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-

[missyme]

My mother listened to that song, I don't think she ever knew what that song was about as I didn't until I asked someone many years later.....I also did not know what the Beatles Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was about" until later also.....

[Havoc]

Gee, let me guess how this thread turns out - a bunch of dopers in denial attacking the credibility of the article by besmearching the person and the content of the article in order to try and lessen the impact of said article and in the hopes that the 15 billionth thread going pro pot by the usual suspects will change anyone's minds on the subject as though hearing the childishness yet again, we should suddenly experience a moment of light rather than ignore the threads for a further few months till we stop in to see the dopers at it the next time. Grow up, get a job and obey the law. And thank you for your support.

[Monty22]

I said 'lost', as in they went from being potentially successful students to dropouts within a semester of starting pot.

I also mean lost as in dead too, from accidents, crime..

Face it, this BS of drugs is nothing but trouble. It's people that can't or won't get it that I hate.

[muawiyah]

Marijuana and hashish come from the hemp plant, cannabis sativa.

There are numerous chemicals found in marijuana and hashish. 'Cannabinoids' is the name for the family of chemicals found in Marijuana.

The primary active ingredient that produces intoxication for the user is Delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol, THC. (THC and Cannabinoids,CBD

Or, in other words, pot is pot is pot is MJ is hash.

Users frequently react in a paranoid manner when confronted with the facts concerning the origin of their favorite "herb". None of them wishes to be mistaken for a Yemeni mountain tribesman.

[Monty22]

"You make me yawn."

I'm sure to a cokehead I would, and of that I'm proud.

[Monty22]

Havoc, you got it. The usual gang of dopers are here in force, in support of their addiction. Sad.

[Senator Pardek]

Grow up, get a job and obey the law.

Er - hand over that handgun, please.

[Monty22]

Proving his point. Second amendment rights and guns have nothing to do with each other.

[missyme]

You have lived a Sheltered life I am guessing....

[Monty22]

No, I haven't. I just have the wisdom to avoid using. Is that sheltered to you? Sorry...

[Cultural Jihad]

.....I also did not know what the Beatles Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was about" until later also.....

Ah, another popular myth with no basis in fact.

[missyme]

OH Right......

[Senator Pardek]

I bet you support unconstitution federal drug laws, and the denial of states' rights when it comes to marijuana laws, no?

[TypeZoNegative]

Ummmm.... What is this topic about again! Oh! Pot destroying your brain! I knew that stuff was bad for you!

Ummmm... What is this topic about again!

[muawiyah]

Here's a trial attorney's site and I think he would disagree with you concerning "death due to marijuana use". http://personalinjurylawpage.com/safety-health/t-alcohol.htm

I think I'll take his advice on the matter since he makes his living suing users, eh?!

[Focault's Pendulum]

Canwx't tfypexx...got a mouth[h'bp fullqg0x of oreosfvcxs;asaz;.c

Babel Fish Translation: I got the munchies.

[Senator Pardek]

Paul Is Dead

[Senator Pardek]

Uh - she said "directly".

[missyme]

I live pretty much a conservative lifestyle and what makes me that way is my experience as a bit of a hellion in the past and the pros and cons of all what I did and learned? and you???

[BraveMan]

Is that a Jonathan Edwards song playing in the background?