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Scotland: Make all cannabis users apply for licences, says drug expert Brian Donnelly The Herald Sunday 19 Sep 2010 Professor Roger Pertwee said making cannabis as available as alcohol would prevent drug-related crime, and reduce the chances of people being introduced to harder narcotics. However, he cautioned that it might be necessary to prevent vulnerable individuals obtaining the drug. "You'd need to have a minimum age of 21, and I would suggest you might even have to have a licence," said Prof Pertwee, from Aberdeen University, who pioneered early research on the effects of cannabis in the 1960s and 1970s. "You have a car licence and a dog licence; why not a cannabis licence?" "At the moment cannabis is in the hands of the criminals, and I think it's crazy." Professor Roger Pertwee The idea would mean those not suffering from a serious mental illness or at risk of psychosis would be legally allowed to buy the drug. Research has shown an association between smoking cannabis and a greater chance of some individuals developing schizophrenia. Prof Pertwee said cannabis appeared to increase the risk of psychosis in people already predisposed to the illness because of their genes or traumatic experiences in their childhood. He called for a greater debate on the recreational use of cannabis, and said that in principle he was in favour of legalisation, if the right framework could be found. "We need to explore all the various options," said Prof Pertwee, who is speaking at the British Festival of Science at Aston University, Birmingham, this week. "At the moment cannabis is in the hands of the criminals, and I think it's crazy. We're allowed to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. Cannabis, if it's handled properly, I think is no more dangerous than that." He pointed out that currently, anyone wanting to take cannabis was forced to grow it illegally or buy it from illegal dealers. The drug is supplied with no indication of what it contains or what might have been added to it, he said, and people also tend to smoke cannabis in groups, which increases the likelihood of psychological dependency. Licensed suppliers of the drug would also be less likely to provide a "gateway" to harder, more dangerous drugs, he claimed. "I think this could be the way forward, but it might not work," said Prof Pertwee. "It depends on a private company being willing to produce a branded product." Prof Pertwee also highlighted the danger posed by new cannabis-like drugs being manufactured in laboratories, saying some act in a similar way to cannabis but are far more potent, while potentially having other as-yet unknown effects. His proposal were met with a mixed reaction. Don Barnard, press spokesman for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: "I have arthritis and cannabis helps my aches and pains. "If Professor Pertwee is talking about obtaining natural cannabis, and that I should be allowed to get cannabis from a supplier who is licensed and use it, then I'm all for it." However, Neil McKeganey, professor of drug misuse research at Glasgow University, said the proposal for a licence was "profoundly unhelpful". He said: "Over the last few years in Scotland, we have seen a significant reduction in the levels of smoking, which, given the well documented harm, is very welcome. To suggest that the Government should take on the licensing of individuals to smoke cannabis flies in the face of those efforts. "Secondly, we have seen in Scotland a reduction in the number of young people smoking cannabis in particular - it would be quite wrong to seek to identify ways in which cannabis may be able to be used more widely. "Thirdly, we are not particularly well equipped to predict who will and who will not experience mental health problems as a result of smoking cannabis. On that basis it would be quite wrong for the Government to actively become involved in promoting cannabis use through operating a licensing scheme." Cannabis: The facts * Effect: The psychoactive constituent, cannabis sativa, is a relatively mild psychedelic, although stronger strains are more prevalent. Long-term use can cause respiratory problems associated with smoking. The Scottish Drugs Forum also says it can cause psychological disturbance with heavy use. Overdose risk is very unlikely, although large doses may lead to side-effects such as anxiety, panic attacks and paranoia. Supporters claim cannabis can help with medical conditions including arthritis and glaucoma, a common cause of blindness. * Legal status: Since January 2009, all cannabis products have been classified by Westmninster as Class B drugs. It remains illegal to possess the drug or to supply it to others. In Scotland last year, cases of drug cultivations including cannabis farms increased by 24% to 753. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/make-all-cannabis-users-apply-for-licences-says-drug-expert-1.1054879
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