Is cannabis your friend or enemy? Find out now!
Your Cannabis and You: Discover the Truth Behind Your Genetic Risk.
Imagine,
You've just taken a few hits of your favorite joint and suddenly your brain starts to daydream . You think you've just solved the universe's deepest philosophical questions, like, "What would have happened if dinosaurs had skateboards?" Feeling like the next Einstein, you decide to share your groundbreaking findings with the world. So grab your phone and start typing. But when you wake up the next day and read your messages, you ask yourself, “Did I really write that?” Where did these absurd theories come from? Have I been abducted by aliens?”
Yes, cannabis can sometimes cause us to get lost in our thoughts and say or do things that seem pretty strange in retrospect. But at least it was funny!
However, it is important to know that cannabis can also cause unwanted side effects such as anxiety , hallucinations or paranoia . There is evidence that long-term cannabis use may increase the risk of developing psychosis. One reason for this may actually lie in your genes. Sounds weird? But it is true!
What does your DNA have to do with cannabis effects?
Recent studies suggest that genetic variations in the COMT and AKT1 genes may influence the risk of developing psychosis after cannabis use.
Do you belong to this group? Find out with our self-test ! It offers you clarity about how your body reacts to regular cannabis use and how this could affect your well-being. Discover whether you can continue to metaphorically skateboard with the dinosaurs without worrying about long-term consequences.
The meaning of THC
Of course you are familiar with THC. This active ingredient in cannabis, also called tetrahydrocannabinol, could play a role in triggering psychosis. THC affects the endocannabinoid system in the brain, which is responsible for mood, memory and other key functions. This system regulates pain, inflammation, mood, appetite, sleep and memory, among many other processes.
The endocannabinoid system can be activated by taking THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), among other things. Taking THC leads to the release of dopamine, a messenger substance that creates a kind of feeling of reward. This creates the so-called “ high feeling ” that you experience when consuming cannabis. THC, so to speak, provides the relaxing and mood-enhancing effects of cannabis.
COMT and AKT1
Long-term and regular cannabis use can increase the risk of developing psychosis . But how? It should be noted that this does not generally affect every cannabis user, but only people with a certain genetic predisposition .
According to studies, changes in the COMT and AKT1 genes are primarily responsible for this. COMT is responsible for the breakdown of dopamine in the brain. A specific change in this gene can cause dopamine breakdown to be disrupted and dopamine to stay in the brain longer than necessary. A change in AKT1, on the other hand, increases dopamine activity and thus the generation of feelings of reward. Since the active ingredient THC also promotes the release of dopamine, the effects increase to a certain extent and cause an overreaction in the brain, which then ends in psychotic symptoms . According to studies, people who carry these gene variants are up to 11 times more likely to develop psychosis after frequent cannabis use.
Of course, we also assume that you only consume high-quality and pure cannabis. Adulterated cannabis products can cause much more than just psychosis . We cannot detect the side effects of taking impure cannabis with our test.
Am I mentally ill now?
How is the evaluation carried out?
The test kit you ordered contains everything you need for your self-test. Taking a sample is completely painless and uncomplicated, as only a cheek swab is required. You then send the sample back to us in the enclosed envelope. Your sample will then be evaluated in our certified laboratory. You will then receive your result within 5 days.
The evaluation itself is carried out using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). qPCR is a fast and extremely sensitive method in DNA analysis that allows the analysis process to be monitored in real time.
With qPCR, a specific section of DNA is isolated and multiplied. In order to find out which variant of the gene to be examined you have, one or more dyes are added during the multiplication, which dissolve again when the sample is heated. The fluorescence, i.e. the reflected light, of the attached dye is measured in real time during the heating process and provides information about which variant you have. Depending on the variant, it can ultimately be defined to what extent your genetic predisposition influences your risk of psychosis.