Readers’ view: Would the health risks put you off smoking cannabis?

A study published yesterday shows that young people who smoke marijuana from a young age risk irreversibly damaging their IQ.

An international team of academics put 1,038 New Zealanders through a series of mental tests when they were 13 (before any had smoked cannabis) and kept track of their mental development over the next 20 years. Those who took up smoking young and continued the habit into adulthood scored 8 points worse in IQ tests, in addition to drop-offs in memory and multi-tasking.

Almost eight per cent of 11 to 15 year-olds questioned in 2011 admitted to having tried the drug – but would knowing the health risks put them off? We ask our readers.

Jade Sweeney

I am an avid smoker and smoke around two joints a day. I have noticed in the past year a decline in my mental capacity but the feeling I have when I smoke far outweighs the possibility of losing my memory/intellect. Often, I find myself forgetting what I was about to say or do – so much so that I smoke more not to worry.

Tom Maccabee

I’ve been an occasional smoker of cannabis since 2010, roughly once or twice a week with my friends and regarding my physiological health I haven’t noticed any negative consequences at all. My health has improved since then, due to the completely unrelated factors of an improved diet and increased exercise. However the dangers of cannabis aren’t to people like myself, it’s to those who form a psychological dependence on it. If an addiction to cannabis is formed, which in my experience is very very easy for some people, then it can effect your life in lots of negative ways, not just to health.

Pete Barlow

I think the biggest problem with cannabis is the fact that it is not a regulated substance – as a regular user I have no idea how strong the product will be until I have smoked it. Some strains of skunk can really mess with your head, however there are plenty of milder strains which allow the user to go about their everyday business with no ill-effects. Legalising the product would mean its strength could be regulated, taxes on the drug would create a huge amount of revenue for our struggling economy, police officers could concentrate on tackling harder/more harmful substances, and the funding of organised crime would suffer immeasurably.

The deregulation and nationalisation of cannabis is already happening in Latin America, can we not use these places as a blueprint to help protect users and generate some much needed revenue?

Charlie Bull

Knowing cannabis harms the brain is like knowing alcohol harms the liver, that McDonalds harms every artery and organ, and that driving a car can potentially hurt your life. Cannabis is another substance or activity which people choose to use as it provides them with a thrill (as per the alcohol and McDonalds example). The majority of cannabis smokers I know, myself included, are fully aware of the risks and their own limits, and remain fully unconvinced as to the reasoning behind its illegality.

The scare-mongering reports published today will only serve two opposite reactions. You may get some teenagers who decide the report is enough to get them to stay away from an illegal drug, but the majority will not be fazed by this news. It will serve as a badge of honour to be smoking weed and find out (shock horror) that they aren’t dead or mentally disabled as a result. As soon as people have tangible evidence that they won’t die immediately, and they actually have a really good time feeling ‘chilled’ and giggling; all exaggerated, overblown warnings will be disregarded.

I, for one, will continue to smoke cannabis as I consider myself educated to a good degree as to the risks and the science. I enjoy the ‘high’, and it helps me become far more sociable amongst strangers. It is a calculated risk taken by myself and others, based upon the mild effects of the drug, which after 9 years of smoking it, have not prevented my graduated from University with a 2:1, making new friends, or achieving a job which pays higher than the national average. Worth it by my evaluation.

Adam Corlett, Vice-Chair, Liberal Democrats for Drug Policy Reform

I’d like to read more in the media about possible harm reduction. Not using is of course the best solution, but if a third of young people are opting to use cannabis, the odd mention of harm reduction could really help.

Some UK organisations run a campaign called ‘Toke Pure’ promoting the use of cannabis without tobacco. And the suggested use of a vaporiser absolutely needs mentioning. I’ve seen evidence on the latter – though not for the former.

Then there’s the possibility of ingesting cannabis via food or even drink which would clearly avoid any respiratory issues.

One thing we definitely need is more proper studies – and then coverage of them – which are far more informative than polls.

The attitude of the government towards cannabis harm reduction is odd. On the other hand, harm reduction for heroin, crack etc. is of course very well established as worthwhile and something that doesn’t increase use.

All in all a poor show from politicians, research councils (perhaps) and the media.

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• codhead

  Prior to the Volstead act, very few Americans drank hard liquor, preferring weak beers, ciders and wines. The introduction of prohibition gave gangsters an opportunity to fill a gap in the market, one that they readily seized. The problem with continuing to supply weak alcoholic drinks was simply logistics: concentrate the alcohol and there is less chance of being caught.

  The continued “war on drugs” has seen ever-sprialling enforcement costs with little real gain. The criminals have worked to develop more potent strains, not just of cannabis but also other chemical narcotic combinations. Had we approached the whole drugs problem without a heavy-handed, demonising approach, we’d probably rarely see any super-strength cannabis and other products on the streets.

  Not all users of recreational drugs want to get totally wasted, most are simply looking for the buzz. Similarly, there’s a reason why the most popular lagers in the UK are around the 3.5-4% ABV and not Special Brew.

• maninch

  OK, I know you’re a troll but, out of curiosity, why would you ask a doctor?

• Insomnus

  There is not a food in existence which has no harmful substances in it – even lettuce contains ‘poisons’, every activity has its own risks – including lying in bed all day.

  Nobody has ever died through cannabis (unless hit on the head with a sizeable chunk) so it is all down to personal risk assessment.
  If you are frightened to take risks then give up smoking, drinking, eating meat, sex and driving (they both cause stress). Also wear a face mask, a tin foil hat (or give up using mobile phones) protective clothing (steel toed boots etc) and try not to go out.. You will still die ofc, but at least you will have tried.

• Insomnus

  I don’t want CBD – it causes couch-lock. TCH causes giggles and the ‘high’ feeling
  Problem is CBD’s and CBN’s give the strongest feeling hit – so that’s what the growers prefer to grow (Indica phenotypes usually).

• Guest

  Hey there Insomnus. CBD has some mild sedative effects, but most importantly(for recreational purposes) it has the effect of reducing anxiety that can arise if too much THC is ingested. It is my understanding that CBN is not that psychoactive.

  What I was referring to in my original post, was that man has gone out of his way to make cannabis stronger by increasing the THC content, but has neglected in most cases to increase CBD relative to THC. Some people just can’t handle a lot of THC without this balance.

  I’m not surprised you get couch lock when smoking an Indica strain that has a very high content of both cannabinoids. Personally, I’d like to see the older landraces make a resurgence to put paid to the nonsense that cannabis causes schizophrenia in all but a minuscule portion of the population.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Paul-Gilson/699666272 Paul Gilson

  I smoke on average 10 joints a day, 20 at weekends/when I’m not working. I’m an engineer by trade and have smoked consistently from the age of 15, I’m now almost 30. Apart from the odd whitey back in the day, I have had no problems with it. It really suits me as a drug. All my friends bar 3 also use it daily because they enjoy it. To us and many like us, it is such a normal part of life, no law will ever get in the way. Whether something is healthy or not is irrelevant, it’s going into my body, so it is my choice. Btw, my family always let me use it as long as it didn’t interfere with school and college at the time.

• Focusonpeace

  In the states they are breeding CBD rich strains, trust me CBD is a very good thing. I think CBN in Indica is responsible for couch lock. Unsure. But if you dislike the body effects, CBD rich Sativas are available in the states. Such as Jamaican Lion which I think has 10% CBD depending on the pheno. Or the Cannatonic strain which is a hybrid, and one particular phenotype was tested having twice as much CBD than THC. CBD rich strains like Harlequin, Trident, Omrita Rx3 and the others I mentioned are available in the States, but i think GW pharma are planning to produce a CBD rich tincture in the UK. Not sure though. I would prefer the herbal form rather than liquid. Too bad the UK government doesnt recognize the medicinal value in herbal cannabis, but does in GW pharma’s liquid cannabis which is stronger than any street weed in the UK. It went from ‘ No medicinal value in cannabis’, then once Gw pharma started making money growing and selling it, they had to change it to ‘ No medicinal value in Herbal cannabis ‘. Dont worry, Professor Grinspoon said herbal cannabis is more effective.

• Focusonpeace

  My mate was like that but didnt smoke nothing at all. Sometimes we have to look at the underline problem.

• Insomnus

  Neither of me think I’m schizophrenic – but thanks for the info.