poor sleep, isolation, stress.
Lifestyle factors (late nights, poor diet, no exercise) amplify mental health strain.
Implications
Prevention: Address sleep deprivation, cyberbullying.
Early detection of substance use, psychotic-like experiences may reduce long-term harm.
Trump administration considers reclassifying cannabis as Schedule III, citing CBD benefits.ces."
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