Male cannabis-users are needed for a University of Queensland study examining the drug?s continued popularity among Australians.

Psychiatry Department researchers are seeking men who have used cannabis during the last month, have no history of psychiatric treatment, live within 20kms of the CBD and are aged over 18.

Researcher Bob Green said his study would compare the cannabis experiences of people with and without psychiatric problems.

Despite the possibility of arrest and health problems, recent Australian household surveys report that more than 30 percent of those surveyed have tried cannabis.

?In a 2001 survey, 12.9 percent of people said they had used cannabis in the past 12 months, with use being much higher among those aged 14?29 years,? Mr Green said.

?Although cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Australia, there has been relatively little research into the factors contributing to its continued use. My research will better help understand cannabis use from the perspective of cannabis users.

?The research aims to develop better methods to understand cannabis use, especially among people who experience problems with its use.?

He said participation consisted of a single, confidential interview in which men would be asked about the effects of cannabis and reasons for use.

If you would like more information, please contact Mr Green on telephone (07) 3221 2511 or thcstudy@yahoo.com
Further details and a summary of findings from a previous study are also available

Date: 18/05/04
News-Medical.net

damn shame i dont live within 20km

such as life i guess but it is about time a study like this has been conducted...lets hope it gets all the attention it deserves

I just E-mailed Mr. Green about the THC study,and am now waiting to hear back from him. - CALYX.

U of Q aren't a bad lot, but wouldn't you feel a bit wierd about rocking up there and telling all and sundry that you're a pothead?
maybe it's just me being paranoid (even though I think there's a difference between being cautious and being paranoid)
Reason for using weed? It feels good, otherwise we wouldn't do it ::

I also just emailed this guy.

Hey I have been smoking since 1972,Maybe one joint a day for a year or two.Then maybe two or three a day for another two years.I guess I smoke ten a day now.Maybe more on race days.$$ and stuill burning.Wonder what the test would show? I know my girl friend likes it.Viargra no thanks....THC WORKS FOR ME.

didnt u just say u were looking for a gf in another post? ::

Well yes,nothing permit right now...Whats one to do?

ok I got a reply from this guy here tis-

Ferengi420,

Thanks for your e-mail. Sorry for the delay in
replying, I was not aware the story was in the Courier
Mail until later in the day & still haven't been able
to locate it.

The next step would be for me to discuss with you what
is involved and if you are agreeable, to make a time
to meet. I work full time, but try to be flexible
regarding time of day, week/week-end and location.
Logan is ok.

If you want to leave a number I can call you - if it
is a work number or someone might be home who you
don't want me to tell who I am, let me know.

regards


Bob

http://www.psychiatry.uq.edu.au/research/cannabis.htm

If he wants to know why people smoke all he has to do is light up. This is silly. Nobody who smokes would ask such a question and people who don't will never understand until they do. Its like trying to explain alcohol to somebody who never had a drink in his life or colours to somebody who has been blind since birth. Its pointless. There is no comparison to smoking pot and without a reference point any explanation of usage is going to be dry analytical crap. Marijuana opens doors in the mind. It brings certain mental acuities to their peek while dampening others in a non harmful and temporary fashion. Most people think its either a hallucinogen or similar to alcohol. Its neither and a study by someone who has never tried pot will be flawed. Ask him if he has ever personally experimented with it himself. I'm guessing he might have.

lets hope this becomes a constructive exercise, as opposed to the many studies i come across over the years...saw one done in a major re-hab in my capital city...what a fucking joke. end result: pot is the most evil substance in the world and test subjects will say that all day if it means getting out 2 weeks early and back to the junk...amazing shit...

JAIKAI

Thats exactly what I'm worried about. Who ultimately funds this study anyway? Who owns the university? The answer to that question might prove a good indicator as to how it'll all turn out. Wouldn't happen to be Government subsidised by any chance?

::

people complain about there not being enough studies into cannabis, now someone is actively asking for assistance and all some people can do is critizise!!!!


If you have any questions why don't you ring the guy and ask him, why don't you read about his research and the reasons why he is conducting it?



Why wouldn't someone who smokes ask a question like that? everyone smokes for a different reason. I often ask other smokers I know why they smoke, why they started and all that stuff... how else is someone supposed to learn, form their own opinions?



Analytical crap is what research is all about, it's not good research if it's not analytical



Please explain why it would be flawed?

You are saying that to study something, conduct research and present a paper on that research without having personal experience is flawed!! Me thinks your thinking on this matter might be flawed.

Not enough studies into cannabis????? There have been countless studies into Cannabis? The US Federal Government has spent millions over the last 70 years investigating the effects of marijuana. All of that research was geared towards discovering harmful aspects. It's only logical to question the true reasons behind yet another government study. I think its safe to assume this University is Government funded.



Because they already know the answer. Someone who never drinks alcohol will never understand why people do. Words cannot put across an unfamiliar experience. They can only describe a sensation in relation to known experiences. This particular study is only being conducted to shed light on why some people suffer mental problems while others don't. Such research is a two edged sword. It can both help to identify people at risk of psychosis and fuel public concerns over this minor percentage of users. Only a very small number of people ever develop schitzophrenia and marijuana's contributing factors are only slightly understood. Naturally the Government would be greatly interested in further researching this on the offchance something damning can be learned to aid their propaganda department. While I wholeheartedly support research and truth, I am suspicious of any government funded marijuana study. They invariably focus entirely on harmful aspects of smoking and ignore any positive findings. That isn't fair and unbiased research. Perhaps I seem paranoid to you but 70 years of gutter science in this area isn't paranoia. It's fact.



Creativity, artistic talent, happiness and out of the box thinking can't be quantified. Analytical ability resides in the other hemisphere of the brain. Where language ability and mathematics reign. Contrary to pre-Newtonian thinking, not everything is quantifiable.



A person who was born blind and has never seen colour can interview as many people about it as he wants, but he will never understand the concept. Some things can only be lived. Symbols are inadequate to describe them. Straight people simply cannot understand why we get stoned. No academic report will fix that.

One day these researchers are going to do real research on the effects of cannabis. Every year some group gets a nice (GOVERNMENT GRANT) to study the effects of cannabis, and when they call for people to come forward, they will not include in the study group people who have mental problems. Now this shit's me to the max, since I was a child I have suffered from Schizophrenia, and the old story, you smoke pot you will get Schizophrenia. I use cannabis to self medicate myself, and to date no problem.

It's just like grog, some-one can have a beer or two and lose the plot, whereas another person can drink a carton with no trouble at all. When will these pen pushing, seat polishing wankers in white coats get their act together and stop trying to find the neg side of cannabis, without the government grants behind them. The day this really happens, is the day the Gonernment sit up and take notice.

Before any Ozstoners plans to join any research, just ask where the funding is coming from!

good call chong. sounds like a load of crap as always,

I hear ya Don't Panic. Totally agree. Some people become complete wankers after a few beers. Nobody calls it multiple personality disorder because its a legal drug and hence obviously good for ya! Ha!

Nobody is even sure exactly what schizophrenia is and 10 years ago most doctors denied it was real. Now they are trying to use it to demonise weed. Go figure.

I'd like to know more about this Uni Professor. Maybe he has tried it and is on our side. Obviously he won't admit it. That might explain his interest. It's possible. I seriously fucking doubt it but you never know.

However, I take any government research with a pinch of salt. They've cried wolf far too many times. You just know they are after damning evidence in support of prohibition. You'd think after 70 fucking years of trying they'd give up. Wankers.

I know this is an old thread... and maybe you're not around anymore Chong....


But damn you are one smart fella I like your thinking style... I was trying to explain something similar to my mother at one stage when asked why I smoked.


It wasn't an easy task at all haha

Thats why forums like this are great , people of a similiar train of thought are able to further educate their opinions . OzStoners for PM!!!