I have no doubt your episode was induced by the drug. I also see clear indications that the lack of a safe setting and "sitter" means you set yourself up for a much higher risk of a bad experience. Sorry it was so uncomfortable for you.
As for cannabis, the condition you're referencing is exceedingly rare. In most cases the ER attendants I've known treating individuals with these symptoms have traced them back to synthetic "legal high" cannabinoid analogues, most of which are untested with an unknown toxicological profile. Their proliferation is a symptom of criminalization, and it is a burgeoning epidemic.
I can assure you your 'stomach flu' was not caused by cannabis, however there is some data to back up the link between dysphoria at high dosages and ghrelin (the precursor hormone that makes you hungry) deregulation with consistent usage. My extensive research has turned up no link between cannabis use and an altered micro-biome, but I think it's fair to say both acute and chronic usage can lead to altered/dysfunctional eating patterns. It is also well-known for causing dry mouth, which makes oral hygiene especially important if one wishes to avoid candida-related side effects (occasionally linked with GI upset).
Also worth noting, cannabis use in adolescence is correlated with a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, and can trigger or accelerate latent conditions in those already predisposed to mental illness. It's not all fun and games, but it has a comparatively favorable side-effect profile to most similarly-indicated pharmaceuticals.
There's no such thing as "temporary schizophrenia." If you're referring to acute psychosis, as you seemingly experienced, then yes it's certainly a possible side effect--though never a permanent one.
Bad experiences are usually triggered by an uncomfortable setting, or a dose for which you were not prepared. I'm sorry that was your experience, but concerned your reaction doesn't add to the scientific discussion.
LSD increases glutamate and modulates the 5HTA (seratonin) subtypes, as well as having modulatory effects on D2 (dopamine) receptors--it alters conscious processes and lowers the inhibitory threshold of the action potential, allowing "new" neuronal pathways to develop. While we don't know the specific pharmacokinetic MOA, we do know it has a favorable toxicological and therapeutic profile, and that the content of one's hallucinations depend far more on the individual and the setting than the substance.
Yes, it can be dangerous. Yes, you can take steps to effectively minimize the danger like you do in every other area of your life (seatbelts? helmets?). Like anything there's a cost-benefit ratio for each individual to consider--are you willing to risk a potentially terrifying experience for a chance at novel insight?
I think that's a choice everyone should be able to make for themselves.
While I'm a proponent, research has made a fairly solid case for THC's ability to trigger latent psychological illness. As you stated, making informed choices relative to your medical history is both critical and necessary to avoid unintended permanent consequences.
It's interesting how vastly different everyone's qualitative experiences are when the physiological states are fairly uniform... I think observing those altered processes with next-gen EEG tech may offer some illumination in our current, limited model of neuroplasticity.
"Drugs" is a legal delineation, not one of substance. Like every substance you consume, amount, frequency--and sometimes intent--matter far more than molecular composition.
In regard to LSD specifically, please note that the link to schizophrenia has since been proven null, and the individuals studied were already displaying signs of the disorder. Further research in more recent years, while limited, has been unable to find any correlation between incidents of mental illness and the use of hallucinogenics.
As per cannabis... without it I'd most certainly be addicted to Rx painkillers. I like knowing that if I travel or go somewhere it's prohibited, I won't suffer crippling withdrawals. In fact, aside from the return of a dull aching pain from chronic hyper-flexion, I wouldn't notice anything other than increasingly vivid dreams caused by REM rebound. For me it's a clear choice. It allows me to function, and unlike other pain management regimens, after 7 years its minimum effective dose (MED) despite daily administration remains unchanged; if I skip a day or 6 months, my pain is not magnitudes above baseline.
I'm not here to tout the benefits of marijuana, but to explain how drugs are an indifferent tool, and just because they are harmful in one context doesn't mean we should discount their usefulness in another. Their value is relative.
Because of a substance, I can function. Because I can function, I've been able to nurture my business from 3 people to >500, and into the Fortune 1000. For others with traumatic disorders like PTSD, hallucinogenic therapy may hold promises anti-depressants have been unable to actualize. Regardless, generalizations like yours (while in good faith) prevent the regulatory changes needed to once again allow for open research.
In respect to the diversity of the human condition, I'd implore you to take a more laissez-faire approach: decide what's right for yourself, not for others.
As for cannabis, the condition you're referencing is exceedingly rare. In most cases the ER attendants I've known treating individuals with these symptoms have traced them back to synthetic "legal high" cannabinoid analogues, most of which are untested with an unknown toxicological profile. Their proliferation is a symptom of criminalization, and it is a burgeoning epidemic.
I can assure you your 'stomach flu' was not caused by cannabis, however there is some data to back up the link between dysphoria at high dosages and ghrelin (the precursor hormone that makes you hungry) deregulation with consistent usage. My extensive research has turned up no link between cannabis use and an altered micro-biome, but I think it's fair to say both acute and chronic usage can lead to altered/dysfunctional eating patterns. It is also well-known for causing dry mouth, which makes oral hygiene especially important if one wishes to avoid candida-related side effects (occasionally linked with GI upset).
Also worth noting, cannabis use in adolescence is correlated with a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders, and can trigger or accelerate latent conditions in those already predisposed to mental illness. It's not all fun and games, but it has a comparatively favorable side-effect profile to most similarly-indicated pharmaceuticals.