Marijuana, Cannabis etc (plus Bonus Harry)

Yes and definitely NO. The varieties of homegrown super strength skunk available today has definitely caused MH problems in many young people. Psychosis caused by smoking it has increased and I have witnessed the harm caused by the use of cannabis. It is not harmless and PH has been very irresponsible imo.

Wyllow3 Lots of children have weird childhoods, nothing exceptionally weird about his. Surrounded by people who cared about him, even if they didn't always get it right. And then the shock of discovering that he wasn't as important as he thought he was.

The Dutch have started applying their drug rules with increasing rigour as they face increasing problems.
www.drugs.ie/news/article/international_dutch_tighten_cannabis_laws
www.government.nl/topics/drugs

Didn't most of us use it in our younger days - or was that just in the (very affluent) area I lived in? Isn't long-term alcohol and tobacco abuse a far worse problem? I suppose there's use - then there's abuse - of any substance.

The trouble with the 'studies' is the lack of robust before and after evidence. People with mental health problems are attracted to distractions, self-medication and perceived 'cures' anything to feel better. So, it's a chicken and egg situation. Does cannabis use cause problems or is it merely a correlation? I expect it's harmful for some and helpful for others.

It would be more useful to compare health outcomes in countries where use is legal with those where it's illegal. I think legalisation, regulation and taxation will be the sensible route in future. Taking away the criminal aspect, the link with hard drugs and availability of strong skunk would solve many problems.

Good message grannyactivist. Pity that Dick can’t read it and take note !

I wouldn’t even accept pain relief during labour, so there is not a chance that I would put an illegal drug in my body. 😂😂

As a counsellor, social worker, teacher, and in my work with homeless people I have seen the devastating effects of illegal drugs, not just on the user, but on whole generations of families. No addict I’ve ever met (I’ve met lots) set out to become dependent, but eventually there can be, and often is, an escalation in the frequency and potency of drug use until the user is sucked into a world of cravings.

If you visit an in-patient psychiatric ward I can almost guarantee that a majority of patients will have had a crisis brought on or exacerbated by illegal drug use. Cannabis use has grown in Scotland since it has effectively been decriminalised and is now the drug most likely to trigger mental illness there. In England there was a 50% rise in cannabis-related hospital admissions in the five years from 2013-2018. In both countries there was an increase in young adults needing in-patient psychiatric treatment.

Studies show that regular cannabis use alters the brain and can lead to depression, anxiety, psychosis, increased risk of suicide and higher rates of hospital admission.

Probably never top of the class, and what to most of us a pretty weird childhood.

I think Prince Harry may well be an example of how drugs addle the mind, or was he like that anyway?

Interesting research and not surprising. Age limits on purchase etc taken for granted.

(mind you, my DGD is 9 and has to take Cannabis derived meds for epilepsy and its not a known side effect - but there my knowledge ends.)

Problem then is the same as with alcohol, ie family use in the Holme.

I agree that the more they do studies, the better informed governments will be, to help regulate the use.

What I do think is harmful is the use by teenagers when their brains are still growing. I have read studies that show heavy use during teen years may inhibit brain development, and cause memory/learning disabilities. And the more loose society is with something, the easier it is for teens to access and and abuse. So I am all for legalization and relocating.

I also believe society has to be careful in these legalizations because the government sees the extra revenue it can generate, and perhaps whitewash any negatives.

CanadianGran

Yes - it's not for me.
No - not beneficial to mental health, but I don't think it causes horrors. I tend to think that just like alcohol use, there are those that will overindulge until it causes issues. Whether they smoked pot or used other drugs or alcohol, I think they are prone to mental health issues or addiction.

Cannabis use here is common and legal, you will see it at most parties (outside), and plenty of people I know use it as pain relief, relaxation, sleeping better.

Yes.
Know from family in another country where it's legal.

However, up thread we see there are investigations as to what MH conditions may helped by cannabis derived drugs
ie - decisions on drug use and MH problems are not just related to whether there is an addictive personality as to use
.We dont know yet whether, for example, careful use of cannabis derived drugs are actually safer than some sleeping tablets or other sedative meds, some of which are in themselves extremely addictive.

The Army are also apparently furious with Harry (yet again) for his thoughtless comments re the men not believing in the cause when they were deployed. He does not seem to engage his small brain before speaking.

The consultant psychiatrist, Max Pemberton has a very reasoned and balanced review of Prince Harry's latest 'poor me' interview www.dailymail.co.uk/columnists/article-11823945/Prince-Harrys-words-cause-huge-harm-says-psychiatrist-DR-MAX-PEMBERTON.html.

I recommend people read it.

Yes - it's not for me.
No - not beneficial to mental health, but I don't think it causes horrors. I tend to think that just like alcohol use, there are those that will overindulge until it causes issues. Whether they smoked pot or used other drugs or alcohol, I think they are prone to mental health issues or addiction.

Cannabis use here is common and legal, you will see it at most parties (outside), and plenty of people I know use it as pain relief, relaxation, sleeping better.

Would that the Mail would be so "responsible" about alcoholism. If cannabis it were legalised and controlled and separated off from hard drugs - those really kill and damage - and information given as freely about oxycontin and similar addictions that ruin lives.
As I said upthread, its very stupid of Harry to speak out on this, but the reality is that millions of those who can afford the good stuff use it recreationally and it can do less harm than alcohol. People need knowledge and good judgements not shock scandal headlines.

You don’t say!

Just my honest opinion you understand 😉 but I think somebody is whispering in his ear.

henetha

I'm utterly appalled at Harry's idiotic pronouncements. It's apparent that he is very immature. It's so sad.

He is. I don’t think that his therapist is doing him any favours,
He’s a terrible advertisement for therapy
He’s being used left, right and centre

Maddy I didn’t understand why Maw thought that discussion of recreational drugs and mental health was so tedious and inconsequential

I'm utterly appalled at Harry's idiotic pronouncements. It's apparent that he is very immature. It's so sad.

MawtheMerrier

Nobody’s business.
Honestly, there must be better topics for discussion.
How about the toilet brushes again.

I’ll take that as a yes.

My answer, no, never, but agree with PaddyAnne that it should be available on prescription for pain relief.

Harry has sent out a terrible message concerning drugs, and a great boost to the illegal drug trade. 'Clearly if he has found benefit, then why not me?' Why is doing this, is he completely brainless?

1) no
2) no idea about mental health and marijuana

Well, on this issue of he cares about MH issues he shouldn't speak so,

although there is much more debate amongst psychiatrists than the article lets on.

but what else to expect from a newspaper that like shock scandal headliness? People whose children take cannaboids like my DGD and others for various conditions are not mentioned at all, and they should be. its all very either/or.

Its a complex current discussion as to some potential values but under very controlled use

and mostly because of the dodgy stuff out there does cause great harm.

Thanks for the link to the article Sparklefizz, if only someone could shut H up. Why on earth is he being given a paid platform to come out with this crap?