Cannabis
I was probably one of very few students of my generation who managed to go through five years at University (three years doing a first degree, a year as sabbatical treasurer of the student union, and a one-year taught Masters) without ever being offered drugs.
Part of the reason for this is that as a first year student I was given a debating assignment to speak against a motion calling for the legalisation of cannabis.
At that time the prevailing attitude to cannabis among students was that nobody should be worried about the consequences of using it because drugs based on this plant were, quote, "no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco."
But that's a rather oversimplified line isn't it? After all, both alcohol and tobacco can kill.
In fact the cannabis plant is chemically very complex indeed. It contains over a hundred substances of which there is evidence that some have genuine medical benefits when properly used. For that reason I have been very sympathetic for a long time to the idea that the medicinal use of cannabis products under appropriate medical supervision should not be a matter for the criminal law - and it looks like the government position is moving in that direction.
It is, however, worth pointing out that even for the medicinal use of cannabis the attitude of many scientists and doctors is that more research is needed before we start regarding it as a panacea and there can be side effects which need to be carefully monitored.
Uncontrolled recreational use of cannabis is a whole different ball game.
Even in my student days, one did not have to look very hard to find evidence that the recreational use of cannabis could lead to significant health problems for at least some users - and most of the cannabis-based drugs which were available back then were a lot less strong than some of the products which are in circulation now.
In the 1970s and 1980s, most recreational marijuana contained less than 2 per cent of THC, the chemical responsible for its psychoactive effects. Today, it routinely contains 20 to 25 per cent THC.
There is an article about some of the concerns which have been expressed about the use of cannabis-based drugs by Alice Thompson in The Times which can be read in full here, and it is a useful corrective to the idea that all use of cannabis is harmless or risk free.
I believe that more research is needed in this area and legalising the uncontrolled recreational use of cannabis given our present state of knowledge of the likely medical effects would be taking a serious risk with the people's health.
Part of the reason for this is that as a first year student I was given a debating assignment to speak against a motion calling for the legalisation of cannabis.
At that time the prevailing attitude to cannabis among students was that nobody should be worried about the consequences of using it because drugs based on this plant were, quote, "no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco."
But that's a rather oversimplified line isn't it? After all, both alcohol and tobacco can kill.
In fact the cannabis plant is chemically very complex indeed. It contains over a hundred substances of which there is evidence that some have genuine medical benefits when properly used. For that reason I have been very sympathetic for a long time to the idea that the medicinal use of cannabis products under appropriate medical supervision should not be a matter for the criminal law - and it looks like the government position is moving in that direction.
It is, however, worth pointing out that even for the medicinal use of cannabis the attitude of many scientists and doctors is that more research is needed before we start regarding it as a panacea and there can be side effects which need to be carefully monitored.
Uncontrolled recreational use of cannabis is a whole different ball game.
Even in my student days, one did not have to look very hard to find evidence that the recreational use of cannabis could lead to significant health problems for at least some users - and most of the cannabis-based drugs which were available back then were a lot less strong than some of the products which are in circulation now.
In the 1970s and 1980s, most recreational marijuana contained less than 2 per cent of THC, the chemical responsible for its psychoactive effects. Today, it routinely contains 20 to 25 per cent THC.
There is an article about some of the concerns which have been expressed about the use of cannabis-based drugs by Alice Thompson in The Times which can be read in full here, and it is a useful corrective to the idea that all use of cannabis is harmless or risk free.
I believe that more research is needed in this area and legalising the uncontrolled recreational use of cannabis given our present state of knowledge of the likely medical effects would be taking a serious risk with the people's health.
Comments
They are making an informed choice. Yes sure, if they smoke a shed load of it and then drive a car, arrest and punish them.
There are, of course exeptions, for example my workplace has a 0 tollerence to drugs, and does randomly test employees to ensure they comply, this is fine, its in my contract. Same could be argued for benefit claiments too. But to be fair if its ok for me to go out and drink 10 pints of beer, run the risk of meeting other drunks who want a fight..... You see, why is it so bad for a person to have a joint at home where they are safe?
Part of the problem is that from where we are now, legalisation would be seen as a government endorsement of the view that recreational use of cannabis stuff is harmless. I'm not convinced that we should be sending any such message.