Pubdate: Wed, 01 Dec 2004
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2004
Contact:  http://www.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Tony Jones, PA
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CANNABIS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The debate about the effects of cannabis will be reignited today by new 
research which warns it could cause future health problems for certain 
young users.

Supporters of the drug claim it is non-addictive, has proven pain-relief 
qualities and does not cause people to misbehave and commit public order 
offences.

But medical professionals and other bodies have cited various studies 
linking it to depression, lung cancer, amnesia and panic attacks.

The new research found frequent use of cannabis during adolescence and 
early adulthood increased the risk of users suffering psychotic symptoms in 
later life.

The German study, involving almost 2,500 young people aged 14 to 24, 
discovered that the risk of developing symptoms was much higher in young 
people who already had a pre-existing vulnerability to psychosis.

In January cannabis was reclassified from a class B to a class C drug 
ranking it alongside bodybuilding steroids and some anti-depressants.

Some organisations and politicians criticised the move but at the time Home 
Secretary David Blunkett said the change in the law was necessary to enable 
police to spend more time tackling class A drugs such as heroin and crack 
cocaine, which cause the most harm and trigger far more crime.

A spokeswoman for DrugScope, a leading independent centre of expertise on 
drugs, said the organisation agreed with the reclassification.

"Evidence didn't show it was as harmful as other class B drugs and most of 
the experts agreed it should be Class C."

But she said that the reclassification had confused some of the public and 
stressed it was still illegal and potentially still harmful.

She added that the new research made it even more important to give young 
people information about the effects of all drugs.

"The bjust say no' drugs campaign was very high profile, but a lot of the 
evidence has shown shock tactics don't work well with young people, they 
respond better to factual information," she said.

"Let them make the decision themselves rather than being told bdon't take 
drugs, drugs are bad'.

She added: "People can become psychologically addicted to anything. If 
someone feels something makes them feel better or not, they could crave it.

"There's no evidence of a physical dependence with cannabis use, but 
regular users can rely on cannabis to get them through the day."

Discussing the positive benefits of certain outlawed substances she said: 
"If illegal drugs can be used to relieve suffering, that's got to be a good 
thing."

The spokeswoman highlighted an ongoing US study where Ecstasy is being used 
to treat post traumatic stress disorder, and a spray derived from cannabis 
is being developed to treat arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis sufferers.

Eye surgeons also use a gel during operations which contains traces of 
cocaine, she said.

A Multiple Sclerosis Society spokesman said it did not support the smoking 
of raw cannabis only treatments derived from the drug.

"Many people with MS have alot of anecdotal evidence cannabis can alleviate 
symptoms," he said. "Our stance has always been we must have properly 
controlled trials to establish the safety and efficacy of a (cannabis 
derived) drug."

Steve Barker, a spokesman for the Campaign to Legalise Cannabis, said 
earlier this year that the drug causes problems in only 5% of the estimated 
3.2 million people who use it in the UK.

He explained that in those rare cases where the drug does have an 
unfortunate side effect on people's personalities, they usually just stop 
taking it.

"It's not an addictive drug -- it can be habit forming but it isn't 
addictive," he said. "If people don't like it, they usually just stop. 
Those users with psychological problems often have these problems anyway, 
so the drug has nothing to do with their condition."

Mr Barker also denies that cannabis has any long term health dangers and 
that an increased use of the drug could cause a major headache for the NHS 
in the future.

"Cannabis has been with us for 5,000 years in the Far East and there has 
been no particular problems emerging there of lung cancer.

"It has many positive effects. It doesn't cause public disorder and 
misbehaviour like alcohol and it's not addictive -- people can take it or 
leave it.

"Medically speaking, it can be twice as effective as any painkiller for 
people suffering from chronic pains and aches."
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