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aeroplane
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 1472
Location: Valhalla
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 Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:16 am Post subject: Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns |
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Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns
June 28, 2006
New strains of highly potent cannabis are as dangerous as heroin and cocaine, and the drug can no longer be dismissed as "soft and relatively harmless", the United Nations has reported.
In an implied criticism of Britain's decision to downgrade cannabis, Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the UN's Office on Drugs and Crime, said that countries got the "drug problem they deserved" if they maintained inadequate policies.
His comments on Monday indicated deep unhappiness with the British Government's decision to reclassify cannabis from a Class B drug to Class C. Heroin and cocaine are Class A substances, attracting the toughest penalties for possession and trafficking.
"Policy reversals leave young people confused as to just how dangerous cannabis is," said Mr Costa, introducing the organisation's annual report.
"With cannabis-related health damage increasing, it is fundamentally wrong for countries to make cannabis control dependent on which party is in government. The cannabis pandemic, like other challenges to public health, requires consensus, a consistent commitment across the political spectrum and by society at large."
Mr Costa said that cannabis was "considerably more potent" than a few decades ago. It was "a mistake" to dismiss it as a soft drug.
"Today the harmful characteristics of cannabis are no longer that different from those of other plant-based drugs such as cocaine and heroin," he said.
The UN report estimates that 160 million people use the drug worldwide, with a growing market for stronger strains.
The study claimed a "significant" number of cannabis users experienced panic attacks, paranoia and "psychotic symptoms" during cannabis intoxication.
"Despite early claims to the contrary, cannabis dependence is a reality. Many people who use cannabis find it difficult to stop, even when it interferes with other aspects of their lives, and more than a million people from all over the world enter treatment for cannabis dependence each year," the report said.
Britain downgraded cannabis two years ago in an effort to free police resources to concentrate on cocaine and heroin. A review of that decision in January retained the classification.
Telegraph, London |
Cannabis is no soft drug, UN warns
I just wanted to post this to show how the ignorant are leading the blind.
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"Penalties against the possession of a drug
should not be more damaging to the individual
than the drug itself."
US President Jimmy Carter |
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Stokes
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 1426
Location: PA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hmmm.
Makes me wonder if any of the U.N.'s determination was related in any way to inquiries made here by a U.N. representative about a year and a half ago?
She showed up asking questions and gave the impression that she was all about favoring Cannabis and our ministry.
Anybody remember her?
Stokes
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Where love is, there God is also.
-Mahatma Gandhi
Last edited by Stokes on Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Stokes
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 1426
Location: PA
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David
Bard
Joined: 28 Sep 2003
Posts: 1261
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| Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by David on Wed Dec 05, 2007 2:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Dano
High and aware
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:15 am Post subject: |
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I've seen that report some time ago. If you actually look into the actual UN report, and not the executive summary part it mentions how marijuana is really no more dangerous to individuals or society than other legal highs like alcohol and tobacco. I can't remember all the details, but it seems that the report was held up after completion for several months until the summary was negotiated. The summary itself brings up opinions regarding marijuana that are nowhere to be found in the report body... Somebody didn't like the report, and decided to change the facts in the summary because few ever read the full report.
(Can't imagine that pressure from the USA had anything to do with that!  ) |
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IntrepidEZJ
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 381
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| Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 2:46 am Post subject: |
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Of course Cannabis is not a soft drug.
It's not a drug at all.
"Drugs do not grow seeds"
(Got that from Roger) |
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fellow toker
getting into high spirits
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 4
Location: england
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| Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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| IntrepidEZJ wrote: |
Of course Cannabis is not a soft drug.
It's not a drug at all.
"Drugs do not grow seeds"
(Got that from Roger) |
agreed  i think it shouldnt be called a 'drug' because as soon as people who arent smokers and dont understand it see the word 'drug' it brings automatic fear and resentment towards it as cocaine/heroin etc are called 'drugs' it mingles it in with the same group as heroin/cocaine which kill, and its not like you ever go 'out of control' and do silly things because of cannabis as with heroin/cocaine (maybe a little but nothing major hehe), there needs to be some sort of line drawn between the word 'drug' and some good'old cannabis  |
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