Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns

[rumandromanism]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/can...174201752.html

Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns

New strains of highly potent cannabis are as dangerous as heroin and cocaine, and the drug can no longer be dismissed as "soft and relatively harmless", the United Nations has reported.

In an implied criticism of Britain's decision to downgrade cannabis, Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, said that countries got the "drug problem they deserved" if they maintained inadequate policies.

His comments on Monday indicated deep unhappiness with the British Government's decision to reclassify cannabis from a Class B drug to Class C. Heroin and cocaine are Class A substances, attracting the toughest penalties for possession and trafficking.

"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous cannabis is," said Mr Costa, introducing the organisation's annual report.

"With cannabis-related health damage increasing, it is fundamentally wrong for countries to make cannabis control dependent on which party is in government. The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the political spectrum and by society at large."

Mr Costa said that cannabis was "considerably more potent" than a few decades ago. It was "a mistake" to dismiss it as a soft drug.

"Today the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that different from those of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin," he said.

The UN report estimates that 160 million people use the drug worldwide, with a growing market for stronger strains.

The study claimed a "significant" number of cannabis users experienced panic attacks, paranoia and "psychotic symptoms" during cannabis intoxication.

"Despite early claims to the contrary, cannabis dependence is a reality. Many people who use cannabis find it difficult to stop, even when it interferes with other aspects of their lives, and more than a million people from all over the world enter treatment for cannabis dependence each year," the report said.

Britain downgraded cannabis two years ago in an effort to free police resources to concentrate on cocaine and heroin. A review of that decision in January retained the classification.

[rumandromanism]

I feel sick after reading this. If the potency of marijuana is HIGHER, people would smoke less of it to get their desired effect, considerably cutting down risks for minor lung complications. When I smoke shwag, I have to smoke countless bowls. When I smoke headies, I take ONE HIT and I'm feelin' fine. HOW THE FUCK IS THAT A BAD THING?

This just proves that the UN is full of stupid, brainwashed fucks.

[...Spliff!]

This was on the front page of the Vancouver Sun. I saw it and it immediately caught my attention. I read the first page and was appauled at what I was reading.

The newspaper article however stretched onto a second page. That page was far more liberal and put everything in a far more realistic perspective, listing the medical uses and advantages to smoking pot compared to drinking etc.

[DurbanPoison]

It makes me sad that people still relate marijuana to heroin and coke.

[rumandromanism]

Originally Posted by DurbanPoison

It makes me sad that people still relate marijuana to heroin and coke.

It's Reefer Madness all over again.

[Stew11]

such stupid propaganda pisses me off, becuase of this kind of shit, people will never learn the truth

[emagdnim13]

i know i read that and thought of reagan when he said that he "believed marijuana was the worst drug of all. far worse than either cocaine or heroin."

i can't believe that this shit keeps happening.

[nugulet_777]

I want some of the weed they're talkin about!

Filthy fucking scum bag assholes.

Try it before you lie through your teeth.

[T.Bug]

Originally Posted by Stew11

such stupid propaganda pisses me off, becuase of this kind of shit, people will never learn the truth

Isnt it "funny" how these so called oganizations can just spit out any kind of shit they want. The UN is a bunch of scum bag crooks!

"There three types of lies in this world; Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics." -Mark Twain

[jonster]

i dont care what anyone sais in the political world anymore about marijuana, i just cant beleive anything they say from what happened with marijuana in the united states during criminilization. there evidence is analyzed on short term, there now coming out with marijuana doesnt cause lung cancer, i mean, that is huge, so if they made mistakes like this, everything about it is aviously flawed. my dealers been smoking for 60 years, from childhood, everyday, he's perfectly healthy and sees nothing wrong with it. i'd beleive him over some non-smoking politician or even a doctor for that matter, he's long term credible evidence.

[brownstain]

Originally Posted by rumandromanism

"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous cannabis is," said Mr Costa, introducing the organisation's annual report.

They should also be on the look out for sugar and caffeine as well.

[Shouse1018]

MJ is for a FACT safer than most drugs doctors prescribe on a daily basis.

[Rasta_Man]

Total bullshit.

I'd like to sit down with any of these people and discuss the real facts.

[theHit]

Originally Posted by Rasta_Man

Total bullshit.

I'd like to sit down with any of these people and discuss the real facts.

lol thats a good one!
as if politicians give a fuck about facts...


its a sad world yea.....dont give up hope tho and dont give up the fight for truth!

viva la revolution!

[Poobles]

The whole "try it before you knock it" thing doesn't work no matter what people say. Sure, some hate weed, try it, and love it. But the fact is, if you don't want to smoke you aren't going to smoke (mostly). But don't try to bring others down with you. Hate weed all you want, but quit trying to ruin others.