| Cannabis: Harm Reduction Advice |
|
Drug Information - Cannabis Cannabis or Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug with over 160 million users worldwide. It comes in several forms, all deriving from the cannabis plant which grows easily in warm climates and is also grown indoors extensively in the UK. The dominant variety in Britain is strong herbal cannabis known as ‘skunk’, though weaker imported herbal cannabis, hashish (resin) and hash oil are also available. Cannabis is mostly smoked (often with tobacco), in a cigarette or pipe, although it is also very active when eaten. Many cannabis smokers are occasional users and it usually takes some years of regular use to display signs of psychological or physical addiction. Cannabis has been used for centuries as a medicine for various ailments - for example it is sometimes taken to relieve the pain, tremors and paralysis of sufferers of multiple sclerosis. It is sometimes hard to get an objective view of the harms and risks of cannabis by reading much of the media. There are dangers in taking cannabis but they are often exaggerated and bear little resemblance to young peoples’ experiences and knowledge of the drug. Patterns of Use The culture around marijuana means it is often first offered to people in their teenage years. It appears to young people to have some more attractive features than the traditional drug in British culture - alcohol. It is more easy to conceal; there is little of a hangover and to some it is simply more pleasurable. It is, of course, harmful to your health to inhale smoke from any substance, and combining cannabis with tobacco increases the range of these harms. Other drawbacks of cannabis include its legal status. After legal changes in 2004 to reduce the penalties on possession of cannabis, the law was reversed and strengthened again in 2009 and it remains a Class B drug. It is classified along with barbiturates and amphetamines which are much more harmful drugs in terms of addiction and risk of overdose. Despite the impression from parts of the media that cannabis use is on the rise, there has in fact been a fairly consistent fall among the 16-24 year old group in recent years. In 1998, 28.2 percent had taken it at least once that year, but the latest figures show that number had fallen to 18.7 percent. There is no established reason for this decline - some attribute it to successful education campaigns, others to increased use of other drugs, some have suggested many young people simply don’t like the ‘skunk’ on offer as it has too intense an effect. Effects Part of the popularity of taking cannabis is because it can be a social thing, shared between friends. It effects different people in different ways. Cannabis commonly makes people feel cosy and giggly, provokes strange thoughts or feelings of insight, makes the ordinary appear absurd, accentuates music, and also causes sleepiness and loss of concentration. Some people find that it leads to confusion, paranoia and anxiety, and even panic. A high dose can lead to hallucinations in some people. After a few sessions, users can better judge the effects and how much is too much. The main active ingredient is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), but cannabis also contains CBD, which seems to counteract some of the anxiety-inducing almost trippy effects of THC. The intoxicating effects are much greater when taken with alcohol. Taking cannabis after a lot of drinks should always be avoided - it will make most people quite ‘wasted’, nauseated and incapable of speaking or acting sensibly. Cannabis impairs driving skills, and driving on drugs is just as illegal as drink-driving. The Law and its Enforcement Getting caught in possession of cannabis is not as serious an offence as it was many years ago when you could expect to go to court and possibly even prison. But the police don’t treat it as a legal drug. They can arrest you whatever your age, although guidance issued to officers encourages them to issue only warnings to those 18 or over. If you are 17 or under, you should expect to be arrested where a reprimand would be issued. Three arrests should mean a court appearance. If you are 16 or under the police are obliged to call your parents or a responsible adult. If you are 18 or over the police may decide to give you a warning. This means taking your name and address, confiscating the drug and letting you go. It is not a criminal record. Not all forces follow this guidance very closely and some officers make an arrest anyway. Research shows this is more likely if you are from a minority ethnic group. The police also have the power to issue you with an on-the-spot fine of £80 known as a Penalty Notice of Disorder (PND). If you are arrested and accept the offer of a caution you should be aware that is not the same as a warning. You will have a criminal record which can affect your work prospects and ability to travel internationally (for example a drug offender is unlikely to be allowed to visit the US). Skunk The majority of cannabis sold in Britain is ‘skunk’, so-called because it has a very strong smell. It is green dried plant material rather than brown solid cannabis (hashish) which was more popular in the 80s and 90s (it was then imported mainly from Morocco). The strength of skunk now averages around 10% THC, but it can exceed 18%, whilst its CBD content is very low. Even so, it is impossible to get a toxic overdose of THC by taking cannabis in typical ways. There is still quite a lot of imported cannabis, (herbal or hash) about but the market has changed considerably in recent years. Skunk is now the main form of the drug available - it is grown in the UK and so reduces the risk for large-scale dealers in importing the drug. It is grown under artificial light in small cannabis factories, often empty houses or disused factory spaces. Last year the police shut down over 7,000 of these factories. Whilst skunk has been selectively bred to be 2 or 3 times stronger than 'traditional' imported herbal cannabis, exaggerated reports of its potency and effects have been common in the media. However, some cannabis smokers have a strong aversion to skunk as they find that its high is not very mellow and there seems to be an increased risk of paranoia, because of the relatively low quantity of CBD in it. Mental health Cannabis was re-classified back to a Class B drug because of reports of links with mental health problems like schizophrenia. It was a decision taken by politicians against the advice of the experts who said it should remain Class C. There has always been a substantial risk of worsening existing mental health problems by taking drugs like cannabis or ecstasy or LSD. For cannabis, the risk is greater the younger the person is when they start, how regularly and how much they smoke, how early their first smoke is. However the link is described by Government experts as ‘weak’ and even heavy use does not lead necessarily to mental health problems. But a cannabis habit is still likely to affect you - there are other potential serious harms to this lifestyle which are more likely than health problems, such as loss of motivation and ambition to work or study, leading to the breakdown of relationships and loss of career opportunities. Stopping Almost half of young people will try cannabis at least once. But most cannabis users stop smoking the drug by the time they are in their mid-twenties to thirties. This may be because they are in a longer-term relationship with an established career and the drug no longer fits with their life. Some carry on and so long as their intake is kept low will, in most cases, probably suffer no significant harms. Others with higher daily doses can, over time, develop an addiction. About 10 percent of drug users seeking treatment are cannabis smokers. Withdrawal can last weeks, with severe cravings, mood swings and sleeplessness. |