Marijuana: not such a drag

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This article is from 2003 and Les Iversen is currently the Chair of the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs (ACMD). In year 2000 he published a book called "The Science of Marijuana" which gave many facts about cannabis, along with Mr Iversen's esteemed conclusions.

So how come cannabis is still illegal in the UK? How come UK gov is paying no heed to the evidence that cannabis is not a dangerous drug? How come people are still getting criminal records, fines and prison time for cannabis? After all the articles, scientific reviews and a book published, why is Les Iversen's voice not being used loudly within the government? These are questions that myself, and maybe other people, would like the answers to.

In 2005, UK gov commissioned the Keele Study in an attempt to confirm their opinion that skunk was causal to schizophrenia. The result of the Keele study: "The most parsimonious explanation of the results reported here are that the schizophrenia/psychoses data presented here are valid and the causal models linking cannabis with schizophrenia/psychoses are not supported by this study." But the gov didn't like that result because it didn't match their political agenda concerning cannabis. Gordon Brown knew about the report (reported in mainstream Press 4/4/08) published after gov had reclassified cannabis back from Class C to Class B.

All of this hardly inspires the public's trust in the government. Just one more question: How long is cannabis prohibition going to go on for?

- Jayelle Farmer, London, UK, 18/07/2011 11:09
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Jct: US Statistics also report zero deaths from marijuana. And Dr. Tashkin, who originally surmised the presence of more tars and carcinogens should have caused more cancers admitted it had "preventive effect." That's why people who smoke only marijuana do not die of lung cancer! And having an argument based on zero deaths is a winner.

- KingofthePaupers, Brantford Ontario Canada, 01/07/2011 13:52
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Unfortunately this article suffers from exactly the same tendancy to overlook any negatives about dope as many others I have read. It's not balanced, suggests many things without going into specifics, and encourages responses from those who are predominatley users of cannabis who have a a very similar opinion of the drug they use to a smoker or alcohol user in the early stages of progressive addiction. I smoked weed for 15 years. Had the same opinion of many of the above comments. Loved to read any pro legalization article that ever came out. Any chance to glorify its benefits while overlooking its negatives I took. Mainly because I felt it was an infringement on my freedom. The truth? Most of my friends smoked dope. Nearly all of them lost their spark for life, didn't follow long term plans through, couldn't get up for work, progressively smoked more and more to the point where they were rolling up while they were having their first Morning pee. Became totally unreliable in any other environment than the one they were most immediately involved in. Ignored any long term effects and only looked at people their own age who smoked weed regularly. Three of my fathers friends in their 60s who have smoked weed for years have had massive strokes because of blood cloting due to tar intake from weed. Many of my friends who smoke now have ibs and other stomach probs from smoking all day and only eating in the eve. Legalize yes, but don't glorify an obviously harmful substance to many.

- ex dope head, realityville, 29/06/2011 23:55
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Better than most write ups but as a person who "Knows about Drugs" he's talking nonsense... How about Cannabis CURES CANCER rather than backing up the Big Pharma BS that it MAY cause cancer,(if used with tobacco) & where the hell does he get his stats from... "most people only smoke at weekends" etc Misinformed "Psychonaut".. Cannabis has never killed anybody in the 10,000 years of documented history unless you take into account "the old Skool Tie" ie Hangman's noose *)

- Ande Wharton, Oxford, 29/06/2011 22:23
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The fear of this weed that grows from the soil, and is as old as the dirt from which it sprouts is so irrational,I think the simplicity of what it does not do, frightens those who need complexities to justify their existence, i.e., politician's and some clergy, and a whole lot of ignorant Doctor's and ill informed bigots.
As we learn more of the definite healing properties of this weed, those same fools will try to distant themselves from their current opinion.

- Justice Banks, Harlem, New York, 03/08/2010 05:59
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Many big and MNC pharmaceutical industries would go bust as man made drugs are yet to give the relief that THC does... Thank God! Even though cannabis is illegal in my country, it is readily available in all parts of the country and generates quite a hefty income for the Police and the Border Guards who gives protection to this trade... buy it, have it anyway you like, just don't get caught with it!

- Hafiz Al Asad Talha, Chittagong, Bangladesh, 24/07/2010 12:41
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Literature for you to enlighten your selves if you have not. "The emperor wears no cloths." The airway thing is true I've seen it for my self. My friend who is a statistics professor here in Texas. He himself has solved his own asthma problem with Cannabis, and a gluten free diet. Yeah smoking anything is in some way harmful, its smoke for Christ sake. the inhalation of smoke is bad for you. but to say cannabis is bad for you because of that. There is still to little willing to stand up. Meaning those with stuff to loose that risk it to face a tyrannical government, and pharmaceutical cartel. If weed is so bad why have people died from government produced drugs. and Yet no recorded death from Cannabis has ever been recorded. (this being pure cannabis not those mixed joints they get in Europe.) Return Tobacco to its normal state, Legalize or at least decriminalize the production and consumption of Cannabis. I will leave you with a quote from a famous inventor. Why use up the forest which were centuries in the making, and the mines which required ages to lay down, if we can get the equivalent of forest and mineral products in the annual growth of Hemp Fields? -Henry Ford-

- Bob Marley, Whitney, Texas, 23/07/2010 18:22
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I appreciate this article, but I would like to know why we dont see any scientific rebuttals to the effects of tobacco? If a person wants to know the truth about reported science, they have to dig through MILES of scaremongering and B.S. The tobacco slandering is just as bad as the climate control fraud, and the science reported about the effects of tobacco are just as inconclusive as the studies on cannabis.

Its nice to see someone standing up for the truth for once, pointing the way through the political mumbo-jumbo B.S. science- but why stop at cannabis? Why not expose the lies about global warming and smoking?

Just as you admit there are health risks for smoking pot, there are risks to smoking cigarettes- just as there is some truth to the risks of pot- there is some truth to the global warming story. However, none of these have enough hard and conclusive evidence to prove they are as serious as the people getting rich off the scares want us to believe!

- Mark, Williamston Michigan. USA, 23/07/2010 08:13
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I was on prescriptions for years then diagnosed with MS in 2005, which I took an intermuscular shot for for 3 yrs. I started having side effects that were not good. Suicidal, self-dectructive, GAMBLING, severe depression. My husband of 10 yrs. left me, and I was on my own. I got to a point where I could no longer afford my prescriptions. I had my MMJ licence and was receiving MMJ at very little to no cost. After about 6 months of being off of prescription meds my desire to gamble STOPPED, I quit wanting to kill myself, I started to have a better attitude and I lost 40 lbs. Now I can not stress enough that for SOME folks prescriptions can save your life. For me the cocktail they were giving me nearly took my life. Marijuana SAVED my life!!! Not one person has died from MMJ. No one can say that about prescription meds.

- Meg Sager, Sweet Home, OR, 23/07/2010 04:35
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This debate is ridiculous. these plants are illegal because corporate America said so, because of all the products that hemp and marijuana can replace for almost no cost to the end user. 1000 gallons of methanol from one acre of hemp, not to mention pain relief and any number of other things that you are not supposed to know wake up world you are being led by the nose.

- Rev. Dr. jonathan Armeli, WINOOSKI, 22/07/2010 23:36
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What do the doubters have to say about the fact that it is esier to overdose on water, than it is cannibus!!!???? Fact not Fiction!

- Justin, kalamazoo, Michigan, 22/07/2010 19:08
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Legalization. Regulation. Taxation. Happy Nation (see what I did there?)

Wonderful to see continuing debate on the topic. Let's keep demonstrating to the government how THEY will benefit... (economic, social, cultural and political benefits).. sadly, it's the only thing that will move things in the right direction.

"Debate" is great, but isn't enough anymore...

- Tal, London, UK, 22/07/2010 16:54
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Sorry, didn't notice at first how old this comment is.
Perhaps Les Iversen should look at the man he was then, and assess why he has changed so much now he has been made head of ACMD because he's very different now.
Jumps on the propaganda bandwagons and even helps form new propaganda, that's what he did when Labour appointed him new head of ACMD after Professor David Nutt was treated so appallingly and dismissed.

I had thought this item more recent until i noticed it was from 7 years ago.

And that is not contrary to posting house rules, it's truth and fact, his complicity to engineer the Mephedrone furore to bury the report on the significant harms of Alcohol is testament to that, as one of quite a few examples.

- PaxDelta - Paul Lawrenson, London, England, West Federal Europe., 22/07/2010 13:19
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Also Les.
Cannabis smoke itself has anticarcinogenic properties which while it does contain similar chemicals to Tobacco, Cannabis smoke, in itself, negates it's own toxicity.
That's for the mouth, Lungs & trachea.
Of course if Tobacco is used to roll a joint, the risks will translate as being similar to Tobacco, but in the USA where joints are mainly rolled without Tobacco as we seem to do prevalently here in UK & the rest of Europe, studies indicate a much less number of incidences of the cancers involved with Tobacco smoking itself than those non Tobacco users who smoke pure Cannabis in joints or a pipe of the many configurations available.

So that says something very significant, does it not.

As a scientist yourself, you will be aware that in the past couple of years there has been a large increase in Cannabis research, now the U.N. has relaxed the mandate & relevant legislative conventions to Cannabis
These have yielded a greater understanding and among those, is greater confirmation Cannabis is actually an anticarcinogenic , not a carcinogen and in fact acts as a prophylaxis to Cancers of many forms.
I am pretty sure that this means that whatever carcinogens are in Cannabis smoke, it is actually cancelled out pretty much if cannabis isn't used in conjunction with Tobacco, the studies in the USA indicate this to be true.

Must say, it's nice to see you making public comment as you predecessor did on a regualr basis, you should do so more Les.

Peace. : )

- PaxDelta - Paul Lawrenson, London, England, West Federal Europe., 22/07/2010 12:48
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in 2001 i was involved in a terrible motor vehicle accident after which i endured 2 spinal surgeries. i am awaiting a third due to advanced disc deterioration. during this time i have been subjected to the horrible side effects of pharmaceutical pain medicine. recently, medical marijuana legislation has offered me the hope that i may soon have a new avenue of pain relief. i welcome medical marijuana as i fear my liver will succumb to the effects of the pharmaceuticals. unfortunately, as in many life situations there is a trade-off and my lungs will suffer some degree of damage, i admit. i welcome the empathy and understanding to remove the stigma of marijuana use for those of us who are disabled and live our lives in "prisons of pain". only those who know the suffering we know can fully understand what pain does to our quality of life. everyone who is healthy please take a moment to thank your creator for the way you feel ... and those who are in pain also take a moment to give thanks for every waking day.

- Joe Spinal, south jersey, USA, 18/02/2010 05:03
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In a span of less than a decade, information dissemination has been way faster, day by day, we are discovering new and amazing stuff with regards to the herb. indeed, the debate has been placed in the right perspective, i applaud your government's efforts to RE-establish a once vital plant to all...or at least initiate debate with better knowledge.

I agree that through these legalization efforts all over the world, more information will be reached. More Research will be made. Indeed, from a taboo topic from years prior, now cannabis is a hot topic worldwide. from hemp to medical marijuana, let us be educated, and spread the knowledge to everyone who should know, even those who shouldnt. we take the stigma away, by this righteous advocacy.

It's not just the smoking of it too. its everything, every possible use, every possible product...not only is it meant to be consumed by our bodies, we're meant to use the plant. Its an economic solution to an exhausted world that has spent up its depleting fossil fuels....giving us the chance to adhere to this renewable resource. Hemp into food. Hemp into Gas. Hemp into houses and clothes and paper.

Cannabis does not kill. In fact, its a partner for life.

**

- Pormal Paw, Cebu, PHILIPPINES, 10/02/2010 20:39
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I think this point of view should be applied in all kind of political decisions. such as copyright, abortion, dna experiments, education etc. let's separate moral from pollitics.

- Tomás, Santiago, Chile., 10/02/2010 19:23
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Actually, David, it's true. At least, sort of. Cannabis is a bronchodilator, so in all actuality it allows more airflow to the lungs. That's why it's an effective treatment for asthma.

- Ben, Berkeley, United States, 10/02/2010 16:40
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^^ This guy makes a really good point.

- Legitametly, Everett USA, 10/02/2010 07:06
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paul, are you serious? where are your sources that say cannabis smoke makes oxygen absorption easier? how do you know whether or not prof iversen has tested pure tobacco? i'll take an oxford professor, who by the way is on your side of the argument, over some south jersey(shore?) clown 11 times out of 10. i'm a smoker, all for legalization, but do not make us all look like dips with worthless claims like "cannabis is the least dangerous substance on earth." basically, just shut up.

- David, dakota, usa, 10/02/2010 06:58
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That's true about the lungs, I have a friend that is asthmatic, seizes up any time she gets in the same room as a cigarette smoker. She is a regular cannabis user though, as the bronchial dilation effect actually counteracts her asthma and allows her to breathe easier. She has never had to use her inhaler as long as I've known her if she can get a joint lit. The assertion that cannabis has no medicinal effect is the biggest disservice the plant is getting. Try telling that to an HIV patient who uses it to lessen the nausea caused by the cocktail of drugs he has to take to combat the virus, or anxiety ridden people who can smoke a bowl and avoid taking prescription anti-anxiety meds with nasty side-effects and proven addiction/tolerance rates cannabis simply doesn't have. I'm glad the debate is opening up, but a lot more people need to know the facts before media fear tactics will stop being effective.

- Shane, Las Vegas USA, 10/02/2010 05:59
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although cannabis does irritate the lungs, a large number of people that smoke it use water filtration devices or vaporizers that don't actually burn the plant matter. Both of these methods reduce the content of tar significantly more than the filter on a cigarette.

- Rhobere, dallas, texas, 10/02/2010 00:03
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I stumbled on your article and I truly believe that cannabis is kept illegal in the U.S. due to the corporations. Prozac and etc are supposed to be helping people but at the same time their side-effects are worst. In Prozac´ case the pil gives you a even higher possibility to get depressed.

I´ll stick to my JackHerrer and WhiteWiddow from my local coffeeshop. Would be a better world if everybody could....

- Regularsmoker, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 09/02/2010 23:51
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hey paul. I am not sure if you knew this, but if you burn anything you release a bunch of toxic chemicals. Cigarettes do have more than weed, but weed still has some bad things that you inhale.

- Dan, california, usa, 09/02/2010 23:02
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This was very interesting to me. I am a university student that has recently started smoking cannabis and would like to do some research about similar topics regarding health. You talk about a number of serious studies being done. I was just wondering if you could point me in the right direction of where to find these. Thank you very much.

- Todd, Utah, 09/02/2010 22:45
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"Another scaremongering tactic from the anti-cannabis brigade is that regular use means a higher risk of mental illness, such as schizophrenia and depression."

Cannabis saved my life. I used to live in Alabama with my father, who is a horrible person. I had very bad insomnia, a very poor appetite, and was extremely depressed. I started smoking cannabis, which greatly improved my appetite, allowed me to sleep, which was wonderful, and most importantly got me out of my depressive state. So when the fear-mongers say it may cause depression, they are lieing straight to your face. If anything it is a cure for depression.

- Ian, Calhoun City, Mississippi, USA, 09/02/2010 21:27
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Vaporizing cannabis also negates most/all of the negative physical effects. (Bronchitis)

It's my understanding that cannabis doesn't cause the irritation so much as the combustion of plant matter.

- Austin, Tallahassee, Fl, USA, 09/02/2010 20:40
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I think that it's too bad that the author has gotten sucked into a ridiculous argument. Most thinking people know better; THC (the active ingredient in cannabis) is very safe, just as nicotine in and of itself is not terribly destructive. The DELIVERY method of nicotine is what's killing millions: the smoking of tobacco.
If cannabis were legalized, I would wager that almost nobody would smoke it. Many people eat cannabis, infuse it with liquids such as grain alcohol, and vaporize it. With so many freely available (and less health-compromising) methods to enjoy cannabis, why would anyone smoke? Sadly, the most cost-effective and quickest method of ingesting cannabis today is to smoke it. Legalization would provide users with freedom to devise methods not yet known, or not yet cost-effective.
I feel strongly that there would be an explosion of new methods of consuming the herb without resorting to introducing smoke into the lungs.
Anything published about cannabis from ANY government source, only serves to protect their investment in a corrupt "war on drugs" and an equally corrupt prison-industrial complex.

- Thorn Ziegler, Augusta, Maine USA, 09/02/2010 17:39
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lol this random dude from jersey is correcting the guy who literally wrote the book on the Science of Marijuana.

- Bevus, Vancouver BC Canada, 09/02/2010 17:18
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LSD is chemically less toxic than THC, Paul. I agree with you, but it isn't the safest substance on earth. That's ridiculous.

- Taylor, Granada, Spain, 09/02/2010 17:14
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"cannabis smoke has some harmful effects. It irritates the lungs just as much as tobacco" Your above quote is a half truth. Yes cannabis does irritate the lungs, but in the opposite way that tobacco does, so while tobacco narrows the airways, making o2 absorption difficult, cannabis enlarges those same airways, making o2 absorption easier. You also point out that cannabis has the same toxic chemicals as tobbacco...But you have never tested pure tobacco have you? only what is ready to be put into cigarettes, which has hundreds of added chemicals to it. Cannabis is the least dangerous substance on earth, a person can overdose and die from consuming too much water, shall will make water illegal?

- Paul, south jersey usa, 09/02/2010 15:42
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