By Miguel Ordoñez

Psychosis, in broad terms, is a condition where one loses grip on reality. This can manifest either in a transitory and reversible episode (usually secondary to trauma or consumption of a psychoactive substance) or in the worse case scenario, an enduring chronic condition that severely impacts one’s life and the lives of those around them.

Psychosis can take on many shapes and forms. It is one of the main components of several mental disorders such as schizophrenia, paranoid delusion, megalomania, and acute bipolar disorders. These psychotic episodes are usually quite elaborate and enduring. In fact, in some cases, they can co-exist for years in otherwise healthy individuals until the time comes where confrontation with reality becomes too hard to sustain.

These symptoms can range from hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing things) to elaborate delusions like being the target of a grand conspiracy. Other, less obvious symptoms include disrupted thought patterns, elementary core changes in behaviour, unusual or false beliefs, and changes in perception.

A deep form of depression can be considered a mild form of psychosis. In fact, some antidepressants are also antipsychotics, and vice-versa. The world of mental health is far from parametric certainty.

CANNABIS AND PSYCHOSIS

For decades, cannabis was accused of being a main trigger for the onset of psychosis and even schizophrenia. It was an obvious deduction. Firstly, it is quite common for new tokers to be overwhelmed with the effects of cannabis, where increased heart rate and a panic attacks can, in fact, evolve into a benign psychotic episode. Secondly, the high percentage of weed users in psychiatric wards is a statistical anomaly compared to the general population.

Institutionalised mental patients are studied inside out, and three common denominators often seem to be present; alcohol, tobacco, and to a much lesser extent, cannabis. Still, its use is fairly widespread in these circumstances.

Today, it is acknowledged that in the case of cannabis, it may be a simple case of statistical relief bias. On one side, there is a clear correlation between cannabis use and early onset of mental illness, but equally so[1] for amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, caffeine, and tobacco. Inversely, alcohol, opiates, and sedative-hypnotics seem less prevalent compared to control groups.

What is meant by this is, it is possible that several mental conditions can be relieved with weed. This explains why such a high percentage of this skewed data set are cannabis users. It is theorised that patients learn to relieve their symptoms[2] by getting high and soothing the mind.

Despite empirical evidence, facts are not determined from anecdote. It takes statistically significant data to prove a point. And that is precisely what happened at the King’s College London, where a novel study brings new light to an old debate.

Cannabis Plantation For Medical Marihuana

CANNABIDIOL AND PSYCHOSIS — THE RESEARCH

Professor Philip McGuire from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), is the main author of a 2017 paper[3] entitled “Cannabidiol (CBD) as an Adjunctive Therapy in Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial” for the Journal of Psychiatry.

He says, “Conventional antipsychotic drugs act by blocking dopamine receptors. However, dopamine is not the only neurotransmitter whose function is altered in psychosis, and in some patients, dopamine function may be relatively normal. We need new classes of treatment that target different neurotransmitter systems”.

In this study, 88 randomised schizophrenia patients were given either a placebo or CBD during a six week period. This means that half received a neutral substance, while the other half received daily doses of 1000mg of CBD alongside their usual medication. But no one in either group knew which they were receiving.

Professor Philip McGuire, a researcher involved in the study, noted the need for further studies to confirm the initial findings and assess the action of CBD in other types of patients.

LETS ALL SMOKE WEED TO AVOID PSYCHOSIS?

We are still in the kindergarten era of cannabis research. While this paper definitely brings some hope to thousands of families across the globe, there is still much to be done.

This study focusses solely on CBD and does not include the main psychoactive compound that cannabis is most known for, THC.

THC has two very typical effects on users, especially inexperienced smokers. These are anxiety and paranoia, two of the main ingredients of psychosis. There are dozens of studies that correlate teenage cannabis consumption and early onset of schizophrenia. The problem is that correlation does not imply causation.

We cannot claim cannabis to cause mental disorders, just like why can’t say with certainty that it cures them. There simply is no hard proof. In no way does the above study suggest that consuming cannabis is a cure for psychosis. Future high-quality studies are needed before conclusions can be drawn. 

CBD Psychosis Treatment

CBD AS THE PHYTOCHEMICAL MARTYR

Is THC the evil-doer and CBD the physiological superhero? Of course not.

The only problem here is that THC gets you high and there is a very strong social stigma against it. In contrast, as a non-intoxicating constituent, CBD mostly avoids the controversy tied to THC.

THC, however, has been known to be quite effective for those suffering from PTSD and other psychological conditions. The jury is out; what we need is more research to pinpoint actual cause-effect relationships.

Humans have an endocannabinoid system that, from afar, seems tailor-made to interact with weed. Cannabis has roughly 113 distinct cannabinoids. We only mentioned THC and CBD; what about all the others?

And what about different proportions of all these cannabinoids, at different times, for different people suffering from different conditions?

Can cannabis help or even cure psychosis? The verdict isn’t clear. Is this a suggestion to start medicating with cannabis to treat this ailment? The answer is no. Unless you already have experimented and found it to be helpful.

But the cold truth is that the so-called state-of-the-art pharmacology used to treat these disorders carries many unwanted side effects. Here are some examples:

Side effects
Rash
Hives
Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Hoarseness
Seizures
Depression
Difficulty speaking
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
Nausea
Headaches
Confusion
Tiredness
Nightmares
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Unsteadiness
Problems with coordination
Difficulty thinking or remembering
Increased saliva
Muscle or joint pain
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Changes in sex drive or ability

And more often than not, patients start more medications only to combat these side effects. And there is no set treatment for psychosis; psychiatrists literally experiment with different drugs on patients to see what sticks. It seems like an endless loop.

Could it be that just the right proportion of cannabinoids could eventually lead to the substitution of these side effect-plagued pharmacological solutions?

Everything seems to suggest so, as each year, more and more studies bring to the table the wonderful properties and potential of this plant. Almost all fields of medicine are curious to find out what new condition or disease positively reacts to cannabis.

Preliminary evidence is overwhelming the scientific community, and it is high time we put this wonderful plant at the forefront of scientific research all over the world.

External Resources:
  1. A Review of Psychoactive Substance Use and Abuse in Schizoph... : The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease http://journals.lww.com
  2. Europe PMC http://europepmc.org
  3. Cannabidiol (CBD) could represent a ‘new class of treatment’ for psychosis https://www.mentalhealthexcellence.org
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: