POT LOBBY TAKES ANOTHER HIT

Life just got considerably more difficult for potheads, stoners and
other pro-marijuana activists seeking the legalization of their
favourite herb. The Australian National Council on Drugs just
released a report that reviews the findings of several hundred
studies looking at the evidence-based effects of marijuana. And the
results are damning for legalization and decriminalization advocates
who have long argued that marijuana is essentially harmless,
especially relative to tobacco and alcohol.

The report highlights the dangers cannabis can have on users
predisposed to cardiovascular and respiratory problems. There is
evidence linking the development of cancers in the children of
cannabis-using mothers. Research shows cannabis may precipitate
psychosis, anxiety and schizophrenia in vulnerable people. There is
compelling evidence that cannabis may aggravate depression and
increase the risk of suicide, especially for adolescent girls.
Regular users experience higher rates of aggression and violence than others.

Cannabis use is highly associated with impaired academic performance,
school absenteeism and earlier school leaving. Early use is a
predictor of immature sexual activity, unplanned pregnancy, poor
parenting and abortion. Adolescent use is associated with
delinquency, crime and deviant peer affiliations above and beyond the
illegality of marijuana. Overall, emotionally, users are more likely
to be dissatisfied with life.

One in 10 users develop some degree of dependence. Heavy users report
problems including tolerance, withdrawals, craving and other social
and psychological issues. Regular adolescent users are more likely to
be maladjusted, interpersonally alienated, emotionally distressed and
have low impulse control. Marijuana use is associated with decreased
blood flow to the area of the brain that regulates attention and cognition.

The report also includes unflattering evidence regarding driving
performance, which makes the federal government's announcement to
crack down in this area most welcome.

The pro-marijuana lobby is fond of rattling off the potential
therapeutic uses of cannabis. While there are some reports marijuana
may be useful in addressing conditions including nausea, weight loss,
pain, neurological disorders, glaucoma and asthma, any benefits
appear to be short term and of limited application.

Clearly marijuana is here to stay and it's inevitable that the
legislation will eventually change. Enforcing the laws in this area
is problematic and inefficient given the lackadaisical attitude of
the courts. But the debate is being conducted in a dishonest and
insincere manner.

Just as governments were guilty of knowingly misstating the facts and
promoting the ridiculous hysteria associated with the reefer madness
era, pro-marijuana activists are being anything but truthful. They
consistently dismiss evidence-based research confirming the harmful
effects of cannabis while inventing fictitious storylines about the
medical benefits. This partly explains why the pro-pot lobby, unlike
other activists, has been relatively unsuccessful at influencing law
and policy on this matter.

Another reason may be users tend to not get a whole lot done before
late afternoon.