Leading GPs call for cannabis rethink
07 Feb 08
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=4117177&c=2

By Nigel Praities 

The Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is to begin its review of
the classification of cannabis, with a day-long conference in London. 

The council will look at the evidence whether cannabis should be reclassified as a
Class B drug, after concern has been raised over stronger strains of the drug,
known as skunk, on mental health. 

Dr Clare Gerada, a GP in South-East London and one of two GPs on the group , said
that doctors were having to cope with an influx of patients presenting with the
psychological and physical effects of cannabis use.

‘Some say it is decreasing, but I find that very difficult to square with my own
clinical practice,’ she said.

Dr Gerada appeared on BBC2 documentary programme Horizon this week, joining other
doctors in calling for a rethink of attitudes to drugs.

She backed other medical experts on the programme who argued that drugs such as
cannabis and alcohol, were far more deadly than esctasy, which is classified as
Class A.

Dr John Hague, a GPSI in mental health in Ipswich, said his personal view was that
cannabis should be reclassified. 

‘There is evidence that smoking cannabis increases the risk of psychosis by between
1.4 and 2 times that of non users. Physically there is evidence of an increased
risk of respiratory infections and cancers,’ he said.

A Home Office spokesperson said the review would be completed in April 2008.

Claude wrote:
> Leading GPs call for cannabis rethink
> 07 Feb 08
> http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=4117177&c=2
> 
> By Nigel Praities 
> 
> The Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is to begin its review of
> the classification of cannabis, with a day-long conference in London. 
> 
> The council will look at the evidence whether cannabis should be reclassified as a
> Class B drug, after concern has been raised over stronger strains of the drug,
> known as skunk, on mental health. 
> 
> Dr Clare Gerada, a GP in South-East London and one of two GPs on the group , said
> that doctors were having to cope with an influx of patients presenting with the
> psychological and physical effects of cannabis use.
> 
> ‘Some say it is decreasing, but I find that very difficult to square with my own
> clinical practice,’ she said.
> 
> Dr Gerada appeared on BBC2 documentary programme Horizon this week, joining other
> doctors in calling for a rethink of attitudes to drugs.
> 
> She backed other medical experts on the programme who argued that drugs such as
> cannabis and alcohol, were far more deadly than esctasy, which is classified as
> Class A.
> 
> Dr John Hague, a GPSI in mental health in Ipswich, said his personal view was that
> cannabis should be reclassified. 
> 
> ‘There is evidence that smoking cannabis increases the risk of psychosis by between
> 1.4 and 2 times that of non users. Physically there is evidence of an increased
> risk of respiratory infections and cancers,’ he said.
> 
> A Home Office spokesperson said the review would be completed in April 2008.
> 

Have you been at the ethyl alcohol again? You know it causes cutting and 
pasting?

On 9 feb, 23:27, Cla...@aol.com (Claude) wrote:
> Leading GPs call for cannabis rethink
> 07 Feb 08http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=411717...
>
> By Nigel Praities
>
> The Government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is to begin its review of
> the classification of cannabis, with a day-long conference in London.
>
> The council will look at the evidence whether cannabis should be reclassified as a
> Class B drug, after concern has been raised over stronger strains of the drug,
> known as skunk, on mental health.
>
> Dr Clare Gerada, a GP in South-East London and one of two GPs on the group , said
> that doctors were having to cope with an influx of patients presenting with the
> psychological and physical effects of cannabis use.
>
> 'Some say it is decreasing, but I find that very difficult to square with my own
> clinical practice,' she said.
>
> Dr Gerada appeared on BBC2 documentary programme Horizon this week, joining other
> doctors in calling for a rethink of attitudes to drugs.
>
> She backed other medical experts on the programme who argued that drugs such as
> cannabis and alcohol, were far more deadly than esctasy, which is classified as
> Class A.

Cannabis far more deadly than ecstasy?!
Right.. and green tea is far more deadly than chocolate.

>
> Dr John Hague, a GPSI in mental health in Ipswich, said his personal view was that
> cannabis should be reclassified.
>
> 'There is evidence that smoking cannabis increases the risk of psychosis by between
> 1.4 and 2 times that of non users. Physically there is evidence of an increased
> risk of respiratory infections and cancers,' he said.
>
> A Home Office spokesperson said the review would be completed in April 2008.

On Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:39:41 +0000, this_boy
 wrote:


>Have you been at the ethyl alcohol again? You know it causes cutting and 
>pasting?

You mean that Claude is sometimes drugged up on methanol before he
posts?

Svenne

Svenne wrote:
> On Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:39:41 +0000, this_boy
>  wrote:
> 
> 
>> Have you been at the ethyl alcohol again? You know it causes cutting and 
>> pasting?
> 
> You mean that Claude is sometimes drugged up on methanol before he
> posts?
> 
> Svenne
> 
Has he told you that?