The
recent changes in government
policy towards cannabis have created a furore
in some quarters, caused confusion and indignation
in certain sectors of the police force and generally
sent out a wrong message to our youth. But more
disturbing than this is that the government has
not heeded medical advice from their own medical
fraternity and advisory boards. Currently there
is a groundswell of resistance to forthcoming
legislation and this recently culminated in a
consultation in the Moses
Room at the House of Lords on the 28th November
2002, attended by top professionals in medicine,
education, government, police and social services.
Firstly,
the physiological effects of cannabis use were
looked at in detail. Evidence was given on cannabis'
effect on the immune system, followed by data
on its deterioration of the lungs, leading to
risk of cancer of the lungs, heart and neck. Studies
have also shown related strokes and heart disease,
as well as chronic bronchitis. With regard to
pregnancy, numerous instances of low weight babies
were cited. Because most of these malaises occur
over a period of time the perceived danger of
cannabis by most users is, at best, inaccurate.
The
main mental effects discussed were loss of short
term memory, anxiety and panic reactions and adverse
effects on educational performance, but in particular
schizophrenic behaviour. Perhaps the term "schizophrenia"
is bandied about too much, but reading between
the lines the speakers were probably referring
to mood swings, which are nevertheless undesirable.
Undoubtedly
the real eye-opener of the day was the data from
the U.S. Drug tsar, John Walters, presented by
Dr Ian Oliver, Consultant to the United Nations
Drug Control Programme:
Of
the 6 million addicts in the USA 60% are dependent
on marijuana. It is twice as important as a source
of addiction and abuse as cocaine. In 2002 more
young people are being presented for treatment
for it than for alcohol.
This
tied in with earlier data presented on the increase
in cannabis' active ingredient, a chemical abbreviated
to THC, which in recent years has increased from
0.5% to 5% and in some cases as much as 30%! Special
growing and cross fertilisation techniques have
led to this scenario. What all this spells out
is that cannabis is no longer a drug that is merely
mentally addictive, but is now also physically
addictive. The conclusions of this consultation
were presented to 10 Downing Street. The future
of much of tomorrow’s workforce and tomorrow’s
leaders of Britain may well depend on the response.
