The Cannabis Catastrophe (Pot softens brains: Stoners don't care)

The Daily Mail [UK] ^ | January 26 2003 | Melanie Phillips

[quidnunc]

As David Blunkett contemplates the chaos and fury triggered by his decision to downgrade the law on cannabis, he could do worse than consider the case of Dominique Lansdowne.

Eleven years ago, when she was 18, the former care assistant from Swindon started smoking cannabis once a week. ‘After a couple of weeks, I found it was addictive’, she said. ‘As soon as you start you get the feeling you’re completely relaxed and calm, but then you crave it. I used it more and more until I was smoking it every day. Then I couldn’t work because I was too stoned all the time. I was so paranoid I couldn’t leave the house.

‘I haven’t worked for the past six years. I lost all my friends and nearly lost my family. I couldn’t afford to pay my mortgage, my house was repossessed, I had to live in a hostel. I was in hospital three times, and couldn’t cope at all in the community. I had no social skills left. My life was in tatters. I didn’t stop completely until two years ago.

‘I still take anti-psychotics, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, and will probably have to take medication for the rest of my life. I’m positive cannabis was the cause; I became paranoid as soon as I started smoking it. I’ve known hundreds of people who smoke it; all of them have some kind of paranoia or a problem, whether they recognise it or not.’

All of which makes it truly extraordinary that this Thursday, cannabis will be downgraded from a class B to a class C drug.

The Home Secretary’s move has delighted the drug legalisers — but astonished and horrified those like Dominique, who know the truth about its effects.

Tory leader Michael Howard has boldly declared that a future Conservative government will reverse the policy. Yet Mr Blunkett’s so called ‘reform’ has already caused many people mistakenly to believe cannabis is now legal or safe to use.

Despite ministers’ desperate insistence that it remains illegal and dangerous, putting cannabis in the same category as slimming pills, painkillers, tranquillisers and anabolic steroids sends the inescapable signal that it is not very dangerous after all.

Dominique Lansdowne knows what nonsense this is. Before she used cannabis, she had not even smoked tobacco; afterwards she also tried speed, LSD and ecstasy. ‘I would never have touched hard drugs if I hadn’t taken cannabis. Reclassification is really dreadful and sad because the government is saying cannabis isn’t that bad and so people are going to take it thinking it’s not going to do them any harm.’

-snip-

[philman_36]

I still take anti-psychotics, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs...
So much for that brain. If it wasn't messed up before it certainly is now!
She sure is saying no to drugs though, isn't she!

[LittleJoe]

But it would work

China tried that. They executed several hundred thousand drug addicts from 1949 to the late fifties. Drug use increased!

[LittleJoe]

Guess the author never met Louis Armstrong who smoked reefer every day

Bill Gates has done ok with a soft brain!

[SF Republican]

By the wat, did you know that he got his start playing in a Storeyville sportin' house in the Big Easy? actually I heard he would sit on some cart going down the street (an ice cart I think) and the owner payed him to blow the horn so people would know he was coming; when he heard how good he was he bought him a real trumpet, or so I recall, but I was stoned when I heard the story.

[Monty22]

uhhhh, islamics are very pro-pot and use it frequently.

The idea that potheads are friendly or peaceful is the STUPIDEST load of crap I've ever heard. I've seen too much BS in real life to prove it wrong. And society-wise too.

Don't anyone bother to tell me I'm wrong on this either, it will be ignored. Proof is already in the pudding.

[H2dude]

this is either quintissential government BS propaganda, or this woman is totally pathetic.

I could understand if this was heroin, but pot?

please, give me a break.

if she had a half a brain, and she liked ganga so much , she could hav easily just become a small time grower and supported her habit - it is a plant afterall. duh!

Guvmint secret message : now go back to drinking liquor.

[F16Fighter]

Are you implying smoking pot = drinking alcohol?

[Jaxter]

This is your brain on drugs with sausage links and a biscuit...

[SF Republican]

Dominique Lansdowne knows what nonsense this is. Before she used cannabis, she had not even smoked tobacco; afterwards she also tried speed, LSD and ecstasy. ‘I would never have touched hard drugs if I hadn’t taken cannabis. oh how I love this logic, I bet she drank chocolate milk too, maybe if she had not drank chocolate milk she would not have touched hard drugs

[KeepUSfree]

My mind is already made up....don't bother me with those dam* facts.....

[H2dude]

I totally agree - notice they (the guvmint) didnt push it by saying - "and I beat and robbed my grandma to support my habit"

I think if the freakin terrorists would just burn one on occasion, listen to a little Marley and learn to chill with their chicks and actually maybe even get laid, they wouldnt have so much desire to go off themselves and everybody else they dont like!

[H2dude]

I totally agree - notice they (the guvmint) didnt push it by saying - "and I beat and robbed my grandma to support my habit"

I think if the freakin terrorists would just burn one on occasion, listen to a little Marley and learn to chill with their chicks and actually maybe even get laid, they wouldnt have so much desire to go off themselves and everybody else they dont like!

[Devil_Anse]

When reefer gets to be completely legal, and everyone carries it around with them (no doubt in attractive packages), where will the users go to indulge? It's getting close to being illegal to smoke within one's own home.

[AdamSelene235]

I still take anti-psychotics, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs...

Reminds me of Szasz: If you take a drug not prescribed by a physician and say it makes you feel better, you are an addict. But, if you take take a drug prescribed by a physician and say it makes you feel better, this is proof that you have a disease with a biochemical origin.

[_Jim]

When ______ gets to be completely legal

Fill in the blank, as man will NEVER be satisfied ...

[Monty22]

Yep, the facts actually show me right anyway. So I'm doubly happy.

[Huck]

My place will do. Bring a bottle of non-french wine and we'll make an evening of it.

[missyme]

I FORGOT GIN AND WHISKEY DRINKERS ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!!

[Huck]

uhhhh, islamics are very pro-pot and use it frequently.

This I haven't heard before you. I agree that most likely pot smokers are no less obnoxious than the general population, although I have no data to back it up. But what's this about islamics using pot? Where'd you get that?

[Trampled by Lambs]

I have known too many regular pot smokers in my day that were also perfectly productive, intelligent people. Would they be a little sharper if they never touched the stuff? Maybe... probably. Have I known people that got "carried away" and allowed Maryjane to have a negative effect on their life? Sure. But it is hardly as destructive as this article would have you believe.

I've seen much more damage caused by alchohol. (I know, I know.. the dopers favorite argument.. But its true, at least in my experience.)