Cannabis as bad as heroin, warns UN drugs watchdog

The Scotsman ^ | 27 June 2006 | GERRI PEEV

[Fractal Trader]

THE drugs watchdog of the United Nations has rebuked the UK government's policy change on cannabis, saying it sent a confusing message to young people.

UN experts also warned that a major increase in the potency of cannabis means it now poses health risks similar to those of heroin.

The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug - made by the Home Secretary in 2004 - was implicitly criticised by Antonio Maria Costa, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, who warned of the growth in its use.

Cannabis had become more potent in the past few decades and governments that maintained inadequate policies got the "drug problem they deserve", Mr Costa said in the 2006 World Drug Report.

"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous cannabis is," he added. "

The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the political spectrum and by society at large."

He warned governments against playing party politics with the classification of cannabis as its harmful effects were "no longer that different" to the damage caused by cocaine and heroin.

[Gone GF]

And this came from where?

BTW, I know that some of this is certainly true. I'm not arguing that pot is harmless.

[gdani]

It is getting better though because of the large scale breeding in Holland and California creating new strains.

...which has been going on for decades.

[Sir Gawain]

What does it matter. Let's say that I could prove that a gun is designed to kill but a knife is designed to spread butter. But if someone kills you with a butter knife, you're just as dead as if you were shot with a gun.

It matters because you're placing the blame on the drug rather than on the mental shortcomings of the person that makes them prone to addiction to (fill in the blank). Any substance could have provided the escape from reality that they apparently needed. Some drugs do have massive chemical addictiveness. Caffeine, heroine, cocaine, meth. Weed ain't one of 'em.

Besides that, how do you know that it's not chemical? Isn't it possible that some people could become chemically addicted to THC?

Not according to the scientific research.

[Beckwith]

putz!

[Nate505]

But it really doesn't matter to me because I think that people that take drugs are idiots. If you're never done it, you should try to ride with a cop on a Saturday night. Just about all their calls are drug related.

Let me guess, we can also go to the bar where the cops hang out and hear all the bad things about druggies while they're pounding a few ones down.

[Wolfie]

One more stake in the credibility of the UN.

The UN is pulling this line of BS right out of our Drug Czar's mouth.

[cweese]

"WTFROTFL who's "they"? The leprechauns?"

LMAO! Thanks for the laugh!!

[Sir Gawain]

I think we're splitting hairs. I agree that there is a potency ceiling that has probably been reached from some wild plant growing in Thailand for thousands of years, but massive cross breeding has brought the average potency level up during the last 50 or so.

[gondramB]

>>The decision to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug - made by the Home Secretary in 2004 - was implicitly criticised by Antonio Maria Costa, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime<<

what a change from what he said when he was appointed - then all the problems with drugs he cited had to do with narcotics, trafficking and the violence and terrorism associated.

I wonder what (or who) changed his mind.

BTW, he holds degrees in math and economics and had always had economics related jobs before being made drug czar for the U.N.

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/leadership.html

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/pt/good-governance_costa.html

[colinhester]

For some reason, your post just struck a chord. It sounds like you have a many things to be proud. I hope my life is as fulfilling as yours.....Colin

[Chi-townChief]

About the same as alcohol.

[gondramB]

>>In August 2007 I will have smoked pot for 50 years.

Raised two daughters as a single parent. One's a lawyer and the other is an MBA.

Designed and built some of the biggest federal, military and commercial databases in the world.

Taught a six prestigious universities. Am published.

I have no medical or physical problems.<<


While I believe that the Federal government does not have the consitutional basis to regulate home grown herb consumption and that the government is particularly wrong for prosecuting medical pot....

I have to point out that one story of how a person used a substance and was not harmed does not mean the substance is not harmful.

Just breathing that much hot air and carbon monoxide and particulates is likely to cause some health issues over time - additionally regular pot smokers tend to be less productive and have more illness, [particularly respiratory, illness.

[sandbar]

>>>Cannabis as bad as heroin...>>>

WHAT???

Someone has cranked up an ole Reefer Madness video, sheesh.

Next they'll be telling us that people rip off their clothes and dance on tops of trains.

[A CA Guy]

Wow, so if you want alcohol banned in addition to pot, you have quite a lot of work ahead of you.

[vin-one]

for someone who is always right, you sure are wrong on this post.

99% of what you posted has been proven to be wrong, or exagerated by 10X

[sandbar]

>>>The problem is they are making pot to be much more addictive and much more potent that it use to be.>>>

Really? Do you have some evidence of this? Or are you just spouting off of some news article/propaganda you read somewhere?

[A CA Guy]

I think the constant Libertarian pings to all drug threads is enough evidence right there. They seem addicted. :-)

[sandbar]

>>>Yeah the more potent stuff is more available but the chemical makeup of THC hasn't changed. THC is also not addictive, only psychologically, like chocolate or your favorite TV show. And more potent = less smoking. Nothing more, nothing less.>>>

OR CHEETOS!!! Dangit, I need to start a Cheetos Anonymous in my area.

[sandbar]

>>>Source?>>>

Yeah, his source is www.marijuanaisbadbadbadbadbad.com

[sandbar]

>>>I think the constant Libertarian pings to all drug threads is enough evidence right there. They seem addicted. :-)>>>

I am ashamed.

I am hopelessly addicted to Pot Pings.

There, I said it. Admitting is the first step, right?