Marijuana

[Brash]

Just heard an ad on the ABC about a show coming up on our favourite topic:

 

Summer Science

RADIO NATIONAL ABCRadio National: Highlights for the week ahead.

Sunday 14 January, 5pm (Repeated Tuesday 16 January, 1pm)

Marijuana – the myths and misconceptions

Just how much harm does cannabis do to the brain, can it cause schizophrenia, how addictive is it, is it more or less harmful than alcohol and can it be an effective painkiller? On our panel to discuss these questions are psychiatrist David Castle, pharmacologist Iain McGregor and science writer Elizabeth Finkel, and the forum is hosted by Wilson Da Silva

[bufo marinus]

Excellent, thanks for the notice Brash. I'm an ABC lover and would hope for a balanced programme.

[mull]

Thanks Justin notes on the fridge hope to remember it

[DownUnderDoper]

I couldn't find much on David Castle other than he's a psychologist who seems to specialise in 'schizophrenia' no overtly pro or anti cannabis articles jumped out from a google on him

 

Iain McGregor seems to be fairly pro medical cannabis as shown here:

 

http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimension...pts/s573133.htm

 

Although you can be fairly certain he will be warning against use for those with history of mental illness

 

IAIN MCGREGOR: In terms of where we're at now, I guess we would say most definitely that if you have a family history of schizophrenia, or if you're already psychotic, it's a very bad idea to smoke cannabis, cause that will exacerbate the condition.

 

But for people who don't have a history of psychosis, it's still very uncertain whether even heavy cannabis use will precipitate a psychotic state.

 

Elizabeth Finkel is seemingly pretty rational on the subject as well

 

According to science writer editor Elizabeth Finkel, no death has ever been attributable to smoking marijuana whereas cigarettes and alcohol are responsible for 12% of deaths globally.

 

So why does the use of this drug polarise members of our community? Elizabeth Finkel casts the hype aside and takes a rational look at the debate.

 

As she tells Carole Whitelock of 891 ABC Adelaide, it's an issue that has been hijacked and politicised completely.

this page has a link to a real media version of the interview (i haven't listened as yet)

 

 

All in all, from first impressions this could in fact be a fairly balanced discussion

 

 

The Ultimo Science Festival (where the presentation actually came from) was held in Aug 06, I'm still looking for a downloadable transcript or audio of the discusson

[DownUnderDoper]

did manage to find a buried "review" of the debate in another audio program here, it's about 1/3 way through the program

 

http://ia311533.us.archive.org/2/items/Dif...n24-08-2006.mp3

 

by this account it should be worth a listen

[auspamp]

I couldn't find much on David Castle other than he's a psychologist who seems to specialise in 'schizophrenia'...

 

Iain McGregor seems to be fairly pro medical cannabis as shown here:

 

http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimension...pts/s573133.htm

 

Although you can be fairly certain he will be warning against use for those with history of mental illness

Elizabeth Finkel is seemingly pretty rational on the subject .

 

 

Elizabeth Finkel did an excellent story in Cosmos magazine (issue 10 August/september 2006). It was all about the science of cannabis and not the usual political propaganda we hear. Melbourne psychiatrist David Castle (a professor at St Vincents Hospital), is quoted as saying "When it comes down to the marijuana debate, science and rationality have very little to do with it: the truth about marijuana has been lost in the smoke of political rhetoric." His mother was a South African Doctor who explored the medicinal uses of cannabis in the 1950's.

 

These people are not on the side of marijuna, but they are on the side of truth, which is what needs to be told.

 

The whole article is about 10 pages long and has a lot of information both for and against marijuana. But at least they tell the truth. If anyone can get a copy of this magazine then I would encourage them to read it so that we as individuals, have the scientific proof to back up our claims.

 

Thankyou to the OP for pointing this out, I will wait for the program with enthusiasm, I believe it will be excellent material.

[nimbin1997]

Thanks for the tip.

 

Will look forward to a balanced discussion

[freddie]

I am listening NOW. You can download it as an mp3 file at abc.net.au/rn/summer/2006/science.htm So far it sounds quite balanced but i've only been listening 2 minutes. If not go to the abc website and follow the links.

 

Its also being repeated on tuesday.

 

I might comment later.

Edited January 13, 2007 by freddie

[everest]

ta mate

 

ev

[freddie]

I urge everyone to listen to this. There is a negative hydro/schizo rave near the beginning but this is sort of turned on it's head later. This actually appears to be a balanced debate. It at last shows a proper scientific look at the evidence. You may hear some things you may not like but overall I came away with no major regrets about my years of smoking cannabis. I came away thinking this is the most informative program on cannabis use in years. Pity its on radio national because no one gets to hear it.

 

This program deserves very close listening. Some real surprises here.