Cannabis has become increasingly popular in the U.S. The spread of legalization, along with a decline in alcohol use, means more people are comfortable consuming pot products. While widely viewed as a safer alternative to booze, weed does carry some inherent risks.
Despite all this, a recently released study has some consumers scared—but should they be?
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The headlines are all similar: people who are hospitalized due to cannabis-related issues are more likely to develop dementia. The stories center on a recent study published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
The paper analyzed hospital records of adults aged 45 to 105 years in Ontario, Canada. It found that individuals with “incident acute care due to cannabis use had a 1.5-fold and 3.9-fold increased risk of dementia diagnosis within five years” when compared to people hospitalized for any reason, and the general population of the same demographics, respectively.
It’s a disturbing thought, the idea that using weed could lead to a dramatic (and incurable) neurodegenerative disorder. However, it’s important to note that the paper does not prove there’s an actual link between the two—something the authors are reiterating.
In an interview with CNN, study coauthor Dr. Daniel Myran said, “this is not a study that anyone should look at and say, ‘Jury’s in, and cannabis use causes dementia.’”
It’s an important clarification, especially given that the active compounds in cannabis have been shown to have neuroprotective qualities. Other research has shown the plant may help reduce symptoms of agitation in people with Alzheimer’s. Another fact not mentioned in many reports is that medical marijuana is prescribed to many people with Alzheimer’s around the country for the symptoms that often accompany the disease. The recent Canadian study is seemingly another example of data cherry-picking that seems all too common—and the lack of causality seems to be an afterthought in the majority of reporting.
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Read between the lines
It’s a similar story time and time again. Health records are analyzed to find possible connections between pot and serious conditions. It’s happened with cannabis and heart conditions and even death. But causality is never proven. However, selective reporting may cause the general public to believe otherwise.
The Canadian paper did note that people with alcohol-related hospitalizations were at a greater risk of a dementia diagnosis than those with cannabis-related care. However, the headlines are all about the weed.
That’s not to say cannabis consumption doesn’t carry risks. But are they as extreme as the headlines would have you believe? It’s been a growing trend: fear-mongering around cannabis akin to Reefer Madness 2.0.
The bottom line: articles are typically more than just a lede, so read closely. And remember: there are always two sides to every story.
