Marijuana Anonymous....

[Guest Urbanhog]

Surprised to find this in Channel Nine's Good Medicine Website's Factsheet, only useful for those based in South Australia......

 

CANNABIS:

 

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug and about 10% of people who use it will become dependent. In the past marijuana, or cannabis, was thought to be a soft harmless drug, but the drugs on offer today are very different to the "pot" of twenty years ago.

 

Recent surveys have shown that nearly 50% of 14 year olds say they have used cannabis.

 

Sydney Neuro-scientist, Dr John Anderson, studies the effect cannabis use has on the brainwaves of young people. He says some kids who experiment won’t continue but others with a predisposed condition can become dependent. Scientists are also now saying that not only can cannabis be addictive, but excessive use can make people aggressive.

 

Latest research into the effects of cannabis, shows that, in some cases, heavy use can actually trigger psychotic illnesses, like schizophrenia. Heavy cannabis use and schizophrenia have a similar effect on the brain. They both increase the natural level of dopomene, which is the neuro-transmitter that mainly controls our emotions. Too much dopomene for too long can result in a psychotic breakdown. It is thought that although cannabis on the whole doesn’t lead to serious consequences, but if there is a family history of psychiatric illness, you need to be very careful.

 

Update

The Archway Rehabilitation and Community Centre Runs is a unique live-in treatment program for cannabis users. Since we aired this story back in April, more than 20 people have successfully completed the course. The centre has also formed a follow-up treatment called Marijuana Anonymous which provides on-going support to graduates of the course. It’s the first meeting of this kind in Australia.

 

More Info :

John Henderson

Cannabis Counsellor

Archway Rehabilitation and Community Centre

74 Dale Street

PORT ADELAIDE SA 5015

Phone: (08) 8447 3636

Fax: (08) 8341 0994

 

 

.... um....please don't get me wrong, I don't want give up ... just thought I might add this information to make this site bit more balanced and informative like these "Pokie Rooms" at casinos, clubs and Pubs where they also provide "Gambler's Anonymous" information if you get my drift....

[Buzzz]

Hi

 

 

I think the agression thing is somewhat accurate although I also believe its the strain that makes one so as some indicas arent very plesant to smoke. Where they say "the drugs on offer today are very different to the "pot" of twenty years ago is uninformed. How could the strains of today be more powerful when all the genetics used in todays breeding comes from nature? perhaps more consistency is a better description but people are always looking for yesterdays lost strains.. Anything can become an addiction, gambling,food ,sex ,prescription drugs,alcohol etc.. but these are legal addictions. and perhaps pose a greater harm. I wonder how many people were used in these tests ? What people will subject themselves to testing and under what conditions ?( do 10 % say damn man im hooked and 90% say no probs im off the herb?) Many people will not for fear of having big brother on their shoulder ..

 

Buzzz

[Green Finned Demon]

When will people understand that noone gets more stoned now than they did then. Do drinkers have a schooner of beer and then a schooner of whisky? No. They have a single shot or a double whisky if they want. Noone is dumb enough to drink the same quantity of spirits as they would of beer. The same rule applies.

 

We used to buy an ounce for $30 and it had head, stems, leaf and seeds. Now it is mainly hydro heads but I refuse point blank to pay the outrageous prices and your dealer usually isn't your hippy surfie mate but a heroin addict crim. It costs a fortune and people smoke it sparingly. I remember when you would walk in to the pub and have half a dozen competing guys give you a joint to try out their stuff. If anything people smoke less now.