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Laws | 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?
The 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.
Different 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.
4Health: Drugs
www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/
4health/drugs/index.html
A wide range of non-judgemental information on drugs including features on
the law, health issues and personal stories.
Drugscope
Waterbridge House
32-36 Loman Street
London SE1 0EE
Tel/helpline: 020 7928 1211
E-mail: services@drugscope.org.uk
Website: www.drugscope.org.uk
National drugs information agency that provides information on drugs and drugs
policy and also offers legal advice. It is involved in and runs various drug
policy development forums and has the best drugs/drugs policy library in the
UK, which can be visited by appointment or used by phone and mail for a small
fee. Also produces excellent literature on a range of topics, including Druglink magazine.
Cannabis Help
www.cannabishelp.org.uk
Help in cutting down or stopping cannabis use.
Drug Policy Review Group (DPRG)
Tel/helpline: 020 8299 1295
A think tank involving a heady mix of lords, former police officers, doctors,
journalists and academics who recognise the need for review and discussion
of drug policy. Offers legal advice.
FRANK
Helpline: 0800 77 66 00 (Every day 24 hours)
Textphone: 0800 917 8765
E-mail: frank@talktofrank.com
Website: www.talktofrank.com
Free confidential drugs information and advice. All calls are confidential.
Use the website's search facility to get the contact details of organisations
offering practical help and support in your area.
Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA)
www.lca-uk.org
A registered UK political party formed to make the legalisation of cannabis
a major issue in British politics.
Multiple Sclerosis Society
372 Edgware Road
London NW2 6ND
Tel: 020 8438 0700
Helpline: 0808 800 8000
E-mail: bmilligan@mssociety.org.uk
Website: www.mssociety.org.uk
Offers support and information to anyone whose life is touched by MS. The website
includes information
on the therapeutic use of cannabis for MS.
Release
388 Old Street
London EC1V 9LT
Tel/helpline: 020 7729 9904
Fax: 020 7729 2599
E-mail: ask@release.org.uk
Website: www.release.org.uk
Offers confidential and professional legal, health and welfare advice for those
who come into contact with drugs. Can refer you to local drug agencies and
specialist lawyers.
Transform Drugs Policy Foundation
Easton Business Centre
Felix Road
Bristol BS5 0HE
Tel: 0117 941 5810
Fax: 0117 941 5809
E-mail: info@tdpf.org.uk
Website: www.tdpf.org.uk
Charitable think tank that seeks to replace drug prohibition with effective,
just and humane government control and regulation. The site has a wealth of
information, online reports, articles and links.
UK Cannabis Internet Activists
www.ukcia.org
Website of the 'British Legalise Cannabis Campaigns'. Contains a vast reference
library on all issues relating to cannabis, its medical and industrial uses
and UK law.
Cannabis: A history by Martin Booth (Doubleday, 2003)
An in-depth study and a sustained case for legalisation.
Buy
this book
Drugs and the Party Line by Kevin Williamson (Rebel Inc, 1997)
Asks – and answers – the questions that politicians should be addressing.
Buy
this book