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  Study: No Marijuana Link To Schizophrenia
Posted by CN Staff on August 19, 2004 at 07:17:36 PT
By Reuter 
Source: Reuters  

cannabis Amsterdam -- There is no scientific proof that cannabis use induces schizophrenia, Dutch scientists say, questioning recent research and an argument the Dutch government uses to crack down on marijuana-selling “coffee shops.”

In an article in this week’s Magazine for Psychiatry, a peer-reviewed journal, the three authors say that on the basis of currently available data “there is no justification for the proposed closure of coffee shops.”

Often the first symptoms of schizophrenia occur during adolescence, when people start to experiment with drugs, but the scientists believe cannabis use only has a negative effect on people already genetically predisposed to the mental illness.

“It is therefore advisable that youngsters with a family history of schizophrenia and patients with a schizophrenic disorder be discouraged from using cannabis,” the report said.

Subsequent Dutch governments have tightened rules on the sale of marijuana in government-regulated coffee shops, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of cannabis cafes.

A ban this year on alcohol in coffee shops will be followed by a ban on tobacco in 2005, outlawing all smoking on the premises.

There are around 780 coffee shops in the Netherlands of which 270 are in Amsterdam, according to 2002 figures.

Note: Negative effect only on people predisposed to illness.

Source: Reuters (UK)
Published: August 19, 2004
Copyright: 2004 Reuters Unlimited

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Comment #6 posted by Virgil on August 19, 2004 at 17:13:18 PT
No chance of closing the coffeeshops
They have a nutcase at the head of government that will go with the next election. They give him some script to read so the media can quote him and demonize on. To think that Holland will rejoin prohibition as Europe takes to making cannas #1, is laugable.

I want to put up this comment from a guy that has the only comment to Nol on Greece at HempCity. He made this comment last Friday because of the Olypics- http://www.hempcity.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

ok now some news from the front [greece that is] the party that supported decriminization [not clearly but anyway] lost the elections on april. the conservative party is now the goverment. anyway cops here will search you even if they now the only thing you might carry is so little thats only enough for a joint or two. and you will be prosecuted for that quantity most likely. if you are lucky you will just spend the night at the 2x2 prison at your local police station. its apitty because if they find a heroin addict with his dose, they will live him allone. if they find a cannabis "addict", they will do all these, and probably smoke his weed as well. maybe now with the olympics the pollice have been ordered to be soft with smoking tourists, because if one was caught for smoking cannabis and the news traveled through the world, we [greece] would be intenationally humiliated. good greek weed has also been disapeared, because choppers are up in the sky all day. we used to have so good greek smoke [which is landrace sativa varieties i think] and now all we have is cheap imported skunkie weed.. i hope things get better after the olympics.. peace!

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Comment #5 posted by warhater on August 19, 2004 at 17:11:32 PT:

I knew it
The allegations that MJ caused schizophrenia where barely supported by causational evidence. I believe the correlation between schizophrenia and MJ use was due to self medication by the schizophrenic. The counter argument was that the patients in the studies had all been screened before the study and showed no signs of mental disorders. But schizophrenia tends to manifest suddenly. Often people who show no previous signs of the disease become schizophrenic whether they smoke pot or not.

As for the Netherlands smoking ban, I am disappointed. I have yet to see a study that shows the MJ smoke is carcinegenic like tobbaco smoke, so the ban on cannabis smoking is scientifically baseless. I hope that the people of the Netherlands don't let right wing fanatics destroy their sensible drug policies.

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Comment #4 posted by observer on August 19, 2004 at 16:55:17 PT
Open Letter to Professor John Henry
to: John Henry john.henry@st-marys.nhs.uk

subject: Dutch Cannabis Study says you're all wet, Prof

Hello there Professor,

Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know that we don't believe your scare stories about cannabis causing reefer madness (or whatever your "scientific" term is this year).

We well remember your braying about cannabis-induced disaster, should citizens of the UK not be arrested for using it. Why don't you run along now, and try to dig up more dirt on cannabis? Perhaps the US NIDA will fund you, as it has so many others attempting to prove the dire harm of cannabis. I'm sure you can find SOMETHING harmful about cannabis, if you put your mind to it.

Thanks again for revealing more medical quackery in our midst.

Sincerely,

observer

_____

see: http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Acannabisnews.com+%22John+Henry%22

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Comment #3 posted by drfistusa on August 19, 2004 at 10:59:22 PT
it will not happen!
this is a right wing blip for Holland, they will not shut down coffee shops, because the trade would just go to the streets like Copenhagen. Major political resistance would appear!

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Comment #2 posted by Universer on August 19, 2004 at 10:16:02 PT
Forgive My Ignorance...
I read this site fairly religiously, but this is the first I've heard about the Dutch coffee shops being either closed down, or disallowed from having cannabis smoked within their walls.

Does this mean that by 2005 the Netherlands will be just another prohibitionist country?

Damn. And I never even got a chance to get over there.

Anyone know anything concrete about this? Will vaporizers be permitted?

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Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 19, 2004 at 07:19:17 PT
Related Article from Medical News Today UK
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=12283

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