Researchin’ Y’All

So, if anyone happens to stumble across my blog, I’ve no doubt they’ll be thinking “this seems like a completely irrelevant, unorganised blog”. Well, allow me to enlighten you… this blog is connected to my college course. So everything you see here is related to college. Now, get ready for some more random ramblings…

Cannabis – The marmite of the drug world.
Cannabis was reclassified from a class C to a class B drug in 2009. This means that the drug now holds harsher penalties for possession and dealing, but also means that the government has recognised it as a much stronger substance than originally thought.
The current law states that the maximum penalty for dealing, growing, supplying or trafficking can be up to 14 years imprisonment, and the maximum penalty for possession is 5 years imprisonment. Alternatively, if caught in possession of cannabis an immediate arrest could be made, or a warning and/or £80 on-the-spot fine issued, depending on circum stances.
(http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/drug-law/)

So what is so special about Cannabis? Or more to the point – what is it?
Cannabis is essentially a herb. The drug comes from parts of the cannabis plant. The main chemical compound found in cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC – this is the chemical that gives cannabis its effect upon users.
The effect of cannabis varies from person to person. Some people may feel relaxed, others very paranoid. Some many be giggly, other very hungry. Generally, the effects don’t last very long and addiction is very rare.
So what’s the problem with cannabis?
The problem is that although cannabis is a naturally occurring drug, dealers will do anything these days to earn a little bit more money from their supply – this often includes ‘bulking-out’ their supply with whatever they can get their hands on, for example crushed glass is frequently used, or just plain old kitchen herbs. Also, there have been more and more stronger strains of cannabis available, and as the strain gets stronger, the long-term effects become more likely. It is suggested that there is a link between long term cannabis use, and the mental illness schizophrenia.
Although it’s rare to become ‘hooked’ on cannabis, long term use of the drug can cause serious dependency.
(http://www.talktofrank.com/drugs.aspx?id=172)

Much like an addiction, along with a dependency comes withdrawal symptoms, and cannabis dependency is no exception to this rule. Cannabis dependency can have many psychological symptoms such as “Anxiety, depression, anger, confusion, irritability or the urge or craving to smoke” such as physical symptoms such as “Sleep problems, restlessness, loss of appetite, tremors, night sweats and diarrhoea.” According to “A Guide for Cutting Down and Stopping Cannabis Use” leaflet formed by the NHS and the drugs information site ‘Frank’ from 2004.

Now one of those symptoms really catches my eye – Depression.
How frequent is depression in those who smoke/withdrawal from Cannabis? Well according to http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/alcoholanddrugs/cannabis.aspx, “adolescents who used cannabis daily were five times more likely to develop depression and anxiety in later life”. Furthermore, the BBC reported in 2002 that Australian scientists have discovered that “girls who used the drug everyday were five times more likely to become depressed and suffer from anxiety compared to those who did not use the drug.” (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2498493.stm) and furthermore that “A second study, by doctors in Sweden, confirmed previous research suggesting that cannabis can increase the risk of developing depression.”
We all know that depression is hitting an all-time low – literally. But did you know that statistically “Up to 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide” (http://www.allaboutdepression.com/gen_04.html)

So I guess Mr Mackey was right… “Drugs are bad… Mmmmkay.”

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