Cannabis makes you like, crazy, man

IOL ^ | July 4, 2003 | Cape Times

[FairOpinion]

London - The increasing use of cannabis by adolescents is threatening the mental health of a generation because of the drug's capacity to trigger psychosis, a leading psychiatrist has warned.

Robin Murray, a professor at the Institute of Psychiatry, said growing evidence linking cannabis with mental disorder had failed to curb use of the drug. One study suggested cannabis users were at seven times higher risk of developing mental problems.

"In the past 18 months, a number of studies have confirmed that cannabis consumption increases later risk of schizophrenia," he told the Royal College of Psychiatrists annual conference in Edinburgh. "This research must not be ignored."

As Murray delivered his warning, doctors at the British Medical Association's annual conference rejected by a large majority calls for cannabis and other recreational drugs to be legalised.

'Prohibition does not work' Connie Fozzard, a retired surgeon, told the conference legalisation would help to cut crime.

"Prohibition does not work," she said. "Just look at the experience of the United States when it tried to ban alcohol. What arose out of that was Al Capone and armed gangs - and that is what happening now in this country."

Speaking at the psychiatrists' conference in Edinburgh, Murray said research suggested cannabis might interact with a genetic vulnerability in some people, sufficient to push them over the edge.

His review of research in Sweden, Holland and New Zealand found that cannabis use was higher among psychotic patients than the broader population. It had been thought that patients took the drug to counter the negative symptoms of the illness, but Murray said this had been ruled out by more recent research.

A Dutch study of 4 000 people found that those taking large amounts of cannabis were almost seven times more likely to have psychotic symptoms three years later.

'Just look at the experience of the United States when it tried to ban alcohol' A study in 1987 of 50 000 Swedish conscripts found that those who admitted at age 18 to having used cannabis on more than 50 occasions were six times more likely to develop schizophrenia in the following 15 years.

Research in New Zealand found that those who used cannabis at age 15 were four-and-a-half times at higher risk of developing psychosis by the age of 26.

Murray said the results held even when initial personality was taken into account. He concluded that the impact of cannabis on the mental health of young people "may not be negligible" and that reducing use among the young "may help to avoid some cases of psychosis".

The findings come as the British government prepares to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug next year so there will be a lesser penalty for possession. Most people caught in possession of a small amount will have it confiscated and receive a reprimand or warning.

A Home Office spokesperson said the intention was to free police time to concentrate on Class A drugs such as heroin.

This article was originally published on page 2 of The Cape Times on July 04, 2003

[sine_nomine]

I never smoked pot and never will. No interest. Another factor is that the active ingredient in pot is far more concentrated now than it was 30 years ago, thanks to hybrids.

[huck von finn]

True. Somebody wrecked the stuff.

[Mr. K]

I agree- I was a full fledged doper when I was young, and was fortunate enough to quit. It took two years to get it out of my system, and only through dumb luck did I wake up one day and realize I was free of the effects.

I tried to quit for 2 years- you have to stop 100% for AT LEAST 3 months straight for it to flush out of your system TRUST ME ON THIS AND TRY IT. If you smoke even once during that time you have to start all over again for 3 months.

Now back to the point- I tried it recently and made two observations: 1) I remembered all the reasons I quit in the first place, and 2) the pot nowadays is about 50 times stronger than anything I ever had before.

Everything in moderation- it does have some 'good' side effects, but if you smoke all day every day it is bad for you. VERY bad

[Helms]

Coincidentally, PHE/Adam and Eve, one of the largest Adult Distribution houses in the USA ,is located right next door to Chapel Hill/Duke (the Ithacas of the South, the Berkeleys of the West). North Carolina also has allot of weed growing in unseen places.

[clamper1797]

So how are things in Bethel (Methel) Island now a days. Had a good time watching the Mandeville fireworks show from the top of the at "Boxcar" house on Stone Road.

[freebilly]

Sounds like young people found a nice, safe place to do something, affecting no one outside themselves, and are celebrating the fact

Let me tell you all about the nice, safe place I found to take a dump. It affected no one outside myself, and I'm celebrating the fact....

[liberallarry]

I never touched cigarrettes and have had only casual contact with alcohol but I smoked pot - casually - for 40 years. Never had a problem and I wouldn't take the comments about the dangers of increased potency too seriously.

But there are real dangers. Kids who begin smoking before they've had a chance to develop good work habits, before they've understood the value of education, before they've seen the dangers of drug abuse...and who do so without benefit of a strong family background and a good head are seriously at risk.

[Jhoffa_]

A study in 1987 of 50 000 Swedish conscripts found that those who admitted at age 18 to having used cannabis on more than 50 occasions were six times more likely to develop schizophrenia in the following 15 years.

[tertiary01]

I work in a mental forensics facility and you can ask almost everyone of the "clients" and they will say they used a lot of pot, usually before 14 years of age. Most did not become mentally ill until they were in their twenties. You can also tell if they are still getting some as most become extremely psychotic and unstable.

[Quick1]

Only when you let it consume your life. Using it in moderation is no problem, heck, even I smoke it every once in a while. But once you start letting it be the focus of your life, much like alcohol or ciggarettes, or pretty much anything for that matter, big problems start occurring.

[DannyTN]

"One study suggested cannabis users were at seven times higher risk of developing mental problems"

The actual text of the study follows...

"Dude!...I'm messed up!"

[DannyTN]

"maybe we should shoot all the kids"

Long term user huh?

[William Terrell]

Cannabis doesn't damage the brain, so your fear isn't applicable. Of all the people I have known that have smoked pot, and some have used it for 20+ years, none have any symptoms of brain damage nor does their work suffer, nor does their family suffer and all lead productive lives undistinguishable from those who don't smoke. All these alledged effects are myths.

I have known engineers that smoke cannabis and their work didn't suffer, not was their brain damaged. I retired from the software development field. I would say that at least half of all software developed in the US was developed while "high" on cannabis.

I'm sure that some on some drugs lose the ability to judge themselves, but not on cannabis. It's evident that you don't have any experience with the plant, so you don't have a reference to evaluate the experience or the effect. Human beings aren't batteries, and human consciousness defies catagorization.

[William Terrell]

Let me tell you all about the nice, safe place I found to take a dump. It affected no one outside myself, and I'm celebrating the fact....

Execellent! Be creative in your expression.

[Monty22]

Holy crap, do you realize the kind of flame you will get for this from the dopers?

Of course everything you said is 100% true. People on dope are screwed up, either from it, or were anyway and are trying to self medicate. It just makes them more depressed and worse off of course, not to mention the legal troubles they might run into.

However, FR is very pro-pot. So gotta be careful about what you say about (what appears to be) the majority of people here that are severely drug addicted.

[sine_nomine]

Pot may be harmless for a few, but the vast majority should not be anywhere near it.

When I was in graduate school our department decided that one drink at lunch was enoughh to kill our ambition for the day. No one was against drinking but we all wanted to finish school. Since then I have never been able to do brain work the same day I use alcohol. Therefore the chance seldom comes up.

A lot of what passes for thinking today is really emotional druggy touchy-feely nonsense. That is why the sober people laugh at it and the impaired take such offense at the ridicule.

I am more concerned about the blizzard of Ritalin and similar drugs, prescribed, promoted, and paid for by our un-thinking system.

[freebilly]

Execellent! Be creative in your expression

Execellent! Be creative in your spelling....

[William Terrell]

Execellent! Be creative in your spelling....

Always. . .as are you.

[Varmint Al]

Answer to #45. Mary Ann and the Kids went over to Mandeville Cut and parked the boat right near the fireworks barge. They had a good time, but were too close to a boat with loud rock & roll music and megawatt speakers all night long.

I stayed home and watched the dogs and surfed the Internet.

The fireworks are like redwood trees. Once you have seen one, you have seen them all. *smile*

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[clamper1797]

We decided not to brave the idiots/drunks out in Mandeville this year. So we decided to bring the boat up from Disco and party with friends on Stone Rd.

You're right about the fireworks ... my lady and I went back to the boat to take a nap before the show ... and slept right thru them ... oh well. I've seen you drive by the Boathouse in your truck a couple of times. Someday if I catch you stopped somewhere I'll introduce myself.