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Letter: Ganja link to violence unfounded
Paul Armentano Jamaican Gleaner
Tuesday 29 Nov 2005 CLAIMS THAT ganja use and violence are inherently interconnected ('Ganja to blame for crime', November 25) are unfounded. No credible research has shown cannabis use to be a causal factor in violence, aggression or delinquent behaviour, dating back to United States government's 'First Report of the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse' in 1972, which concluded, "In short, marijuana is not generally viewed by participants in the criminal justice community as a major contributing influence in the commission of delinquent or criminal acts." AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR A more recent federal review by the Canadian Senate reaffirmed: "Cannabis use does not induce users to commit other forms of crime. Cannabis use does not increase aggressiveness or anti-social behaviour." In contrast, research has demonstrated that certain legal drugs, such as alcohol, do induce aggressive behaviour. "Cannabis differs from alcohol in one major respect. It does not seem to increase risk-taking behaviour," stated the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in its 2002 report recommending the depenalisation of marijuana. "This means that cannabis rarely contributes to violence either to others or to oneself, whereas alcohol use is a major factor in deliberate self-harm, domestic accidents and violence." NOT VIOLENCE-RELATED Most recently, a logistical retrogression analysis of approximately 900 trauma patients published in the Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, found that the use of cannabis is not independently associated with either violent or non-violent injuries requiring hospitalisation. Alcohol and cocaine use were associated with violence-related injuries, the study found. Accordingly, fewer than five per cent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the United States identify marijuana as a drug that significantly contributes to violent crime in their areas. I am, etc., PAUL ARMENTANO paul@norml.org Washington, D.C. - The author is the senior policy analyst for NORML (National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and the NORML Foundation.
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