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del.icio.us| COMMENTARY |
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Antonio 21st April 2005 |
New Zealand is tops here and also tops in youth suicide. Japan is bottom here and tops in middle-aged suicide and math literacy. |
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Chris 19th July 2005 |
New Zealand Tops on Cannabis Use, Youth Suicide Rates, Teenage pregnancy, Property Crime Victims, Rape Victims. |
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sativadiva 2nd November 2005 |
I suggest that all of you further educate yourselves along the lines of organisations such as NORML, the Hemp Industries Association, and Jack Herer's website electricemperor, plus safeaccessnow.org. Pot smokers are your teachers, lawyers, doctors, politicians, sisters, nephews, etc. This is the most widely used illicit drug in the world with a ten thousand plus history on the planet. And no, it's NOT legal in the Netherlands (and certainly not Belgium), it's TOLERATED. Illegal to grow indoors, illegal to sell to coffeeshops, but okay to grow 3 per person or 5 per household, outside, where it came from! The UK has deCLASSIFIED and Canada tried to deCRIMINALISE, but until the United Nations changes its blanket drugs mandate, CANNABIS IS ILLEGAL AND MISUNDERSTOOD ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD. In 2004 in the US, cannabis arrests topped the combined total of ALL arrests for ALL violent crimes- agravated assault, murder, forcible rape, etc. There are over 40,000 industrial uses for hemp (non-psychoavtice sister plant) and over 400 therapeutic administrations for cannabis. In over 10,000 years of use across all cultures and aspects of life, NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON HAS DIED AS A RESULT OF CANNABIS. And BTW, "marijuana" is a northern Mexican colloquialism for cannabis, and has its roots steeped in racism. Check out William Randolph Hearst's association with the prohibition of cannabis in America. The drug was criminalised due to politics, not ill health effects. |
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sash 15th November 2005 |
The link between cannabis and mental health problems. Although it is not clear if cannabis can actually cause mental illness, it can make things worse for people who already have mental health problems. Anyone with mental health problems or people who are most at risk of getting them (E.g. have a family history of schizophrenia) should avoid cannabis. The ACMD will review the latest medical research in this area. Smoking cannabis when pregnant may harm the baby. Babies tend to be lower in birth weight and to have developmental problems. The availability of stronger cannabis, such as skunk. The chemical in cannabis that makes you feel high is called THC. Cannabis comes in a variety of different strengths depending on the amount of THC in it - the more THC, the stronger it is. Some people claim that stronger cannabis is now more available than before, and the ACMD will look into this. Cannabis is a Class C substance. It's illegal to own it and it's illegal to supply it. It's also an offence to grow cannabis. Possession can get you up to two years in prison and an unlimited fine, although most people are either cautioned or fined. Serious offences of supplying cannabis can get you up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine. If you're convicted, the court has discretion to take account of the circumstances of the offender and the offence before passing sentence. Reclassification of cannabis The Government reclassified cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug on 29th January 2004 across the United Kingdom. Reclassification means the Government acknowledge that cannabis is not as harmful as other Class B substances like Speed. But the supply and possession of cannabis is still illegal. Penalties for supplying stay the same (with a maximum of 14 years). The maximum prison sentence for possession has been reduced from five years to two. Fines and other non-custodial sentences like compulsory community service will still apply. For those over 18, most offences of cannabis possession are likely to result in a warning on the street and confiscation of the drug. But you could be arrested if you smoke in a public place, near a place where there are children e.g a school, or where public order is at risk. Those who repeatedly commit offences will be arrested and will be prosecuted. If you are under 18, and it's your first offence of cannabis possession you will normally be arrested, taken to the police station and given a warning or a reprimand. If it's not your first offence, you will be given either a final warning or you will be charged. If you have been given a warning in the past and you get caught again you'll most likely be charged. When you get a warning you are referred to the local Youth Offending team (YOT). Driving while stoned Cannabis affects your ability to drive safely. This puts other road users at risk. The police are using new roadside tests known as Field Impairment tests to determine whether motorists are unfit to drive. You could be required to provide a blood sample for analysis. If you are convicted of being unfit to drive you could face prison, heavy fines or be disqualified from driving. Fact: Passing drugs among friends is supplying in the eyes of the law. Fact: Allowing people to take cannabis in your house or any other premises is illegal. Fact: A drug conviction could stand between you and your ideal job. Fact: If the police catch someone smoking cannabis in a club they will have the power to prosecute the landlord, club owner or person holding the party. Using cannabis to relieve pain The possession of cannabis is an offence whatever you're using it for. The Government is exploring cannabis-based treatments. These are being tested at the moment and if they prove successful, the Home Secretary has said he's willing to change the law to allow cannabis-based medicine on prescription. It has not been de classified. Be under no illusion, if you are caught with it, you will be in the nick! Hope thats educating enough for you sativadiva. |
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Adam (Canada) 7th June 2006 |
Cannabis is one of the less harmful intoxicants around, both physically and societally. It does have proven medical benefits, mainly around nausia relief and appetite stimulations (medical munchies), but also as treatment for glaucoma and other conditions as mentioned above (although I am curious how smoking something helps your asthma). People who are intoxicated by the effects of Cannabis are FAR, FAR less societally harmful than those under the influence of alcohol, and I don't even need any evidence to back that. Most people will tell you this is true from their own experience. Pot smokers are just not dangerous people... unless, of course, they have also ingested alcohol. Incidentally, the same sense of bravado that can lead to violence under the influence of alcohol is not present with marijuana: Tests have consistantly displayed that while cannabis- and alcohol- intoxicated drivers lack the reflexes of a fully sober individual, the pot smokers tended to be mindful of their incapacitation, and drove on average more cautiously than normal, which resulted in them generally matching and occasionally outdoing the sober drivers. The drunk drivers, on the other hand, were convinced that they were fully capable of driving normally and consequently scored significantly lower than the other groups. In response to sash, most of that post was simply a recitation the laws against cannabis, and the associated penalties, which in itself provides no particular evidence whatsoever. In an ideal world, nobody would have the desire to get high at all. However, with cannabis use already a prevalant part of most western societies, this approach can be considered naive and idealistic... and, in the case of countries in which alcohol is also legal, downright hypocritical. |
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Frank (New Zealand) 30th January 2007 |
"New Zealand Tops on Cannabis Use, Youth Suicide Rates, Teenage pregnancy, Property Crime Victims, Rape Victims." [quote from comment above] Tops on reported all those things. Maybe the weed just keeps us organised and honest :). |
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