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Australians Highest Cannabis Users

Australia and New Zealand were the highest users of cannabis in the world according to a study in the Lancet medical journal.

Up to 15 per cent of 15 to 64 year olds had used cannabis at least once in the past year.

High income countries like Australia report high usage of illicit drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine and opioids.

The Lancet study found that more than 200 million people used illicit drugs globally.

Police admit cannabis use is high as is cannabis cultivation and trafficking with funds going to organized criminals.

(Source: The Lancet 7 January 2012 reported in the Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Australians are exposed to easily available illicit drugs so the demand and the number of users are high by world standards.

Easy availability of illicit drugs and low price encourage the high usage of all illicit drugs.

Reducing the number of illicit drug users by diversion into rehabilitation will improve the health of young Australians and will also limit cultivation and trafficking.

All identified drug users should be diverted into court ordered and supervised detoxification and rehabilitation to get the users free of drug use quickly and permanently.

Australia needs to apply diversion into rehabilitation policies for illicit drug use as it is proven world’s best practice to reduce drug use.

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Cannabis Toxins Dangerous

The Dutch government has admitted that modern cannabis with its higher THC is as dangerous as heroin and cocaine.

The Dutch Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten informed the Dutch Parliament that cannabis with a THC level of over 15 per cent will be classified as a class A drug and banned like heroin and cocaine.

Pro cannabis voices claim that cannabis users do not want "weak weed".

(Source: United Press International 20 November 2012)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Natural cannabis is more toxic by the use of hybridized strains and hydroponic methods of cultivation which leads to more harms and increasing addiction.

The Dutch have succumbed to the massive scientific evidence that cannabis use leads to brain damage, mental health problems like psychosis, cancer and respiratory illnesses.

As has now been admitted cannabis users need higher doses of THC to get them high as their addiction progresses.

However, in order for Australia to learn from this evidence there needs to be more help given to cannabis users to get them off their use.

Critical to this lesson is Australia’s obligation to reduce the number and extent of cannabis use before it overloads the nation’s health and mental health facilities.

By diverting any identified cannabis users into drug rehabilitation to get them clean of drugs we learn from the mistakes of other countries like the Netherlands who have admitted their policy mistakes.

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Cannabis Risks To Medicine

Cancer professionals in the United States have recently detailed the evidence into the effects of using cannabis including-

Cannabis is associated with adverse effects on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Cannabis smoke has more cancer causing carcinogens than cigarette smoke which may lead to lung cancer.

Cannabis smoke is an important risk factor in the development of respiratory disease.

Cannabis use is associated with increased risk of head and neck cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke and chronic bronchitis.

The immunosuppressive properties of cannabis may be detrimental to patients with cancer.

(Source: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network April 2012)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

The links with using cannabis and developing cancer, particularly from smoking, show that cannabis should never be legalized.

Accordingly, medical professionals do not support cannabis in any form of treatment and know that cannabis use is likely to be causal in patients with cancer and other medical conditions.

Early intervention to prevent or stop cannabis use is likely to be highly beneficial to prevent future serious medical conditions in users.

As well, early intervention to prevent or stop cannabis use will be cost effective in saving health costs in the future.

As cannabis use is likely to first commence in teenage years, then early intervention programs aimed at stopping use are essential.

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Cannabis Rejected By Doctors

Psychiatrists in the USA have called on physicians to speak out in support of science based drug approval rather than allow cannabis use to be approved by public opinion.

Major medical associations have opposed the use of cannabis as a medicine as there is no scientific approval, dosage or quality control.

Drugs prescribed for medical conditions are available to combat symptoms for which medical cannabis is advocated.

The physicians have a duty to inform patients of the adverse impacts of cannabis use and its link to medical complications, mental illness and driving impairment.

(Source: American Journal of Psychiatry 6 June 2012 commentary)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This timely professional advice is pertinent to Australia where cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug.

Those pushing legalized illicit drug use in Australia do not understand the severe medical, mental and community impacts of drugs.

Cannabis causes addiction, drugged driving, memory deficits, decreased concentration, schizophrenia and other medical conditions.

Medical cannabis is a stalking horse for legalizing the manufacture, sale and use of cannabis.

Any acceptance of cannabis will ultimately lead to more use particularly amongst young people as the message is that cannabis use is OK.

Physicians need to be fully informed of the risks of cannabis use so as to assist any patients that come to them for help.

Cancer patients in particular need to know that cannabis use causes cancer and that any use will compound their medical problems.