Title – Drug Use - Cannabis
Source – The Times
Date – 4th April 2008
Cannabis is in all the headlines again, with re-classification a hot political issue. There seems to be a disparity in messages politicians are sending out, depending on which particular voters they are trying to attract.
At times we seem to go through a period of confessionals, politicians from all sides come out and say how the ‘dabbled’, stories of how they ‘were present while others in a room smoked’ or matters as seemingly trivial of whether or not they ‘inhaled’. What is the message they are trying to send out? Are they trying to purge themselves before the press get hold of a story and a scandal follows, or are they trying (in that odd way some politicians do) to ‘identify with the young voters’. Whatever it may be, the message young people get, is that it is alright to try.
Then there is the hard line approach, the approach (often form the very same people) that condones any drug use and demands reclassification whatever the ‘expert panel’ suggests is the right approach. ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) recommend that the reclassification from a Class C drug to a Class B drug should be a priority, thus allowing the courts to impose longer sentences on those caught dealing or producing Cannabis.
The problem with this whole situation is that mixed messages are being sent out and the problem with mixed messages is that people hear only what they want to hear. Cannabis users hear the message loud and clear that a drug that was recently downgraded to a Class C, which politicians have ‘dabbled’ in and which carries a ‘slap on the wrist’ for those caught in possession, really can’t be that dangerous. These are the same people that can always be heard saying ‘Cannabis use is much less harmful then alcohol’. Those that want reclassification of Cannabis to a Class B drug see all users as addicted to ‘super skunk’, people who wake up first thing in the morning have a smoke and waste the rest of the day, these people who are shown scientifically to be more prone to psychotic episodes and other mental health problems.
The reality is probably something half way between the two, but when it comes to drugs there is really no half way house and that fundamentally is the problem with Cannabis. Cannabis comes in many different forms and the concern of groups like ACPO is that more and more the variants the police are coming across is at the stronger end of the scale, the ‘skunk’ or ‘super skunk’ as it is commonly referred to. In this stronger variety lie their concerns, because these stronger variants have effects that have more in common with those of other Class B drugs and even some Class A drugs. If more evidence is needed, the one variant of Cannabis that is identified separately, Cannabis Oil, is already a Class A drug.
You would be hard pushed to find a coherent argument against the fact that the stronger variants of Cannabis make the jump from them to other Class B or Class A drugs easier for users to justify to themselves and therefore makes users more susceptible to trying and becoming addicted to these ‘stronger’ drugs. In that lies one of the other very strong arguments for reclassifying Cannabis as a Class B drug. But where all these arguments and this political ping-pong falls down is that they cloud what should be the clear message. Cannabis is illegal. Be it Class C, Class B or even Class A it is illegal and it is illegal for a reason and that is, that it is harmful.
For people working in the security industry, the licensed retail sector and in workplaces where aggression and violence are a real concern, although they should be aware of drug classifications, the overwhelming message is that Cannabis is illegal. Being aware of its effects and the potential consequences of its use, as well as the signs and symptoms of use and dealing is the important factor.
Our courses provide up to date information and guidance on illegal drugs. These courses include the National Certificate for Licensees – Drug Awareness (NCLDA) for those working in the licensed retail sector. The National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) and In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI) for those working in the Security Industry, as well as bespoke Drugs Awareness courses for specific clients from various different sectors.
Source – The Times
Date – 4th April 2008
Cannabis is in all the headlines again, with re-classification a hot political issue. There seems to be a disparity in messages politicians are sending out, depending on which particular voters they are trying to attract.
At times we seem to go through a period of confessionals, politicians from all sides come out and say how the ‘dabbled’, stories of how they ‘were present while others in a room smoked’ or matters as seemingly trivial of whether or not they ‘inhaled’. What is the message they are trying to send out? Are they trying to purge themselves before the press get hold of a story and a scandal follows, or are they trying (in that odd way some politicians do) to ‘identify with the young voters’. Whatever it may be, the message young people get, is that it is alright to try.
Then there is the hard line approach, the approach (often form the very same people) that condones any drug use and demands reclassification whatever the ‘expert panel’ suggests is the right approach. ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) recommend that the reclassification from a Class C drug to a Class B drug should be a priority, thus allowing the courts to impose longer sentences on those caught dealing or producing Cannabis.
The problem with this whole situation is that mixed messages are being sent out and the problem with mixed messages is that people hear only what they want to hear. Cannabis users hear the message loud and clear that a drug that was recently downgraded to a Class C, which politicians have ‘dabbled’ in and which carries a ‘slap on the wrist’ for those caught in possession, really can’t be that dangerous. These are the same people that can always be heard saying ‘Cannabis use is much less harmful then alcohol’. Those that want reclassification of Cannabis to a Class B drug see all users as addicted to ‘super skunk’, people who wake up first thing in the morning have a smoke and waste the rest of the day, these people who are shown scientifically to be more prone to psychotic episodes and other mental health problems.
The reality is probably something half way between the two, but when it comes to drugs there is really no half way house and that fundamentally is the problem with Cannabis. Cannabis comes in many different forms and the concern of groups like ACPO is that more and more the variants the police are coming across is at the stronger end of the scale, the ‘skunk’ or ‘super skunk’ as it is commonly referred to. In this stronger variety lie their concerns, because these stronger variants have effects that have more in common with those of other Class B drugs and even some Class A drugs. If more evidence is needed, the one variant of Cannabis that is identified separately, Cannabis Oil, is already a Class A drug.
You would be hard pushed to find a coherent argument against the fact that the stronger variants of Cannabis make the jump from them to other Class B or Class A drugs easier for users to justify to themselves and therefore makes users more susceptible to trying and becoming addicted to these ‘stronger’ drugs. In that lies one of the other very strong arguments for reclassifying Cannabis as a Class B drug. But where all these arguments and this political ping-pong falls down is that they cloud what should be the clear message. Cannabis is illegal. Be it Class C, Class B or even Class A it is illegal and it is illegal for a reason and that is, that it is harmful.
For people working in the security industry, the licensed retail sector and in workplaces where aggression and violence are a real concern, although they should be aware of drug classifications, the overwhelming message is that Cannabis is illegal. Being aware of its effects and the potential consequences of its use, as well as the signs and symptoms of use and dealing is the important factor.
Our courses provide up to date information and guidance on illegal drugs. These courses include the National Certificate for Licensees – Drug Awareness (NCLDA) for those working in the licensed retail sector. The National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) and In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI) for those working in the Security Industry, as well as bespoke Drugs Awareness courses for specific clients from various different sectors.
Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment