"It's Just Pot - What's The Problem?" - Every Brain Matters Podcast

Cannabis Psychosis to Violence - Bob Schwartz and Bryn Spejcher

September 07, 2024 Aubree Adams Season 3 Episode 6

One evening in Thousand Oaks, California, life took a tragic turn after Bryn started her career as a Doctor of Audiology at UCLA. Bryn experimented with cannabis, unaware of its potential dangers. Unbeknownst to her, she inhaled a large hit of highly potent THC, which triggered a rapid descent into psychosis. In her altered state, her perception of reality was severely distorted, leading her to react to intense hallucinations. In a frantic attempt of fear, Bryn grabbed a kitchen knife, resulting in violence toward her dog, her friend Chad, and herself. When the police arrived, Bryn could not respond to the police commands; she was only responding to the internal commands, the voices in her head that instructed her to keep going. The court later ruled the incident as involuntary manslaughter, recognizing that cannabis-induced psychosis caused this tragic event. This heartbreaking story serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers of cannabis use; it proves that a single use of cannabis can come to such a horrific end. Every Brain Matters extends its heartfelt sympathy to the friends and family of Chad O’Melia and Bryn Spejcher. Had either Chad or Bryn known this could happen from only using THC, this tragedy could have been prevented. This story proves that we need more awareness about the harms of cannabis use.

To schedule a presentation from Bryn and learn more about cannabis-induced psychosis, CIP contact us at info@everybrainmatters.org

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https://everybrainmatters.org/thc-psychosis-and-violence/
https://everybrainmatters.org/cannabis-science/marijuana-violence/

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