The fact that in this day and age, there are still people and organizations pumping out anti-cannabis propaganda is unfortunate but not surprising.  But that it’s happening right here in the true north strong and free is sickening to me.

https://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/9735546-cannabis-induced-psychosis-blamed-in-beheading-of-father-at-muskoka-cottage/?utm_source=facebook&source=inside%20halton&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=&utm_campaign_id=&utm_content=

If you don’t feel like reading that here’s a brief summary.

A 30 year old with depression, who is taking anti-depression medication, smoked weed and then viciously stabbed his own father multiple times before beheading him in front of family and friends.

This article by InsideHalton.com, briefly mentions that the murderer takes anti-depression medication Escitalopram, sort of skips over it, and then blatantly places blame on cannabis use for inducing psychosis.  So let’s look at Cannabis-Induced Psychosis first, and then Escitalopram. 

Cannibis – Induced Psychosis (CIP) 

CIP is a psychiatric diagnosis that psychosis has been triggered by cannabis use/abuse.  While there is some validity to the potential hazards of cannabis use in children’s not-fully developed brains, for a 30 year old adult like Adam Kehl it is unlikely that smoking marijuana caused his psychosis, and more likely that his genetic predisposition for schizophrenia is what caused him to launch his father’s severed head into Kahshe Lake.  It’s also very likely that his anti-depression medication, or even the combination of cannabis with his anti-depression medicine caused the psychotic break, but not cannabis alone.

The truth is that even reports that are trying to promote cannabis – induced psychosis as a legitimate diagnosis explicitly state that it is difficult to distinguish between CIP and schizophrenia spectrum disorder.  That’s because there is no difference.  It’s all schizophrenia.   

Here is an article written by Ruby S. Grewal, MD and Tony P. George, MD in the Psychiatric Times.

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/substance-use-disorder/cannabis-induced-psychosis-review/page/0/1

You can clearly see the ridiculousness of trying to promote and define CIP in the following quotation from the article:

“DSM-5 categorizes cannabis-induced psychotic disorder as a substance-induced psychotic disorder. However, there are distinguishing characteristics of CIP that differentiate it from other psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. Clear features of CIP are sudden onset of mood lability and paranoid symptoms, within 1 week of use but as early as 24 hours after use.” 

Really?  paranoid symptoms are not a feature of schizophrenia?   

At the end of the article it states:

“Dr. Grewal reports no conflict of interest concerning the subject matter of this article. Dr. George reports that he is a consultant to Novartis, the American College of Neuro­psychology, and the Canadian Center for Substance Use and Addiction.” 

Well guess what?  Novartis is a global pharmaceutical drug company.  One of those Big Pharma corporations who really don’t want cannabis to be legal because then you can grow your own medicine rather than having to purchase pills from them.  Whenever you read something you have to always inquire, who funded this study?  Is this author, study, or organization influenced in any way by a source with a motive?  I can assure you that I have no sponsors, or puppeteers controlling what I say to you.  I have educated myself on cannabis and psychedelics over the past decade independently, reading only credible sources of literature in libraries as well as medical journals, and peer-reviewed academic journals.   

Escitalopram  

Side effects: 

• seizures or convulsions 
• suicidal thoughts and behaviors 
• serotonin syndrome, symptoms can include: 

• agitation, hallucinations, coma, or other changes in mental status 

manic episodes, symptoms can include: 

• greatly increased energy 
• severe trouble sleeping 
• racing thoughts 
• reckless behavior 

• unusually grand ideas 
• excessive happiness or irritability 

https://www.healthline.com/health/escitalopram-oral-tablet#side-effects 

I used this website but you can find the same information about Escitalopram virtually anywhere that talks about the drug.

So after knowing what you know about cannabis, and then reading the side effects of the anti-depression drug, which do you feel is responsible for Adam Kehl’s monstrous fit of ultra-violent murder?

Whether it’s the liberal media or the far right media:

Fake news is everywhere folks!