Facts at a Glance
Facts really do matter. Science and fact should replace the current raft of ideology and myth.
Cannabis Use and Affects on the Brain
Some short-term effects may include immediate changes in thoughts, perceptions and information processing. The cognitive process most clearly affected is short-term memory, but this usually disappears as soon as the person is no longer affected. So, what about long-term effects? There’s no convincing evidence that even heavy, long-term use by adults permanently impairs memory or other cognitive functions.
Is Cannabis a Gateway to Hard Drugs?
Cannabis is the most popular and easily accessible illicit substance in Australia. People who have used other less accessible illicit substances (heroin, cocaine, LSD for example) are likely to have first accessed cannabis and alcohol. But the use of one does not cause the use of another. Most people who try cannabis never go on to use any other illicit substance, and the vast majority of those who do, don’t become dependent or go on to have any associated problems. Cannabis can even serve as an exit from drug abuse/addiction, helping people reduce or eliminate their use of harmful drugs, such as opiates or alcohol, by easing withdrawal symptoms.
Cannabis Cannot Kill – Opioids Can, and Do
Opioid overdoses can be fatal and most are due to respiratory arrest. This does not happen with cannabis as there is no respiratory arrest, even if taken in very large doses. Binding affinity at a receptor and duration and intensity of the bond determine the nature of the resulting action. Virtually all opioids and a great many ‘synthetics’ have a strong affinity for receptor sites, capable of causing death. Naturally occurring phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids (produced by the body) have a limited range of moderate to very weak binding affinity.
Costs of Prohibition
The enforcement costs of prohibition are huge. In 2021 the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre reported that governments allocated AU$1.7 billion for drug policy. Law enforcement is given 66%, while harm reduction only gets 2%. Prohibition panders to political opportunism and makes hypocrites of governments who support legal and unhealthy alcohol and tobacco industries. Prohibition hypocrisy and black market profitability invite corruption in the police force, judicial system, customs and other authority areas.
How Strong is Today’s Cannabis?
Cannabis today is the same plant used by humans for thousands of years. Due to the large number of cannabis varieties however, the levels of cannabinoids vary widely. Different methods of ingestion can also affect the strength of cannabis. Infused edibles, for example, can have a stronger effect and last longer than smoking cannabis.
Does Legalisation Lead to Increased Use?
Changes in cannabis laws overseas have not been found to have a significant impact on rates of adult use. In short, legal access does not lead to increased use. When it comes to use by young people, in the majority of US states that have approved medical cannabis, use among teenagers has actually decreased. Experts say this is due to a diminished “forbidden fruit” effect and decreased access to cannabis as it moves from the unregulated streets – where there are no age requirements – to inside licensed dispensaries, where you need to be 21 to purchase cannabis.
Problems With Current Drug Driving Laws
Cannabis impairment is generally weak and normally below a threshold where driving performance is dangerously degraded. The presence of THC in the blood is not associated with a higher risk (odds ratio) of crashing. While there could be a small increase in crash risk due to impairment, it is balanced by a small decrease in crash risk due to more cautious driving.
Saliva – Poor Measure of Cannabis Impairment
Study results indicate blood and oral fluid (saliva) THC concentrations are relatively poor or inconsistent indicators of cannabis-induced impairment. A cannabis-inexperienced person can ingest a large oral dose of THC and be completely unfit to drive yet register extremely low blood and oral fluid THC concentrations, whilst an experienced cannabis user might smoke a joint, show very high THC concentrations, but show little if any impairment.
Does Cannabis Impair Driving Like Alcohol Does?
Cannabis produces little or no car-handling impairment in driving studies. This is consistently less than moderate doses of alcohol and many legal medications. For some people, cannabis may play a role in their bad driving. However, the overall rate of accidents does not appear to be significantly affected by use, and people who frequently use cannabis appear to develop a tolerance to its impairing effects.
Cannabis and Mental Health
There is no compelling evidence that cannabis causes some psychiatric disorders in otherwise healthy individuals. Most tellingly, rates of schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses have remained flat even during periods when cannabis use rates increased. Research suggests those with mental illness are actually self-medicating with cannabis, turning to the plant to help manage symptoms. Emerging evidence indicates psychiatric patients who try cannabis show significant improvements in symptoms and clinical outcomes (lower mortality rates and better cognitive functioning) compared with those who have not tried cannabis.
Smoking Cannabis and Cancer
Long-term cannabis smoking is not associated with elevated cancer risk. Scientists hypothesise the antioxidant properties of cannabis override any cancer-causing chemicals in cannabis smoke, thus protecting the body against the impact of smoking.
Cannabis For Medicinal Purposes?
For many seriously ill people, cannabis is the only medicine that relieves pain and suffering, or treats symptoms of their medical condition, without debilitating side effects. Cannabis can alleviate symptoms of many debilitating conditions including cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Crohn’s disease. It can act as a safer and more effective alternative to narcotic painkillers and treat severe pain. It can reduce nausea induced by cancer chemotherapy and stimulate appetite in AIDS patients. It reduces intraocular pressure in glaucoma and muscle spasticity in patients with neurological disorders. It can also help manage some mental health conditions, particularly PTSD.
