Despite its reputation as a ‘soft’ drug, scientific research has linked cannabis with mental illness and psychosis, particularly schizophrenia.

But a UK study published in this month’s Schizophrenia Research journal found evidence that this link may not exist.

Australian researchers are skeptical.

Dr Martin Cohen, chief psychiatrist at the Hunter New England Mental Health Service, led a study last year which concluded that the brain of a heavy cannabis user functions more like that of a schizophrenic.

He spoke with 2SER’s Britta Jorgensen about why the new evidence could be misleading.