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The London Mayor...

ajstoneservices said:

Pulmonary Disease​

Cannabis smoking has been associated with an increase in bronchial and pulmonary disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as an increase in rates of lung cancer. Marijuana is reported to have 20 times the level of ammonia compared to traditional tobacco products. Marijuana is also reported to contain 3-5 times more hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide, and aromatic amines than tobacco [13]. Similar to cigarettes, marijuana contains carcinogens, including phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamines. Marijuana is reported to contain 50% more benzopyrene and 75% more benzanthracene than cigarettes; both of which are carcinogenic.

Public Health Impacts​

Despite the economic benefits of legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, the impact on public health needs to be ascertained. In Colorado, marijuana use in undergraduate college students increased substantially after legalization [3,4]. The number of emergency department visits for cannabis-related medical problems increased in the US after legalization [5]. Uruguay reported a 52.4% immediate increase in motor vehicle fatality rates after legalization in 2013 [6]. There is also a growing concern that legalization and decriminalization will lead to increased underage use, which can have negative impacts on brain development. Data from Canada also demonstrates adverse effects in the work force, including increased industrial accidents, decreased productivity and increased employee turnover in workers who use cannabis compared to those who do not [7].

Accidents​

In Canada, impaired driving is the number one contributor of cannabis-attributed disease [8]. Wettlaufer, et al. [9] evaluated the cost of cannabis-related motor vehicle accidents in Canada. They found that in 2012, driving under the influence of cannabis cases were reported to have a prevalence of 4.1% with the highest rates in the 16-19 age group [9]. Drivers were reported to be the most at risk for injury following a motor vehicle accident that involved cannabis. The estimated overall cost of cannabis associated motor vehicle accidents was reported at $1.09 billion Canadian dollars. Canada legalized recreational cannabis use in 2018, suggesting that these numbers are likely higher today.

Mental Health Impacts​

The legalization and decriminalization of marijuana and cannabis proposes an increase in cannabis use disorder. European data has reported an increased rate of cannabis-related hospitalizations for mental health [17]. Marijuana use has long been associated with mental health disorders, including depression and drug dependency. Tetteh, et al. [18] reported that globally, approximately 13 million students aged 15-16 years old use marijuana [18]. With the use of the Global School-Based Student Health Survey, they conducted a cross-sectional study of 32,802 students from ten African countries. They concluded that marijuana users had a 12% increased likelihood of suicidal ideation, 18% suicide planning and 31% repeated suicide attempts.

Conclusion​

Legalization of cannabis poses both benefits and threats to the countries that do so. Despite the economic benefits of legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, the impact on public health needs to be ascertained. In Colorado, marijuana use in undergraduate college students increased substantially after legalization. In Canada, impaired driving is the number one contributor of cannabis-attributed disease. Data from other countries has also demonstrated an increase in motor vehicle related accidents and deaths after legalization of marijuana. Cannabis smoking has been associated with an increase in bronchial and pulmonary disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as an increase in rates of lung cancer. Respiratory effects from marijuana use is an important topic that medical providers should be aware of but likely are not. The legalization and decriminalization of cannabis also proposes an increase in cannabis use disorder in additional to negative mental health impacts, including increased rates of psychosis.

Global Impacts of Legalization and Decriminalization of Marijuana and Cannabis​


Wherever you look the only reason governments want cannabis use legalised is so that it can be taxed. Revenue is worth the risk.

Jeffrey Miron speculated that in the US, legalization could reduce spending by approximately 7.7 billion to 13.7 billion due to reduced need of law enforcement, correctional and prosecutorial needs. Miron also speculated that marijuana taxation could generate up to 8.7 billion dollars in government revenue. Despite these proposed benefits, Columbia reported financial favoritism toward corporations and government and marginalization of the peasant farmers whose livelihoods depended on illicit drug crops.
Click to expand...
Which one of those reasons made you quit after "a couple"?
 
If you can't make a compelling case for a drug to be illegal. If when it is legalised nothing terrible happens, it is very difficult to explain why it should remain illegal.

Speeding was used as an example earlier in the thread. If we removed all penalties for speeding then people would probably speed a lot more and more people would die.

But if we legalised cannabis, let alone decriminalisation (where you can't buy it but the police don't care if you have it). There's nothing to suggest massive Ill effects. California still exists as does Canada and Portugal.
 
Bringing the two together, how will you deal with driving under the influence?
 
Odds said:
Which one of those reasons made you quit after "a couple"?
Click to expand...
I didn't quit as unlike you I'm not and have never been a junkie. I tried it twice and just as I have test driven loads of cars and not bought them because I knew they weren't for me.
 
I have a natural high for life, I am exciting, fresh and a winner, I have no need to take drugs. I don't want to miss a thing that life has to throw at me, good or bad I keep smiling.
 
Last edited:
ajstoneservices said:
I didn't quit as unlike you I'm not and have never been a junkie. I tried it twice and just as I have test driven loads of cars and not bought them because I knew they weren't for me.
Click to expand...
You use the word 'junkie' as though you know me.

In that case: When did i stop smoking the weed of life?
 
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