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Draw lawLaws | Effects | Help and info Weed, puff, draw, spliff, dope, pot, skunk, ganja, hash, smoke, grass … whatever you call it, a lot of people are doing it. In the British Crime Survey 2002/3, 25% of young people said that they had used cannabis in the previous year. So should cannabis be legalised (so that you can buy it from approved outlets) or decriminalised (so that possession is not a crime)? Or would legalisation or decriminalisation only encourage the use of a dangerous drug? And what about medical use? LawsThe use of cannabis, both as a medicine and for pleasure, is thought to stretch back up to 4,000 years. Legal controls in the UK date from 1928, but it wasn't until 1973 that the medical use of cannabis was banned, despite some evidence that the drug can relieve the symptoms of certain conditions: in multiple sclerosis (MS) and glaucoma, for example. MS sufferer Angela Devis, 24, from Greenwich in London, told VEE-TV that cannabis really helps control her pain and discomfort. In 1998 a House of Lords Select Committee Report suggested that the law should be changed so that doctors can prescribe cannabis and its derivatives. According to the organisation Drugscope, it now seems likely that doctors will soon be allowed to prescribe a range of cannabis-derived medicines, though not cannabis itself. As far as recreational use is concerned, in January 2004 cannabis was reclassified as a Class C drug (it was previously in Class B). Although cannabis possession is still illegal, this means that you will not normally be arrested for possession of small amounts. But you may still be arrested if you're obviously flouting the law (in other words, smoking in public), if you're under 17, if you're smoking near a school, or if you're caught repeatedly. EffectsDifferent types of the drug give different effects – some are trippy (hallucinogenic), some speedy, others dopey. These effects, which can last several hours, also vary according to your personality and mood, and the amount you take. But essentially a mild cannabis high tends to make people feel relaxed, happy, talkative and giggly. On the other hand, being stoned, and particularly very stoned, can also make you feel anxious and paranoid. With large amounts, or very strong varieties, such as hybrid skunk or cannabis oil, there may be mild hallucinations of colours, patterns and slight movement in objects. Cannabis can affect your co-ordination, so accidents are more likely if you drive under the influence (which is illegal). Forgetfulness and difficulty in concentration are common. There is a continuing debate about how much harm cannabis can cause, but smoking regularly over a period of years is known to increase the risk of developing breathing disorders such as bronchitis and probably also the risk of cancer. Robert Childs told VEE-TV that he has suffered mental-health problems as a result of long-term cannabis use, and such stories – involving varying degrees of anxiety, depression and paranoia – are quite common. Cannabis doesn't produce physical dependence (you don't get physical withdrawal symptoms if you stop using), but there is evidence of psychological dependence, so that longer-term heavy users may find it difficult to give up. There is controversy about whether cannabis is a 'gateway' drug, leading to other drug use. It's true that cannabis users are more likely to take other drugs – as are people who smoke tobacco or drink alcohol. But it's hard to prove that the one directly causes the other. Have you had negative experiences with cannabis? Or do you think it's just harmless fun? Should doctors be allowed to prescribe it? Let us know what you think on the message board. Help and infoOrganisations and links4Health: Drugs Drugscope Cannabis Help Drug Policy Review Group (DPRG) FRANK Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) Multiple Sclerosis Society Release Transform Drugs Policy Foundation UK Cannabis Internet Activists BooksCannabis: A history by Martin Booth (Doubleday, 2003) Drugs and the Party Line by Kevin Williamson (Rebel Inc,
1997) |
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