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Cannabis
The current drug culture must be challenged
From Mr J. R. S. Tait, MRPharmS
The Government has
down-graded cannabis to a Class C drug. This has been done in the full
knowledge that cannabis:
• Precipitates schizophrenia in vulnerable teenagers and severely worsens
the symptoms and outcome of schizophrenia
• Can cause hallucinations and delirium leading to disorientation and
distorted reality
• Influences suicidal tendencies
• Can be addictive
• Interferes with normal brain function
• Predisposes to heart attacks
• Is four times stronger than nicotine in causing bronchitis and cancer
• Is to blame for an alarming rising proportion of road fatalities and
is overtaking drunkenness as a factor in road accidents
• Stops people from reaching their full potential
• Influences schoolchildren to play truant
• Has proved to be a gateway for many who abuse other drugs
• Creates a false perception that because it is a “harmless” drug,
other drugs are too
• Is a harmful drug with immediate effects of apathy, a distorted sense
of time, disordered thoughts and mental confusion
• Is linked to violent behaviour
• Can produce paranoia and mania
For some skewed reason, politicians have concluded that cannabis is
not so dangerous after all. But they cannot vote to make it harmless;
all drugs have dangers. The term “soft drug” is a false and
meaningless one.
With regard to medication, two synthetic derivatives of cannabis are
already available on prescription, namely, Nabilone and Dromabinol. Further
clinical trials continue.
Rather than tinkering with legislation, the current drug culture must
be challenged and changed. History has shown that with 20th century legislation,
not only has the drug problem not gone away, it has multiplied to include
most age groups, most alarmingly children and young persons.
The so-called policy of “harm reduction” should also be revoked
because it sends out the wrong signal that drugs can be misused safely,
rather than discouraging drug abuse.
John Tait
Inverallochy,
Aberdeenshire |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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