Pubdate: Wed, 19 Jul 2006
Source: Barbados Advocate (Barbados)
Copyright: Barbados Advocate 2006
Contact:  http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3499
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Cited: UNODC's 2006 World Drug Report 
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/world-drug-report.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/World+Drug+Report
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

LENIENCY REGARDING CANNABIS CAUSING CONFLICT

The fact that cannabis offences are treated with more lenience than 
those related to other narcotic drugs is leading to the publics 
confusion with regards to this drug.

According to the 2006 World Drug Report of the United Nations Office 
on Drugs and Crime inconsistent messages about the abuse of cannabis 
is leading to confusion within the global community.

On the one hand cannabis is controlled with the same degree of 
severity as heroin and cocaine under the Single Convention on 
Narcotic Drugs, 1961. Virtually every country in the world is a party 
to that Convention. On the other hand, however, cannabis offences are 
treated far more leniently that those related to other narcotic drugs 
in many countries. A conflicting message is thus sent to the 
population and it is no wonder that public opinion becomes confused, 
the report said.

It outlined that cannabis had been allowed to fall into a grey 
area, stating that while it was technically illegal but widely 
de-prioritised, it has grown in popularity outpacing others while at 
the same time enriching those persons willing to break the law.

A global blind-spot has developed around cannabis, it stressed, 
adding that the plant had been transformed to something more potent 
than it had been in the past. According to the report, the world had 
to come to terms with cannabis, the worlds most popular illicit drug 
with an estimated four per cent of the global adult population using 
it every year; more than all other illegal drugs combined.

It further said that with regards to the mechanics of the market, 
this drug was the least understood as in contrast to drug crops like 
coca and opium poppy very little was known about the extent of 
cannabis cultivation around the world.

It noted that only a few governments could give a confident estimate 
of the scale of cultivation in their own countries pointing to the 
difficulties in ascertaining the information, including the fact that 
the drug can grow almost anywhere, both outdoors and indoors.

Political attitudes reflect popular perceptions that cannabis was 
different from other controlled substances, the report continued 
while outlining that cannabis production was on the rise.
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