CANNABIS USE DAMAGING

My final comments on cannabis.

Cannabis is not a "soft" drug. THC, which is the active ingredient in
cannabis in the same way nicotine is in tobacco, is more potent than it used
to be.

Many of the test results on the effects of cannabis referred to by those
supporting decriminalisation have been carried out on cannabis with a
potency of around 5%. Recent US tests on New Zealand hydroponically grown
cannabis are reported to show a potency of 40%.

As well, most tests have been carried out on adults whose mature organs can
rid the body of THC in considerably less time than can those of adolescents.
Long-term use by adolescents is therefore going to be more damaging.

Cannabis contains about 50% more cancer-causing agents than tobacco and, if
smoked on the same scale as tobacco, would do far more physical damage.
Cannabis also has mind-altering qualities, tobacco does not.

The cumulative long-term effects of a joint a day on the behaviour and
health of the smoker would be very noticeable while there would be no
noticeable effect on the health, behaviour and well-being of someone who
drank a can of beer or a glass of wine a day.

Alcohol is processed by the body at roughly a can of beer an hour, while
there can still be traces of THC in the body for two to three weeks after
smoking a joint. Retention caused by cannabis' slow metabolism rate
compounds the effect of further cannabis subsequently smoked. The body of a
person who smokes just two or three joints a week will have a continuous
presence of THC.

At this point short-term memory would suffer some impairment and
concentration, attention span and motivation would lessen. There would be a
deterioration in the capacity to carry out tasks requiring multiple mental
steps.

Frequent smokers of cannabis will experience moderate psychological
dependence and there can be a "chemical escape" from the growing pains of
adolescence factor. This interferes with the growing up process and with
learning to become a mature, independent and responsible adult.

If smoking tobacco is regarded as a health hazard then smoking cannabis must
be regarded as least as much a hazard. Nicotine is certainly more physically
addictive than cannabis and a number of other drugs. Should they be
legalised/decriminalised as well?

Whether cannabis use is a crime, decriminalised or legal, in the end it is
our approach and example as parents that will carry weight. Kids will
experiment but it is our consistent, reasoned and non-hypocritical example
in relation to drugs in all forms, legal and illegal, that will prepare them
for the challenges of life ahead.