Cannabis as bad as heroin, warns UN drugs watchdog

The Scotsman ^ | 27 June 2006 | GERRI PEEV

[Fractal Trader]

THE drugs watchdog of the United Nations has rebuked the UK government's policy change on cannabis, saying it sent a confusing message to young people.

UN experts also warned that a major increase in the potency of cannabis means it now poses health risks similar to those of heroin.

The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug - made by the Home Secretary in 2004 - was implicitly criticised by Antonio Maria Costa, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, who warned of the growth in its use.

Cannabis had become more potent in the past few decades and governments that maintained inadequate policies got the "drug problem they deserve", Mr Costa said in the 2006 World Drug Report.

"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous cannabis is," he added. "

The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the political spectrum and by society at large."

He warned governments against playing party politics with the classification of cannabis as its harmful effects were "no longer that different" to the damage caused by cocaine and heroin.

[tacticalogic]

I wonder what (or who) changed his mind.

Polly wants a cracker, Polly learns to talk from whoever has the crackers.

[vin-one]

Ok, CA Guy, I admitt it, I am addicted to Pot Threads...Mainly to hear you and RP state the same old Reefer madness propoganda.

Wolfie what say you......

[vin-one]

By the way you two are now in agreement with the UN...

what was that term a broken clock is right twice a day.......but it is still broken....along with the UN logic and the war on reefer.....

[evets]

[mugs99]

The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug - made by the Home Secretary in 2004 - was implicitly criticised by Antonio Maria Costa, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, who warned of the growth in its use.

LOL!
I'll bet old Antonio is worried! The UN Office on Drugs and Crime has a yearly budget of over $60 million. 90% of that is "donated" by the US and the UK. He wants more money to fight the evil weed and this resistance to marijuana prohibition threatens his gravy train!
.

[A CA Guy]

Amen to that, some folks on your Libertarian ping list post over 490 out of every 500 posts on drug threads showing that as their sole mission, obsession or addiction. :-)

[A CA Guy]

I agree that pot is a problem and is a gateway drug that leads to other drugs.
As far as weather it is the same as anything else, I wouldn't know or care. It is all cr@p.

[sandbar]

>>>Amen to that, some folks on your Libertarian ping list post over 490 out of every 500 posts on drug threads showing that as their sole mission, obsession or addiction. :-)>>>

Someone has to get the correct information out there.

[vin-one]

yup, and the other 10 are from him......

[robertpaulsen]

"Raised two daughters as a single parent.
One's a lawyer and the other is an MBA.
Designed and built some of the biggest federal, military and commercial databases in the world.
Taught a six prestigious universities.
Am published.
I have no medical or physical problems."

Gee. Get rid of that egotistical attitude and you'd probably be perfect.

[mugs99]

In addition to that, my first wife was a pothead.

Did she run off with a negro jazz musician?
.

[A CA Guy]

I think there are some drug activist in the Libertarian ping list.
490 out of every 500 is rather a one-note Johnny with a focus on pretty much one issue as I see it.

[gondramB]

Beckwith: "Raised two daughters as a single parent.
One's a lawyer and the other is an MBA.
Designed and built some of the biggest federal, military and commercial databases in the world.
Taught a six prestigious universities.
Am published.
I have no medical or physical problems."

robertpaulsen: Gee. Get rid of that egotistical attitude and you'd probably be perfect.


I've already responded to Beckwith's post but I just wanted to add that the words you quoted were Beckwith's not mine.

[cowboyway]

Let me guess, we can also go to the bar where the cops hang out and hear all the bad things about druggies while they're pounding a few ones down.

You can always tell who the dope heads are on FR.

[cowboyway]

Did she run off with a negro jazz musician?

Maybe. Was it you?

[gdani]

I agree that pot is a problem and is a gateway drug that leads to other drugs

Several years back you claimed mercury in soil was poisoning marijuana & harming pot smokers.

Immediately then & since that time, I have occasionally asked you to come up with just one single cite to a newspaper story or other reference to back up that claim. You assured me there were many news stories.

Several years later & I'm still waiting. Did you ever find any cites? Or was it just another lie to further your agenda?

[robertpaulsen]

Oops. Sorry about that.

[robertpaulsen]

"Raised two daughters as a single parent.
One's a lawyer and the other is an MBA.
Designed and built some of the biggest federal, military and commercial databases in the world.
Taught a six prestigious universities.
Am published.
I have no medical or physical problems."

Gee. Get rid of that egotistical attitude and you'd probably be perfect.

[gondramB]

>>Oops. Sorry about that.<<

Not a problem - just wanted to clarify.

[muggs]

Don't forget to run with scissors while you have a sucker in your mouth.