The Media's Double Standards: Cannabis vs. Antipsychotic Medications in Violent Crime Reporting

A still taken from the 1930’s anti-cannabis propaganda movie, “Reefer Madness”

In the realm of media reporting on violent crimes, a noticeable double standard emerges when comparing the treatment of incidents involving cannabis use to those where the perpetrator was on antipsychotic medication. This discrepancy in media coverage raises significant questions about societal perceptions, stigma, and the responsibilities of media in shaping public opinion.

Media outlets often sensationalize cases where cannabis use is involved in violent crimes. Headlines frequently imply a direct causal link between cannabis consumption and violent behavior, as seen in numerous reports. This not only oversimplifies complex situations but also perpetuates a stigma around cannabis use. In contrast, similar sensationalism is rarely applied when other substances or medications are involved in such incidents.

For example, there is a stark contrast in how mass shootings are reported, especially when the perpetrators are known to be on antipsychotic medications. These medications, prescribed for mental health conditions, are often not mentioned or deeply explored in media narratives. This lack of emphasis can lead to a skewed public perception that overlooks the potential complexities involved in such tragic events, including the role of mental health, medication compliance, and the effectiveness of mental health interventions.

The differing media approaches contribute to ongoing stigmas and misinformation. While cannabis use is often portrayed in a negative light, creating undue fear and misunderstanding, the role of antipsychotic medications in violent crimes is underreported, potentially leading to a lack of awareness about the challenges of managing severe mental health conditions.

The media's double standards in reporting violent crimes linked to cannabis versus those involving antipsychotic medications or even alcohol for that matter highlight a broader issue of bias and sensationalism in journalism. Addressing this imbalance is essential for fostering a more informed and empathetic public discourse around substance use, mental health, and violence.

The case of James Kilroy

A recent case in Ireland involving James Kilroy, who is claimed to have experienced a psychotic episode attributed to long-term chronic cannabis exposure, raises important questions about the relationship between cannabis use and violent behavior. However, it's crucial to understand that cannabis consumption alone does not directly cause a person to commit murder, despite this the headline for the case was as follows “James Kilroy suffered psychotic episode due to 'long term effect of chronic cannabis exposure”. To the uninformed reader this reads as a strong statement that cannabis use can lead to murder which is far from the truth and it harms public perceptions of people who consume cannabis. Its no surprise to see these types of headlines in the media who are always quick to vilify cannabis for their clickbait articles.

Park ranger James Kilroy (49), with an address at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, is charged with murdering mother of three Valerie French Kilroy (41) at their home between June 13th 2019 and June 14th 2019. He has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. This case highlights a complex situation where long-term cannabis use is claimed to have contributed to a psychotic episode and then murder​​. It's essential to differentiate between direct causation and a contributing factor. In this instance, while cannabis could have played a role, it seems to be part of a larger context of mental health and individual circumstances.

“AK47 24 Karat Gold” product packaging that was linked to overdoses

An additional factor at play is that the cannabis used by James was sourced on the black-market. It was also mentioned in court that James admitted to increasing his consumption of extra strong “AK47” but i know myself AK47 isint a very strong strain of cannabis (as in high THC levels) but i do know that there was once a “synthetic cannabis” product known as “AK47 24 karrat gold”. This particular product was linked to a number of a mass overdoses in the US in 2016 and the synthetic cannabinoid contained within it (AMB-FUBINACA) is said to be 85times more potent than THC. It’s possible the Mr. Kilroy wasn’t even consuming cannabis and instead a much more potent synthetic compound but this is never mentioned in the case nor am I surprised its not.

Psychiatrist Dr. Ronan Mullaney claimed that Kilroy's psychotic episode was a substance-induced one related to cannabis use in a vulnerable person​​. The key word here is VULNERABLE person, this suggests that individual factors, such as a person's mental health history are crucial in understanding such incidents. Not everyone who consumes cannabis will experience psychosis or violent tendencies, indicating the role of individual differences.

Another incredibly important detail of this case and the claim “Cannabis made him do it” is that toxicology analysis revealed that Kilroy's urine was clear from all forms of drugs, including cannabis, two days after the incident. He admitted to having last used cannabis nine days before the murder​​. This information is incredibly significant as it suggests that the psychotic episode was not due to immediate intoxication of Cannabis but more to do with the mental health and vulnerability of the person. All because someone was a consumer of cannabis doesn’t mean it caused them to perpetrate their crime, especially so many days after having last consumed the substance. This is a case of correlation & not causation.

I’m not going to pretend that Cannabis use is not associated with psychosis and schizophrenia, however, it's vital to note that this does not imply that cannabis use directly causes violence. Psychosis can manifest in various ways, and not all individuals experiencing psychosis become violent. The relationship between cannabis use, psychosis, and violence is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, the individual's overall mental health and the use of medical cannabis either prescribed or self-medicating.

In conclusion, while the case of James Kilroy sheds light on the need to regulate the supply of cannabis and improve mental health services, it does not establish a direct causal link between cannabis consumption and murder. The case is due back before the courts on Monday 20th of November in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven women and five men. I hope they can see past the misinformation about cannabis and that justice is served for the victim of the brutal crime, occupational therapist Valerie French Kilroy (41, RIP).