in the british press 2day we have more propaganda about cannabis and i think its time for the government to be open minded as cypress hill are and legalise it?it has many good uses other than getting stoned and as an m/s sufferer i am tired of being branded a criminal.do my fellow music fans agree?and do they also enjoy hits from the bong?

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[This message was edited Fri Nov 22 6:36:57 PST 2002 by langebleu]

langebleu said:[quote]

DIAMONDGEEZA said:

From The Times today:

Cannabis linked to mental illness

CANNABIS increases the risk of schizophrenia or depression, new studies have shown.
A long-term follow-up of a 1960s study of Swedish army recruits shows that, broadly, using cannabis doubles the risk of schizophrenia, and using it 50 times increases the risk about sevenfold. The link persisted after correcting for cigarette smoking, social background and the use of other drugs (Nigel Hawkes writes).

A New Zealand study shows that 10 per cent of those who used cannabis by the age of 15 developed schizophrenia, compared with 3 per cent of non-users. The authors of the report, from King’s College London and the University of Dunedin, say: “Our findings suggest that cannabis use among psychologically vulnerable adolescents should be strongly discouraged.”

An Australian study of 1,600 students from 44 secondary schools found that frequent cannabis use was linked to later depression and anxiety, particularly in girls. Daily use increased the risk fivefold. Weekly use doubled the risk.The results are all published in the British Medical Journal.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: “Recent research papers are increasingly confirming Sane’s extreme concerns about the use of cannabis.”I've no objection to it being legalised. Equally, I'd pay far more attention the findings of a scientific survey concerning cannabis use than what Cypress Hill think, before I chose to use it again.

Here's a link to the report in the British Medical Journal http://bmj.com/cgi/conten.../7374/1183

It should definitely be legalised. And yes, there will be health risks associated with it, but it's all about relativity. Name me ANY substance that hasn't got any negative side-effects, especially if not moderated.

Cannabis has far less risks associated with it than most substances and one of the key lines in this piece in The Times is "Our findings suggest that cannabis use among psychologically vulnerable adolescents should be strongly discouraged.” - for sure, but then ANY psycho-active substance would be damaging to people in this category.