Cannabis: what you need to know

Sirs,

I read your article "Cannabis: what you need to know, Echo. July 23) with great interest.

About cannabis you reported:

"Aside from a raised heart rate and a feeling of hunger (“the munchies”), most effects are psychological. Getting stoned makes people feel relaxed with time passing slower and a greater awareness of sounds and colours which sometimes brings on fits of giggles.

"What are the risks?

"Physically, smoking cannabis holds the same risks as smoking a normal cigarette. Psychologically, is to reported to cause anxiety and paranoia in some users.

"The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found a “probable but weak causal link between psychotic illness and cannabis use”. Cannabis is not chemically addictive."

.... so I have to ask why the Government is pending BILLIONS of taxpayers' money trying to stop people growing and using it - why are they so set at treating cannabis users different to people that choose to drink alcohol or smoke tobacco, bot known to be dangerous and addictive to some people and with a definite causal link between booze and psychotic illness.

Clearly the law is wrong and the lawmakers have some explaining to do

Alun Buffry

This brief comment sent to the Liverpool Echo at letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk  in response to the article quoted below:

Liverpool Echo, July 21 2011 

Cannabis: what you need to know

Where does it come from?

It is estimated that around 80% of cannabis smoked in the UK is homegrown, either in small clusters of plants by individuals or more industrial-scale cannabis farms.

The rest is imported resin from North Africa, which comes in through Europe.

How pure is it?

Forensic tests suggest that homegrown cannabis is about two-and-a-half times stronger than imported resin. Unlike other drugs, cannabis is very rarely cut with other substances.

In 2007, “gritweed” – cannabis sprayed with tiny glass particles – made its way into the European and UK markets.

The glass was intended to give the impression of cannabis which was sticky and so super-strong, but smokers complained of damage to their throats and lungs and it soon disappeared.

How many users?

The last count estimated there were more than 1m regular cannabis users aged 16-24 in the UK. That figure was doubled for the 16-59 age group. Just under 10m 16 to 59-year-olds admitted to using it in their lifetimes.

How much does it cost?

Average UK prices per quarter ounce of standard quality herbal resin were around £30 in 2010. For good-quality leaf, the average price rose to about £50 while for normal resin, dealers charged, on average, £21. An average street deal is worth about £10.

What are the effects?

Aside from a raised heart rate and a feeling of hunger (“the munchies”), most effects are psychological. Getting stoned makes people feel relaxed with time passing slower and a greater awareness of sounds and colours which sometimes brings on fits of giggles.

What are the risks?

Physically, smoking cannabis holds the same risks as smoking a normal cigarette. Psychologically, is to reported to cause anxiety and paranoia in some users.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs found a “probable but weak causal link between psychotic illness and cannabis use”. Cannabis is not chemically addictive.

Deaths?

In 2009, cannabis was “implicated” in the deaths of 26 people, but almost always mixed in with other substances.

Source: DrugScope


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