The London Mayor...
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The US government's own National Institute on Drug Abuse states that "some research suggests that marijuana use is likely to precede use of other licit and illicit substances". It cites experiments on animals that show increased responsiveness to other drugs after being exposed to substances containing cannabis., external
However, it adds that cannabis is not unique - alcohol and nicotine have a similar effect. And it states that the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, "harder" substances.
In other words, it's just a lazy cliché to claim cannabis use leads to harder drugs. It may do so in some cases but not for everyone. A predisposition for harder chemicals is a likely cause of further drug use and addiction.
However, it adds that cannabis is not unique - alcohol and nicotine have a similar effect. And it states that the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, "harder" substances.
In other words, it's just a lazy cliché to claim cannabis use leads to harder drugs. It may do so in some cases but not for everyone. A predisposition for harder chemicals is a likely cause of further drug use and addiction.
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I don't care if people use it or not, my feelings towards it are those who use it are fuelling the criminals that supply it. I have mates who smoke the stuff regularly. I don't like it but I wouldn't preach to them the wrongs and rights of it.
There's evidence that in states where cannabis has been legalised, usage of the drug among teenagers has decreased - or stayed the same.
There's also research indicating that among adults aged 26 and older, legalisation leads to more rather than less cannabis use, external.
And evidence has also emerged linking regular use of stronger strains of cannabis to an increased risk of mental health conditions, particularly among younger people.
The missing section can be found in the above link
Given that there are many different factors in each state that affect drug use like availability and supply, treatment and rehabilitation programmes, law enforcement priorities and social and economic conditions, it's hard to draw firm conclusions.
So more research may well be needed over a longer period to identify if there are clear trends around the use of other drugs in places where cannabis has been legalised.
There's also research indicating that among adults aged 26 and older, legalisation leads to more rather than less cannabis use, external.
And evidence has also emerged linking regular use of stronger strains of cannabis to an increased risk of mental health conditions, particularly among younger people.
The missing section can be found in the above link
Given that there are many different factors in each state that affect drug use like availability and supply, treatment and rehabilitation programmes, law enforcement priorities and social and economic conditions, it's hard to draw firm conclusions.
So more research may well be needed over a longer period to identify if there are clear trends around the use of other drugs in places where cannabis has been legalised.
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.
There are some compelling arguments for legalisation, but I suspect legalisation creates new challenges, new issues that aren’t obvious and haven’t emerged fully yet.
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Why allow drugs to be legalised in the first place? A slippery slope in my opinion and the dropping of standards which we have in place at the moment. Only reason I can see for doing it is so the industry could be taxed if it was made legal. I rather like the thought of cottage industrys making a few bob on the side without the government getting their hands involved.
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For use in medicine? Like pain relief for instance. We'd be stuffed without morphine.
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That is already in place, there is no need to legalise it for the general public, LSD is the same. You wouldn't need to legalise that for the same excuse.
I'd happily see ANY drugs legalised (licenced) for the greater good.
Which is why decriminalising cannabis would be a progressive step towards allowing law abiding citizens to enjoy a toke or two in the privacy of their own home without running the risk of getting a criminal record. It's always struck me as a stupid law, and bundling cannabis into a Class A or B category is just pandering to the DM readers who think they can dictate their narrow worldview upon them.
Junkies do that.
Which is why decriminalisation is a good idea.
