cannabisnews.com: The War Against Marijuana





The War Against Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on January 01, 2003 at 21:01:03 PT
By Dr Unaiza Niaz-Anwar
Source: Independent 
In Pakistan, cannabis use has reached alarming proportions among young people, particularly in the urban population. In large cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, smoking a "joint" for relaxation is considered "fashionable and the in thing." Parents from the upper social classes, if not encouraging its use, do not care if their children smoke hash off and on, during weekends or at parties. About 80 to 90 per cent adolescents and young college students in most of the elite schools have tried hash.
Although most young people use cannabis in adolescence without apparent harm, clinical research studies over the last decade clearly indicate that a number of vulnerable adolescents develop a form of schizophrenia by the age of 26. Most of the research studies suggest that the use of cannabis among psychologically vulnerable adolescents should be strongly discouraged by parents, teachers and health practitioners. Policy-makers and law-makers should also concentrate on delaying the onset of cannabis use.The use of cannabis is very prevalent worldwide and the association with depression, conduct problems, excessive drinking and use of other drugs shows a malignant pattern that may lead to negative outcomes. Cannabis was associated with an increased risk of developing schizophrenia in a dose-dependent fashion both for subjects who had used drugs and for subjects who had used only cannabis and no other drugs.In young people, the use of cannabis is known to cause mood disorders. In one study, some 60pc of the participants had used cannabis by the age of 20; seven per cent were daily users at that point. Daily use in young women was associated with an over five-fold increase in the odds of reporting a state of depression and anxiety after adjustment for intercurrent use of other substances. Weekly or more frequent cannabis use in teenagers predicted an approximately two-fold increase in risk for later depression and anxiety.Hence, frequent cannabis use in teenage girls predicts later depression and anxiety, with daily users carrying the highest risk. Given the recent increasing levels of cannabis use, measures to reduce frequent and heavy recreational use seem warranted. Cannabis use in adolescence and risk for adult of major psychiatric illnesses is now well established. The strongest evidence that cannabis use may be a risk factor for later psychosis comes from a Swedish cohort study which found that heavy cannabis use at age 18 increased the risk of later schizophrenia sixfold. This study could not establish whether adolescent cannabis use was a consequence of pre-existing psychotic symptoms rather than a cause. A local study in Karachi, taking into account childhood psychotic symptoms, also shows an association between cannabis use and the onset of schizophrenia.The Dunedin multidisciplinary health and development study (a study of a general population birth cohort of 1,037 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1972-3) has a 96pc follow-up rate at age 26. It obtained information on psychotic symptoms at age 11, and drug use at ages 15 and 18 from self reports and assessed psychiatric symptoms at age 26 with a standardized interview schedule. Data was analyzed from a representative group of 759 (74pc) living study members who had complete data on adult psychiatric outcomes, adolescent use of illicit substances and childhood psychotic symptoms.The sample was divided into three groups based on cannabis use at ages 15 and 18. The 494 controls (65.1pc of the sample) had reported using cannabis "never" or "once or twice" at both ages; cannabis users by age 18 (236; 31.1pc) first reported using cannabis "three times or more" at age 18; and cannabis users by age 15 (29; 3.8pc) had reported using cannabis "three times or more" at age 15 (all of whom continued to use cannabis at age 18).Multiple linear regression analyses showed that cannabis users by age 15 and 18 had more schizophrenia symptoms than controls at age 26. These results remained significant after psychotic symptoms at age 11 were controlled for. The effect was stronger with earlier use.Logistic regression analyses showed that people who used cannabis by age 15 were four times as likely to have a diagnosis of a form of schizophrenia at age 26 than controls. Cannabis use by age 15 did not predict depressive outcomes at age 26. Use of other drugs in adolescence did not predict schizophrenia outcomes over and above the effect of cannabis use.Using cannabis in adolescence increases the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia in adulthood. Local clinical findings agree with those of the Swedish study and add three new pieces of evidence. Firstly, cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of experiencing schizophrenia symptoms, even after psychotic symptoms preceding the onset of cannabis use are controlled for, indicating that cannabis use is not secondary to a pre-existing psychosis. Secondly, early cannabis use (by age 15) confers greater risk for schizophrenia outcomes than later cannabis use (by age 18). The youngest cannabis users may be most at risk because their cannabis use becomes longstanding. Thirdly, risk was specific to cannabis use, as opposed to use of other drugs.To determine whether cannabis use in adolescence predisposes to higher rates of depression and anxiety in young adulthood, in 44 schools in the Australian state of Victoria, samples were taken from 1,601 students aged 14-15 for seven years. Some 60 per cent of participants had used cannabis by the age of 20; seven per cent were daily users at that point. Daily use in young women was associated with an over five-fold increase in the odds of reporting a state of depression and anxiety after adjustment for intercurrent use of other substances (odds ratio 5.6, 95pc confidence interval 2.6 to 12). Weekly or more frequent cannabis use in teenagers predicted an approximately two-fold increase in risk for later depression and anxiety. In contrast, depression and anxiety in teenagers predicted neither later weekly nor daily cannabis use.Drug websites: Targeting teenagers and young adults with health education messages is notoriously tricky. Drug websites aimed specifically at the youth population, specially those developed and maintained by young people themselves, may be the key.For a comprehensive drug information site with "no moralizing, just the truth," visit Cascade -- http://www.cascade.u-net.com/home2.htm Cascade is designed by UK teens for peers, parents and professionals, aiming to give accurate, balanced advice without judgment. It provides information and chat rooms for those seeking help as well as for those who intend to continue experimenting with drugs. The site includes cartoons and personal stories, information particular to the needs of women (pregnancy, date rape), updates in simple language on the legalization debate, and an impressive list of links.Zombie -- http://www.health.qld.gov.au/zombie/news.htm -- is a site developed by a group of young Australians in partnership with government health departments. Zombie aims to educate and empower young people to make up their own minds about drugs, but this is tempered by the ominous warning accompanying each frame "Remember: say no to drugs." The site emphasises the negative health effects as well as the legal consequences of cannabis use. It is a bit slim on information, but is clearly written and unmistakably inspired by the language of young people. Zombie asks its users: "Are you living dead or deadly living?"Those less inclined towards proclaiming the perils of marijuana to children might appreciate Change the Climate -- http://www.changetheclimate.org This is a US site, developed by parents, devoted to debunking myths about marijuana and it highlights the costliness of the "war on marijuana" and its impact on civil liberties. Recommendations for talking to kids about marijuana include being honest, avoiding shock tactics and encouraging open communication about experimentation and risk taking. These efforts are said to increase parents' credibility with their kids, a feature often missing in anti-marijuana campaigns, but crucial to their success.In Pakistan, we all need to take cognizance of the growing menace of cannabis use among our youth - the hashed future generations. Parents, teachers and the medical community need to collectively fight this war against cannabis. Source: Independent (Dhaka, Bangladesh)        Author: Dr Unaiza Niaz-AnwarPublished:  Thursday, January 02, 2003 - Issue 1731Copyright: 2003 Global AmitechContact: info independent-bangladesh.com Website: http://www.independent-bangladesh.com/Related Articles:Wasted: the Drought That Drugs Made http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14457.shtmlWar on Drug Begins in Afghanistan http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12494.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by drfistusa on January 02, 2003 at 13:39:55 PT:
Pakastan has 5000 yrs experience with hash
plenty of time to see problems develop, but they don't!! just more lies "it make you crazy" or depressed, NOT that depressed people take it to reduce depression (me) or mentaly ill people tend to take it to reduce the pain. It's like saying that taking prozac makes you depressed and not just suicidal.
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Comment #8 posted by knox42897 on January 02, 2003 at 12:15:06 PT:
Body Language an ART form?
Smoking a joint is an act of body language, that signifies, You are smarter. Superior citizens know better and flaunt it. And that makes urine suckers squirm funny and may make cannabis prohibitionists want to kill and torture Us more.could be I know my ancesters perfected this type of body language and should know be considered an art form!
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on January 02, 2003 at 09:21:16 PT
I Have Several Good Friends In The Netherlands
"(I hope these foreign people realize the American citizen is different than the American leader on this issue)"Don't worry, The GWC, I haven't met anybody yet that blames the citizens of the police states of amerika. They're appalled at the way our gov't leaders treat the citizens, and they despise the way the p.s.a tries to shove our convoluted policies down their throats. The Dutch have been perfectly successful and prosperous LONG before this country decided the rest of the world were idiots incapable of self-rule.I know you didn't specifically mention the Dutch, but my friends are in contact with people from all over the world, so they've got a pretty good idea what the rest of the world is thinking.I did meet one drunken Scottish football hooligan that hates amerikans, but he hated everybody (especially the British,) so I don't think he counts. His scarred face and numerous missing teeth made me think he wasn't basing his hatred upon our socio-economic policies.
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Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on January 02, 2003 at 08:45:30 PT
Pakistan? are you kidding?
This is a country where the biggest health concern for most women is how hard their husbands are going to beat them, and whether or not he'll use the propane stove to burn them alive.Yet here is a doctor who still finds time to castigate cannabis smokers. The best thing the government could do would be to issue an ounce of herb per week to every man in the country over the age of 14. Seriously.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 02, 2003 at 08:13:31 PT
The GCW
I can't wait! Let's hope for good news! I'll keep looking but it will probably be a little later today. We need some positive news!
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Comment #4 posted by The GCW on January 02, 2003 at 07:34:43 PT
It's Thursday in Cannada & body language.
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15070.shtmlOne of the things coming in the news today is significant. Ontario Court Justice Douglas Phillips said he will have a decision Thursday in the case of a 16-year-old youth who was charged in April with possession of marijuana. (Cannada is set against giving this kid a criminal record and should start ending that criminal practice right here and now.)Cannada, Pakistan, Jerusalem, Jamaica and many others, have grave & ill respect for American leaders cannabis prohibition. (I hope these foreign people realize the American citizen is different than the American leader on this issue)Shunning the discredited American plant prohibition is getting bigger and bigger. Smoking a joint is an act of body language, that signifies, You are smarter. Superior citizens know better and flaunt it. And that makes urine suckers squirm funny and may make cannabis prohibitionists want to kill and torture Us more.Cannabis activism world wide exposes the boneheads leading america, that want to exterminate the Superplant, as, well, boneheads. That is to Our benefit.
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Comment #3 posted by Knox42897 on January 02, 2003 at 04:34:45 PT:
preventive medication?
Although most young people use cannabis in adolescence "without apparent harm", (clinical research studies) over the last decade "clearly indicate" that a number of "vulnerable" adolescents develop a "(form)" of schizophrenia by the age of 26.This is an incredibly stupid statement, I've read these studies and there is no mention of any first hand evidence that the patients refer marijuana as the aggrivating factor or even a little factor in schizophrenia. Now it says "Develop a FORM of schizophrenia" = paranoia the drug warrior nazi' terrorists will break into your house, maybe murder you or a loved one, steal(confisteal) all your worldly possesions, take your children away from you and look you up in a cage for the "protection" of society. I wonder if this is actually a bonified legal because it should be, "form" of schizophrenia = paranoia? I mean Honestly The dutch call us the "Talibans of drug policy".Further, they used Multiple linear regression analyses showed and Logistic regression analyses showed,(odds ratio 5.6, 95pc confidence interval 2.6 to 12). So it's +/- confindence" of what? They can make statistics show anything! False can be made into truth by using +/- "confidence" intervals. These Fucking LIARS, every educated person knows statiticians are LIARS. My college statistics proffesor opening statements were stataticians are liars! He educated us how to properly lie with "confidence". He was an awesome proffesor, I remember one statistic example he used in class is "What is the statistical probability that I can sell drugs and retire a millionaire in a couple of years and not get caught?" What you get is the "bell" shape curve. At each extreme there would be either you ended up broke or you turned into pablo escobar. You need a "sample" group, you gotta some "creative" estimating, figuring that you don't want to stay in the business and follow pablo, then "calculate" the chances of getting busted and ending up broke. In the end, Its I can sell X amount of "drugs"(medical marijuana, medical cocaine, etc.)for an X amount of time, What is the probability of success? The "proper" statistical question here should be what are the chances that smoking marijuana will turn you schezophrenic? You'll get a +/- "confidence interval ratio of whatever the FUCK you want!Personally, I have known marijuana to be a medicine since I was 14. I was using my marijuana as a preventive medication and only "suffered" my "bi-polar" moments when I did't have any marihuana. Let's not forget to tell the males that smoking MJ will grow tits on guys. I can wear a size A, maybe even a B, as I go to gym every other day, I'm really manic about workin out. With the use of my medical marijuana and a manic attitude on working out my breasts grew, I can even make them move just like arnold schwarts.
 Most of the "research studies" suggest that the use of cannabis among psychologically "vulnerable" adolescents should be strongly discouraged by parents, teachers and health practitioners. Policy-makers and law-makers should also "concentrate" on "delaying" the "onset" of cannabis use, (I think this guy means abuse?). (Yeah, "Crack"ing down on Peaceful citizens, robbing them of everything they have and locking them up in a cage for life is going to "discourage" pot smoking and in some cases "COMPLETELY INNOCENT" people have "DIED" from "wrong" address raids attacks of Treasonaus terrorists(does anyone have links for examples?). Wake the fuck up, get your head out of your ass, marijuana is in every high school in every hemisphere, nation, country, state, city, town, in the WORLD. Its time to legalize it and get it out of the high schools or follow the canadian 16 and older plan! 
LVNRLE DEFENDERS of Medical marijuana-Its the LAW!!!!!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 01, 2003 at 22:36:06 PT
pokesmotter 
I know it is strange but there hasn't been much news because of the holidays and thought I should post it just to show how out of step they are except they put a link to change the climate. I think by next week the news from the states will pick up and news from Canada should be happening tomorrow! I hope! 
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Comment #1 posted by pokesmotter on January 01, 2003 at 22:06:07 PT:
what is this?
I haven't been back here to the site in a while but this is the first story i see. According to it me or someone i know is likely to become schizo because we smoke pot.I think not.On another note:I read this story today and some other but i felt like debunking some of the "info""Individuals who smoke marijuana have an impaired ability to learn for at least 24 hours."I smoke pot a few times a night, maybe. But in the AM i NEVER have had a hard time learning. When i would smoke before school is when i have trouble learnning. NIDA is still at it. LIES LIES LIES.
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