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Cannabis demand continues

The latest report from the Australian Crime Commission has confirmed that it is unlikely that there will be any significant decrease in demand for cannabis in the short term.

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia with demand highest amongst adolescents and young adults.

The 2004 National Drug Household Survey estimates 5 million people aged 14 and above had used cannabis in the last 12 months.

Hydroponics cultivation is popular as it can be grown all year round, has higher THC toxins and produces more heads in a shorter time.

Most Cannabis is produced locally with importation mainly by post as seed.

Cannabis toxins cause cancer, chronic bronchitis, schizophrenia, hormone production, hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety and impaired coordination and cognition.

There were 56,859 arrests for cannabis use with most in Queensland.

(Source: Australian Crime Commission Illicit Drug Data Report 2006/7)

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

Clearly Australia's high demand for cannabis is fuelling the supply.

The costs of detection of cannabis use and the enormous health costs to government suggest we need to follow overseas models that REDUCE the demand for cannabis.

The 5 million Australians that used cannabis in the previous 12 months will lead to increased health costs to the users and the health system.

Australia NEEDS a comprehensive and effective NATIONAL illicit drug prevention and rehabilitation system that REDUCES demand.

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Indigenous Cannabis Epidemic

Cannabis use by indigenous Australians in Northern Australia is of epidemic proportions according to a recent study.

Over 70 per cent of adolescent males and 20 per cent of adolescent females were current users.

Of those indigenous cannabis users, 90 per cent were heavy users and were addicted after long term use spanning more than 5 years.

Between 30 and 60 per cent of cannabis users income was spent on cannabis which was supplied by dealers in urban or regional centres.

Regular cannabis users reported hallucinations, suicide ideation and depression.

Community violence increased when cannabis supplies were scarce.

Adolescent cannabis addicts were less likely to participate in community activities, traditional life, family life, training and education and more likely to have been imprisoned.

(Source: Medical Journal of Australia, 2 March 2009).

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

This report highlights the critical need for adolescent indigenous Australians that have a cannabis addiction to be provided with detoxification and rehabilitation that frees them from their addiction.

Heavy cannabis use has been proven scientifically to cause cancer, mental illness, brain damage, suppression of the immune system leading to more sickness, schizophrenia and heart disease so these addicted indigenous adolescents are at high risk.

Rehabilitation needs to be urgent, compulsory and comprehensive to ensure that these at risk young Australians are helped to be drug free before any more damage is done to them.

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Cannabis Update

A comprehensive Australian study has just been released on cannabis.

The study highlights the increased potency of modern cannabis and its increased harms.

Cannabis is a gateway drug to other illicit drug use.

Cannabis is addictive and is difficult to rehabilitate causing relapse.

The study identifies the harms of cannabis use including psychosis, brain damage, cancer, cardiovascular damage and suppression of the human immune system causing increased illnesses.

Prenatal cannabis damage leaves babies with lifetime health problems.

Cannabis use can lead to suicide.

The study includes 15 full pages of scientific papers and recommends-

• The need for comprehensive preventative drug education.
• Truthful and comprehensive media campaigns on the extensive harms of cannabis.
• Police blitzes to identify cannabis users.
• Treatment to strongly discourage cannabis use.
• The implementation of a cannabis QUIT campaign.
• Stronger penalties for cannabis trafficking to children.
• A national schools kit on the harms of cannabis on young bodies.
• Implementation of a multi-faceted approach to cannabis use by aboriginal communities.
• Implementation of drug testing in schools.

(Source: Cannabis - Suicide, Schizophrenia and Other Ill Effects can be downloaded from Drug Free Australia at www.drugfree.org.au).

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Cannabis Linked to Testicular Cancer

A recent study in the USA has found evidence of a link between cannabis use and testicular cancer.

An existing male cannabis user has a 70 per cent increased risk of testicular cancer.

Men who had used cannabis since puberty were twice as likely to develop testicular cancer as men who had never used cannabis.

The study suggested that cannabis may interfere with a man's natural production of cancer inhibiting mechanisms.

Testicular cancer has doubled in men between 15 and 34 years during the last half of the twentieth century.

(Source: American Cancer Society Online 9 February 2009).

DRUG ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMENTS-

The link between cannabis use and other cancers is well established and this study expands the link to testicular cancer as well.

The doubling of testicular cancer in Australia since the 1960's coincides with the increased use of cannabis which is the most commonly used illicit drug in our country.

Australia is impacted by this increase in cancers caused by cannabis use and is not exempt.

The more prolonged the use of cannabis the higher the risk of cancer.

Australia needs an early intervention detoxification and rehabilitation system to stem the cost of cancer treatments.

Of most concern is the impact of the testicular cancer on young Australian men in their twenties and thirties.