Support for legalisation of cannabis goes up in smoke

[grace]

AUSTRALIAN attitudes to cannabis use have hardened dramatically over the past four years, and support for its legalisation has fallen away.

 

But people are increasingly looking to needle and syringe exchange programs and safe injecting rooms, rather than law and order crackdowns, to tackle the wider illegal drug problem, a new study has found.

 

The study, from the University of NSW Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, reviewed a series of survey results over time and reported a large drop in support for regular cannabis use to less than one in 10 Australians last year, compared with one in four in 2004.

 

Advocates of cannabis law reform also lost ground, with more than half the population in 2007 opposing legalising the drug, compared with 44.5 per cent almost a decade earlier.

 

Australians instead became more likely to back tougher penalties for the sale and supply of the drug, which in recent years has been increasingly linked to mental illness and other health problems.

 

Education was as recently as 2004 the preferred policy to deal with cannabis use.

 

But the rise in conservatism towards cannabis use and sale has been offset by a greater willingness to look to the health, rather than the justice, system for solutions to drug problems.

 

Study co-author Francis Matthew-Simmons said more than half of Australians now supported needle and syringe programs, compared with 15 per cent who opposed them.

 

Supervised injecting rooms, which were fiercely opposed when introduced, also had 40 per cent support versus 26 per cent opposition.

 

About 30 per cent in both cases did not know or neither supported nor opposed.

 

"Just because Australians see drug use as problematic does not mean they support a punitive response towards users," Mr Matthew-Simmons said.

 

"In fact, support for pragmatic, harm reduction programs has increased over the years."

 

In 2007, heroin remained the drug most commonly associated with a drug problem (30 per cent).

 

But its presence on the public radar was on the wane, while the number of people associating methamphetamine with a drug problem had increased.

 

The study found the public was embracing some elements of the "zero tolerance" approach to drug policy, but not others.

 

"Australians may not be bound to any particular ideological position (such as 'tough on drugs') when thinking about drug issues, and instead are concerned more with pragmatic solutions to the problem," it concluded.

 

Author: Siobhain Ryan

Date: 23 January 2009

Source: The Australian

Copyright: Copyright 2009 News Limited

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...5010800,00.html

 

Sound familiar

 

Cannabis acceptance up in smoke

Monday February 19, 2007

Pfizer Website at http://www.pfizer.com.au/Media/Cannabis.aspx

 

New research has cast doubt on the perception that most young Australians consider cannabis to be a benign and harmless drug with a third now viewing it as unacceptable.

 

Data in the latest Pfizer Australia Health Report jointly published with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), based at the University of NSW, shows that a high proportion of young adults perceive the drug as dangerous, addictive and linked to a range of health and social problems.

 

The study finds that although almost half (47 percent) of under 30s have friends who use cannabis, one third say that their peer group find its use unacceptable.

 

“There appears to be a shift in attitude regarding cannabis, even among those people in our community who are more likely to come into contact with the drug,” says Paul Dillon from NDARC.

 

Concern about the effects of cannabis on the community is also high with 83 percent of all Australian adults believing there are social problems associated with its use.

 

Other findings include:

 

• Three-in-four Australians feel cannabis use is dangerous or very dangerous;

 

• Around 40 percent think cannabis is always addictive with one-in-five thinking it always leads to other drug use, and 60 percent thinking it sometimes leads to other drug use;

 

• Sixty-eight percent of all Australians believe cannabis use can lead to other crime;

 

• Close to two-thirds would be equally concerned over whether their adolescent child was smoking cigarettes or smoking cannabis;

 

• Half of all Australians believe that cannabis can cause schizophrenia, depression and anxiety disorders to a moderate or large degree.

 

The report also reveals public opinion is in favour of more action by governments on cannabis. Seventy seven percent of those surveyed believed that authorities should run a public health campaign about the effects of cannabis.

 

The introduction of roadside drug testing is strongly supported by close to 80 percent of those surveyed. Most felt that cannabis would affect a person’s ability to drive a car and increase the likelihood of a car accident.

 

The research found that 60 percent agree that people arrested for cannabis use and possession should be referred to treatment programs rather than be punished under the criminal justice system.

 

“It appears that although Australians believe cannabis is not acceptable in their peer group, they do feel that there should be support given to those who use it,” Paul Dillon commented.

 

Currently only 10 percent of Australians get their information about cannabis from a drug or alcohol service with others seeking information from sources such as friends, internet, magazines and television.

 

Mr Dillon says it is important that Australians seek information from a reliable source.

 

“Friends, family, even the internet can sometimes get it wrong, especially when it comes to separating fact from fiction,” Mr Dillon said.

 

“There are no black and white answers with cannabis, only shades of grey. These subtleties are often difficult to communicate and can lead to misinformation being disseminated and a polarisation of views.”

 

“This research clearly shows that it is important that the Australian public is provided good quality information on the health and social impacts of cannabis. There are plans for a new National Cannabis Centre to be opened this year, funded by the Australian Government, which will hopefully assist in this area.”

 

NDARC has collaborated with Pfizer Australia to assist with educating the public about cannabis to produce this month’s edition of the Pfizer Australia Health Report. Filled with useful information, free copies can be requested by phoning 1800 675 229 or by visiting www.healthreport.com.au where people can also sign-up for email alerts of future editions.

 

Findings are based on responses from 1439 Australians aged 18 years and over. The research was conducted in 2006 by independent consultants Stollznow Research.

 

Pfizer Australia is the nation’s leading research-based health care company, investing over $A42m in local research and development annually. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medical treatments for both humans and animals. For more information, visit the links on this website or www.leukaemia.org.au.

 

 

Support for cannabis legalisation wanes

Author: Danny Rose, Medical Writer

Date: 22 January 2009

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-natio...90123-7o9t.html

 

Public support to legalise cannabis has come down from the high of 1998, as Australians take an increasingly conservative view of the drug.

 

But while tolerance for regular users of weed has waned, there has been no corresponding increase in support for tougher penalties.

 

New research by the University of NSW's Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) also shows Australians increasingly favour education and harm minimisation measures over tough penalties for drug users.

 

"The high watermark for support of cannabis legalisation was around 1998 (and) since that time, support for legalisation has progressively decreased," DPMP Director, Associate Professor Alison Ritter says.

 

"The appetite in Australia for the legalisation of cannabis appears to have waned."

 

In 2004, one quarter of Australians thought regular cannabis use was OK but that figure has now dropped to 10 per cent.

 

Dr Ritter said the shift in cannabis support was not been mirrored in other illegal drugs - such as heroin and methamphetamine - which had never been strongly approved of and the vast majority of Australians had never supported its legalisation.

 

"Too often, people associate legalisation with harm reduction," Dr Ritter also said.

 

"These two things are not the same - and the research shows that Australians do distinguish them.

 

"Australians are telling us that they do not support legalisation of drugs, but they do support government programs that reduce harms for drug users".

 

In 2007, more Australians support needle and syringe programs (53 per cent with only 15 per cent opposing), and supervised injecting facilities (40 per cent support with 26 per cent opposition) than in 2004.

 

At the same time, Australians also strongly support abstinence-based treatments such as naltrexone.

 

"These results are important for Australian governments - it reinforces that harm reduction measures are good public policy in the eyes of the general community," says study co-author Francis Matthew-Simmons.

 

"Just because Australians see drug use as problematic, does not mean they support a punitive response towards users (and) support for pragmatic, harm reduction programs has increased over the years".

 

 

Pot less popular with more people: survey

Author: Unknown

Date: 25 January 2009

Source: Cowra Community News

http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php...2205&id=100

 

A NEW survey has shown a significant drop in the number of Australians who support the legalisation of cannabis.

 

The University of New South Wales drug policy unit surveyed about 23,000 people on their attitudes towards illegal drugs in 2007.

 

It found 19 per cent of respondents supported the legalisation compared with 34 per cent in 1998, ABC News reports.

 

The unit director, Associate Professor Alison Ritter, says they also found less people approve of the regular use of marijuana.

 

“In 1998, 31 per cent of Australians approved of the regular use of cannabis and in 2007 it’s around 6 per cent,” she says.

 

Professor Ritter says there has also been an increase in support for harm reduction programs.

 

“There’s also been an increase in support for needle-syringe programs.

 

“More than half of the people in the survey support needle-syringe programs, and 40 per cent of Australians support supervised injecting facilities.

 

“That’s an increase from around 32 per cent in 2004.”

[Hector]

Feed the public sugar covered shit for long enough they'll start thinking it tastes good.

That BIASED one eyed university?? has the WORST bunch of Prohibitionist number fiddlers what the hell are they teaching this latest crop of control freaks? Is this a glimpse of the mindset of tomorrows leaders? Zero tolerance?? Fuck me dead.

Australians are a society of tv guzzling fuckin retards and I'm glad I'm not a part it I can handle having zero tolerance shoved in my face as that's the same tolerance I have for educated idiots, police, politicians and any other herd mentality animals.

Even with ZERO TOLERANCE from mainstream media Cannabis is still used by a FUCKING HUGE PERCENTAGE of society, something these moral crusading philosophers just can't come to grips with no matter how they try skew the figures.

I guess if your trying to get money from a new Labor government you need to be seen as effective, what a joke

[jabez]

it's not the universitys fault, there just reporting how Australians view herb and you can thank the media, government and us lazy stoners for that, since we do nothing about it!

 

I know people that don't mind a joint once in a while, but claim that cannabis is bad for a lot of people and support prohibition. Makes no sense what so ever, but that's what years of lies and propaganda do to weak minded (most of society) people.

Edited January 22, 2009 by jabez

[Hector]

it's not the universitys fault, there just reporting how Australians view herb and you can thank the media, government and us lazy stoners for that, since we do nothing about it!

 

Not their fault? Because they CHOSE to rehash and release some old reports into a new report that shows their hard work for the previous government must have done some good, as look at how society now views Cannabis?

 

C'mon.

 

These parasites need to go cap in hand begging for money. You got the bucks, they'll spin the research whichever way you want. That line I got from an old girlfriend who left a creamy uni lab job as a research assistant into heart disease.

 

I'm stupid, but not that stupid, and I shouldn't need to wave a fricken CANNABIS SHOULD BE LEGALISED banner or post in hiding from this web site to say so, but I do.

The truth shouldn't be up for grabs to the highest bidder

When can we expect to see this university throw some research dollars towards the study of links to the endocannabinoid system to compliment research being done towards curing cancer, like researchers in Israel do?

pffft we won't, not while there is easy money up for grabs elsewhere

[mull]

Then looking at the study's co-author, in light of whom he works for (ndarc/ mother plant of ncpic).. - Francis Matthew-Simmons

 

Francis Matthew-Simmons is a Research Assistant and a PhD student at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. In 2006 he completed a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and a Bachelor of Public Policy and Management (Hons) at the University of Melbourne. His honours thesis focused on the accuracy of newspaper coverage of ecstasy use in Australia. His PhD will focus more broadly on the policy making process in the illicit drug arena, particularly the role of the media and public opinion in drug policy reform. His interests include politics, public policy, ecstasy and related drugs, 'rave' culture, and the sociological aspects of drug use.

 

http://www.dpmp.unsw.edu.au/DPMPWeb.nsf/page/contacts?open

 

What Hector said

[freddie]

The study, from the University of NSW Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, reviewed a series of survey results over time and reported a large drop in support for regular cannabis use to less than one in 10 Australians last year, compared with one in four in 2004.

After years of conservative government, biased media coverage and a virtually non existent cannabis law reform movement I'm not surprised. The mental health issue has been almost impossible to counter. Australia is a very conservative country these days.

 

Opinion polls can be manipulated but in this case I think they are spot on. I have felt a change in peoples attitudes. A lot of people I used to smoke with are now totally opposed to cannabis and even blame it for some of their problems. Its much easier to blame something external than your own inadequacies.

 

Edit: on the subject of university bias-

 

I have similar qualifications to the authors of this study (no PHD though) and I can honestly say I have never met anyone who would deliberately bias a study. I'm not saying it doesn't go on but the majority of people who do research are genuinely interested in finding answers. They are also subject to criticisms from their peers. No one wants to be caught out doing shoddy research.

 

Funding is another question altogether and it is probably true that certain studies will be more likely to get up.

Edited January 22, 2009 by freddie

[grace]

When can we expect to see this university throw some research dollars towards the study of links to the endocannabinoid system to compliment research being done towards curing cancer, like researchers in Israel do?

pffft we won't, not while there is easy money up for grabs elsewhere

 

The Cannabinoid Science Research Group at the University of Sydney is conducting a diverse range of research related to cannabis and the cannabinoids. Another university has recently commenced research and testing into high THC strains. Other universities have indicated they are commencing research in the future.

 

Anticancer actions of cannabinoids

 

"One of this group's primary research interests is studying the anticancer effects of plant-derived, endogenous and synthetic cannabinoid compounds. This group is investigating the antiproliferative effects of cannabinoids on a range of human cancer cell lines. In addition, with the increasing use cannabis by chemotherapy patients as a palliative care agent, it is important to know whether these drugs modulate multidrug resistance (MDR). MDR is a common reason for treatment failure in cancer patients. This group is currently investigating the effects of cannabinoids on the most characterised MDR transporter, p-glycoprotein."

 

The effect of cannabinoids and psychostimulants on the neuregulin knockout mouse

 

THC re-intoxication

 

University of New South Wales

Bosch Institute

http://www.bosch.org.au/research/NervousSy...ience/index.php

[jabez]

It would take an idoit not to realize that nearly every study about cannabis that gets released to the media is just propaganda put out to support the governments policiy.

 

The point I was making is this study wasn't saying anything about the effects of cannabis, it was pointing out the point of view Australians have towards cannabis (right or wrong) and in this case I think they were spot on.

 

It's a ilogical, biased and a unrealistic opinion, but from what I've seen it is the true opinion that Australians seem to have at the moment, even by people who smoke it them selfs as has been pointed out.

Edited January 23, 2009 by jabez

[Hector]

I have similar qualifications to the authors of this study (no PHD though) and I can honestly say I have never met anyone who would deliberately bias a study. I'm not saying it doesn't go on but the majority of people who do research are genuinely interested in finding answers. They are also subject to criticisms from their peers. No one wants to be caught out doing shoddy research.

 

Funding is another question altogether and it is probably true that certain studies will be more likely to get up.

 

I was refering to lavage feeding of rats as oppossed to intravenous injections. My friend explained the rats HAD to be fed that way otherwise the findings would prove incorrect. She entrusted this to other people who couldn't be bothered lavage feeding rats and needled them all.

Why are you mob so quick to trust someone from a university? But who gives a fuck, my plants will keep growing.

I got better things to do than debate this.

Lap up all the studies by NDARC you's like seeing as you've both judged them spot on

[jabez]

I don't trust anyone!

 

But I ain't naive either. The Howard government run a "reefer madness" movement that worked. It's makes me mad evwrytime I think about it, but getting mad and being in denial is not gonna get the truth out there.

 

Or maybe I'm wrong, maybe people all over Australia are standing up in huge numbers demanding there right to use/grow cannabis, maybe I'm just to stoned to realize it