cannabisnews.com: The Doctor's View! The Doctor's View! Posted by FoM on June 07, 1999 at 09:14:04 PT Source: The Independent CANNABIS is the focus of more than 85 per cent of all drug seizures, and its users account for more than 80 per cent of people charged with drug offences (40,000 in 1991). A principal argument for decriminalisation is that this does not seem a sensible prioritisation: many people would feel that a greater preoccupation with heroin or crack cocaine might be appropriate. Price and availability of a given drug are generally taken as the key markers of success or otherwise of the "war on drugs" campaign, and the figures for marijuana do not suggest that this is money well spent; in relative terms the first has come down and the second gone up. The illegality of cannabis forms part of the windfall to organised crime that prohibition provides, criminalises a section of the population many of whom would not otherwise dream of committing any offence, and necessitates contact with the "underworld" to obtain supplies. Alcohol and tobacco are arguably more toxic and addictive than cannabis, and the intoxication associated with alcohol can be much more dangerous and disruptive to society. Internal restraints reinforced by family, peers and cultural pressures - which restrain alcohol use effectively in most of the population despite widespread availability and promotion - are far more powerful than external, legal restraints. Growing cannabis in the greenhouse is a classic victimless crime; it may prove damaging to the individual, but eggs and cream are not controlled just because over-indulgence may induce heart attacks. Cannabis has been used as a medicine in China, India, the Middle East, southern Africa and South America for centuries. Accounts by the sages Pliny and Galen have been familiar to European doctors for more than 1,600 years. In the 19th century it was respectable enough to be used by Queen Victoria's doctor to alleviate her labour pains. Today its classification within Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (1985) denies British doctors the right to prescribe it under any circumstances, and effectively rules out prospective research on human volunteers or patients, which might clarify its properties, both beneficial and adverse. Today in Britain it is easily the most prevalent illicit drug; more than a third of A-level students and more than 50 per cent of Oxford University undergraduates say they have sampled it. Despite the "war on drugs", cannabis is cheap and easily available in most British schools. If the experience of alcohol is indicative the increased availability of cannabis would be associated with wider usage, although this may have more to do with commercial promotion than simply ease of access. However, a survey of Oxford undergraduates in 1994 suggested that few of those who had not yet experimented with cannabis would be tempted to do so if it were decriminalised. The Dutch introduced de facto decriminalisation 25 years ago, but do not appear to have studied the sociological and medical impact of this in any formal way. If cannabis use among young people did increase as a result of decriminalisation, would this replace other forms of intoxication, or add to them? Would the removal of its illicit status reduce its appeal to some people and lead to an increase in consumption of other drugs? Given the existing prevalence of cannabis use, the complete absence of coordinated and controlled human research into the possible beneficial and adverse effects sems indefensible. Many doctors even believe that cannabis and its derivatives should be available once again on prescription. Perhaps it is time now for the Government to truly open the debate on cannabis and review its place in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations at the earliest opportunity. e-mail your comments to cannabis independent.co.uk Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by Billy on August 13, 2001 at 10:34:26 PT: ScReW SoBeRnEsS marijuana is one of the greatest plants to be used as drug. i smoke a lot of weed and not only do i benefit in escaping my cheap world, but i also get to think deeply about stff that needs to be thought about. sometimes when i smoke with a frind, we just forget about all of our problems and we laugh like a couple of eeeeeeeediots. i mean weed has to be the greatest thing in the world. my house is like COVERED in weed. when i smoke right before i chill wit my kathy, SeX is SOOOO much better. i mean like, it's unbelievable. it's like she sees God in me. anyways, right now i need to go to court but lucky me! i have my pipe on me an an ounce of weed! so off i go to get high and convince the court that i do not use illegal drugs.PeAcE [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by kel on July 01, 2001 at 22:51:59 PT: choice Marijuana use keeps me off drugs! I was prescribe a world of different drugs by my doctor to help me focus and get my nervousness under control... these drugs included xanax, valium, kolonipin, paxel etc... my friend suggested that i quit all of those and try smoking... since, my life is remarkably more in control and i am much happier. 37/wf [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by user not z abuser on February 06, 2001 at 05:54:56 PT WOAH! i'm still in school and scince i've started smoking about an 1/8 oz a day i've been gettin the best grades in my life. I get stoned and i do my homework because it seems fun.....but only fun when i'm stoned. I used to get in trouble with the law, gettin arrested for public intox, assult, theft, all that crap but scince i started smoking lots of weed it has actually KEPT me out of trouble becasue i get to stoned to go cause trouble or even want to for that matter, and believe me i'm not alone in these actions. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by dddd on December 21, 2000 at 13:27:18 PT heart attack I'm not a doctor,but I would say that smoking marijuana is less toxic or harmful,than driving around downtown in a big city,or waiting at a stoplight behind a deisel bus.Marijuana is a very "nice" herb.The worst side effect would probably be over-eating.best wishes......Peace.......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by greg on December 21, 2000 at 12:44:27 PT: heart attack Does marijiana have any harmful effects on heart attack persons, recreational use 1 joint a day? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 07, 1999 at 11:05:33 PT the cannabis article Thanks for your comment!If marijuana was decriminalized more people would try it but it would level off after the novelty wore off. All of the possible bad side effects of marijuana can't possibly be worse then the drug war in my opinion!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Razzberry on June 07, 1999 at 10:51:10 PT: the cannabis article. Hey; I just finished reading your, or someones article on cannabis. You know what you said about the decrimilization or marijuana, and the people who have never tried it before being tempted. Of course that would happen. It did with acohol, why wouldn't it happen with marijuana..??Besides, there are going to still be people that will not smoke it. Considering marijuana is still illegal in this country, it's still being sold, distributed, and smoked. The government can't arrest every person that smokes the smoke.Some arrests would prove to be incerdibly political. There are alot of people in high places that do, but no one is 'supposed' to know. but word does get out. Yes, I do smoke marijuana. but that is because I do not agree with the violence, chaos, and gross votmiting that comes with it. Alcohol is a poison, it does nothing for the world. Marijuana, and it's cousin plant, hemp. could make a big difference to the medical, and industrial aspect of the world...Whoever doesn't agree, should be EDUCATED...forever for decrimilization; Razzberry..P.s; ()_/__/___/____]]]~~~~~ [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: