Eleven years after Jamaica decriminalised ganja, the use of the substance features heavily among patients presenting with psychosis and schizophrenia. While there is currently no data establishing whether use of the herb is causing or contributing to the mental health problems, its prevalence is complicating treatment.

This is against the background of data from the National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) pointing to an increase in high-risk usage of cannabis and the potency of the substance in Jamaica, as well as an increase in admissions for psychosis and schizophrenia over the last decade.

“What we do know is that the majority of psychiatric admissions in our public hospitals are coming from psychosis or schizophrenia. And the majority of those persons do use cannabis. So, we can look at that relationship and see that it is strong,” said Director for Treatment Services at the NCDA, Dr Kristen Robinson Barrett.