CANNABIS REARS ITS UGLY HEAD NOW EVEN MORE POTENT AND DANGEROUS

A strong warning about trivialising the dangers of cannabis has been
voiced by the International Narcotics Control Board in its latest
report, just released.

Board president Hamid Ghodse says cannabis has become more potent and
is associated with an increasing number of emergency-room admissions.

Cannabis was frequently called a gateway drug, often being the first
illicit drug taken by young people.

"In spite of all these facts, the use of cannabis is often trivialised
and, in some countries, controls over the cultivation, possession and
use of cannabis are less strict than for other drugs" he says.

Mr Ghodse concedes regulations are not a panacea, and cannot alone
eliminate drug trafficking and abuse.

"I can therefore understand that the following question is often
raised: Would it be more economical to do away with all drug
regulations and leave it to market forces to regulate the situation?

"I believe that this is the wrong question, similar to questioning
whether it is economical to try to prevent car accidents or to treat
infectious diseases."

He said history had shown that national and international control of
drugs could be effective and was the choice to be made.

As an agency of the United Nations, the Narcotics Control Board
reported for the 2008 year that cannabis continues to be the
most-abused drug in Oceania.

Amphetamine-type stimulants continue to be supplied by clandestine
manufacturers.

Much attention has been paid recently to drug substitution programmes
which were developed initially as a last resort for drug-users who,
for various reasons, have not succeeded in overcoming their dependence
through other modes of treatment.

But while these programmes have their place in drug control policy,
they should not necessarily be regarded as the ultimate goal, but as
an interim stage that could eventually lead to the development of a
healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Drugs present a danger! And control of both demand and supply is the
shared responsibility of all nations . . . and all of us.