Campaigners pressed the Government to reclassify marijuana as new evidence emerged that the drug could more than double the risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Research found any use of marijuana - which means even taking the drug just once - was associated with a 41% greater risk.
People who smoked the most marijuana were the most likely to suffer a psychotic breakdown marked by delusions, hallucinations or disordered thoughts. For frequent users, the risk rose to between 50% and 200%.
In the wake of the research, published today in The Lancet medical journal, there were calls for the Government to reverse its decision to downgrade marijuana to a class C drug.
Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: "The Lancet report justifies Sane's campaign that downgrading a substance with such known dangers masked the mounting evidence of direct links between the use of marijuana and later psychotic illness.
"This analysis of 35 studies should act as a serious warning of the dangers of regular or heavy marijuana use, doubling the risk of developing later schizophrenia, a condition in which a person may hear voices and experience strange thoughts and paranoid delusions."
Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "On the basis of the scientific and medical evidence available alone, the Government should reverse their disastrous policy of declassifying this harmful drug."
The study is likely to have a big impact on the Government's deliberations about marijuana. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is now considering whether marijuana should be returned to its previous status as a class B drug. Under Tony Blair's premiership, the drug was downgraded from class B to class C, so possession ceased to be an arrestable offence.
But Paul Corry, director of public affairs at mental health charity Rethink, said education about the dangers of marijuana was more important than reclassification.
A single marijuana joint can damage the lungs as much as smoking up to five cigarettes in one go, according to experts.
Scientists warn that the drug forces the lungs to work harder by obstructing air flow and causes chest tightness and wheezing.
It also damages the small vessels that transport oxygen around the lungs.
The news comes after research published last week showed that marijuana could more than double the risk of psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Researchers in New Zealand investigating lung damage found that the harm was directly related to the number of joints smoked, with higher consumption linked to greater incapacity.
The effect on the lungs of each joint was equivalent to smoking between 2.5 and five cigarettes in one go, they said
They added that the extent of the damage was dependent on the strength of the joint and the way it was smoked.
Dr Keith Prowse, chairman of the British Lung Foundation, said: "This research confirms that marijuana poses a serious health risk to the lungs and smoking a joint can be more harmful to the lungs than smoking a cigarette.
"It's important to remember, though, that tobacco continues to be more harmful overall because it is typically smoked in much higher quantities than marijuana."
Martin Barnes, chief executive of Drug-Scope, said: "Although there is a lot of focus on the links between marijuana use and mental health problems, this research highlights the fact that marijuana can also be harmful to physical health."
2007-10-02 04:59:00
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answer #1
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answered by conranger1 7
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I work in upper management. I have not missed a day of work in the last 51/2 years. I have never had any complaints about my work. I have been steadily employed since the age of 15. I pay my taxes and am an active voter. I have a wonderful marriage, have raised 4 beautiful, educated children, non of which has ever been in trouble with the law for any reason, or been any "trouble" at all. My husband is also employed in a high position within his company. He also pays his taxes and is an active voter. I tell you these things because we also happen to smoke marijuana on a daily basis. We consider it our after work beer. Which we don't drink. We don't drink any alcohol for that matter. We have never moved up to heroin like we were supposed to. We never have hallucinations like the government says we should. We don't rob people to fuel our drug habit. Now, knowing this, you can understand why I say yes it should be legal.
2007-10-02 05:15:29
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answer #2
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answered by soupcan48 1
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i'm occupied with the legalization of marijuana. Decriminalizing marijuana might launch and already over crowded penal device so as that the justice device can concentration its efforts on violent criminals and others that are a real harm to society. this might regrettably in no way ensue. There are too many roles that exist via fact it rather is against the regulation. Police, DEA, legal experts, judges, penitentiary guards, etc. What do you propose to do with various those people who does no longer have jobs if weed wasn't unlawful anymore? additionally, drug sellers do no longer want it to be legal. human beings might in basic terms enhance their very own and the fee might drop precipitously. ultimately, there are adequate those that are rather conservative or religious that would desire to vote in a thank you to maintain it unlawful. How do you think of it grew to become unlawful interior the 1st place? Yeah, i'm occupied with it yet i think of it rather is in basic terms a pipe dream. There are adequate places interior the U. S. the place smoking pot is quasi-legal besides. in basic terms stay out of the states that make it a legal and you will desire to be good.
2016-12-28 11:09:30
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answer #3
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answered by divalerio 4
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Absolutely. The advantages are just too many.Money saved on legal expense, policing,prisons can be used in the same backward groups on education and teaching trades to turn out productive tax paying work force.
It will also reduce gang violence, theft and robbery. Seems we have learned nothing from the days of prohibition. I am surprised at the so called Black leaders not pushing for such reforms as the present laws affects them most!
2007-10-04 17:57:41
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I think so. It's not near as bad as drinking and potentially it could be a viable energy source. Example, instead of burning coal, which puts sulphur in the air, you could burn bails of industrialized hemp and it wouldn't be near as harmful on the atmosphere. The problem is that the government couldn't tax the plant, therefore they've labeled it as a Schedule 1 substance, right up there with herion and cocaine, which marijuana isn't anywhere near as dangerous or addicting. I think that responsible people shouldn't have to live in a policed state of paranoia for burning one down.
2007-10-02 04:59:33
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answer #5
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answered by akd438 3
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I dont agree with drugs, but legalization of it does have benefits, and its no more harmful than alcohol or cigarettes which are legal. It would bring tax dollars, and it would cut down on crime, trafficing, and prisons being to full. There are honestly more benefits to legalizing it, than not. It would require the same restrictions as alcohol when driving etc. I dont understand why people like it tho...ive smoked several times, but never really enjoyed it, but to each their own.
2007-10-02 04:58:21
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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I would say yes. It is a PLANT for crying out loud. Does it really make sense to be able to charge someone with a FELONY for growing a plant? MJ should have the same legal status as lettuce.
2007-10-02 04:59:57
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answer #7
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answered by my_lawyer_is_bob_loblaw 2
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Definitely for medical purposes,especially for cancer treatments involving chemotherapy and radiation.And personally I see no difference between using marijuana or alcohol --NO! I've never smoked it but I sure drank my share of booze and I know I was a lot more wasted than anyone smoking pot and sure made a bigger a# s out of myself.
Lawful or not I bought pot for my wife when she under went chemo&radiation for cancer and none of the meds they gave her could help the terrible upset stomach she endured,but the pot did---so much for modern medicine!
CANCER SUCKS!
2007-10-02 05:20:53
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answer #8
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answered by Dragons Slayer 7
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less than two ounces yes. Not to be sold, and you should be able to grow 4 plants with a 1000 dollar a year growers tax
2007-10-02 05:05:07
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Yeah I think so. The cops spend too much time busting kids for smoking it, when they could spend that same time busting people for bigger crimes. And some people really need it, for medical reasons.
2007-10-02 04:56:18
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answer #10
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answered by Air Guitar Goddess 4
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