Shocking killings have been committed by cannabis users in recent years after they developed psychosis which caused them to become delusional and hear voices.
The clinic, which is based at South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust, was launched earlier this month by Dr. Marta Di Forti, who was concerned many of her patients suffered psychosis as a result of using weed.
Dr. Forti warned psychosis among users of a strong strain of cannabis called skunk has affected tens of thousands – becoming “a crisis that we can simply no longer ignore”.
Drug users who experience psychosis for the first time after skunk use will go through a three-month treatment program at the clinic, the Mail On Sunday revealed.
Among its first patients is a former trainee teacher who is now so confused they can’t even read a book.
Treatment at The Cannabis Clinic For Patients With Psychosis comprises of a mix of antipsychotic medication, sessions with therapists, and motivational meetings to wean patients off cannabis.
Cannabis
HELP: The clinic will treat those who suffer from cannabis-induced psychosis (Pic: GETTY)
Dr Forti, a consultant adult psychiatrist and lecturer at King’s College London said: “It became ridiculous how many psychosis patients were also cannabis smokers.
“It got to the point where two-thirds of my psychosis patients had a history of cannabis use.”
Speaking about the former teacher, Dr. Forti, told The Mail On Sunday: “He has a degree and professional skills but because he’s stoned all day, he can’t even read a book at the moment. He was training to be a teacher before cannabis took over his life but right now his main goal is simply to be able to use his brain again.”
The launch of the clinic comes amid calls to legalize cannabis.
Medicinal forms of cannabis oil were made legal in the UK in November last year.
But advocates of the drug including Tory MP Crispin Blunt have argued this does not go far enough.
Consultants at Dr. Di Forti’s clinic, include Professor Sir Robin Murray, who was the first British academic to prove a link between cannabis and psychosis.
Credit : www.dailystar.co.uk