Antiseptic, you must be suffering from one of the side effects of using cannabis on a daily basis- delusions- if you think cannabis will not affect someone's performance in the workplace.

Don't believe me, a lowly nurse, though. Check out this Australian Health department website: commhttp://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/Content/campaign-resources/$FILE/Marijuana%20Fact%20sheet.pdf

But hey, you know better right? Feelings of grandeur and paranoia cause these feelings of denial in people who regularly use cannabis, such as yourself.

"In the short term using marijuana (cannabis) can lead to difficulty concentrating,
impaired motor skills,
slow reflexes,
reduced coordination,
bloodshot or glassy eyes and dryness of the mouth.

Longer term, users face the physical problems of increased risk of respiratory illnesses
including chronic bronchitis and lung, mouth, throat and tongue cancers.

Marijuana (cannabis) can also effect reproductive function, including lowered sex drive and impact on sperm count for males.

Problems can include memory loss, learning difficulties, mood swings, paranoia, anxiety, decreased motivation, hallucinations, dependence, psychosis and psychotic symptoms."

Just in case you didn't know, Antiseptic,
psychosis and psychotic symptoms can manifest as aggression.

Ring any alarm bells with you 'hon'

suzeonline:"you must be suffering from one of the side effects of using cannabis on a daily basis- delusions- if you think cannabis will not affect someone's performance in the workplace."

Me, on Sunday:"No ome has suggested it is harmless."

Me, on Saturday:"The biggest "problem" for cannabis users is lassitude and lack of initiative. This is the major aspect of cannabis consumption that could be of interest to employers and public regulators. "

Thanks for letting me clear that up, dear. May I suggest a joint or two and a good lie down? The rest of your post is as garbled as always. If you're as poor at reading Doctor's instructions as you are at reading what's posted here it might explain the high rate of mismedication that is so common in hospital.

Pynchme, "correlation does not imply causation" is a very old concept indeed. It means, quite simply, that just because two things occur together there is no reason to believe that one caused the other. For example, you're not very bright and you're female: while the correlation between these two things is reasonably strong, especially in the social studies department, there's no reason to believe that being female causes stupidity, or that being stupid causes femininity. For example, Morgan is also not very bright but he's not female, or at least, that's what he claims.

In fact, I suspect there's no causal relationship between your gender and your lack of intelligence at all, it's just a coincidence.

By the way, I don't "promote" use of cannabis or any other drug, I simply reject your efforts to demonise me because I choose to smoke the stuff and am not ashamed to say so. Whether you or anyone else choose to smoke it is your own affair, but I suspect it'd do you good.

Your addistion is to being a busybody and your constant promotion of nanny-statist policies is a clear sign of how far that addiction has progressed. Seek help.

Cornflower

Your joke made me laugh out loud, first thing on a Monday morning - excellent work.

Anti

I note the hour of your last post and the level of venom it contains - maybe bring on 'smoko' a little earlier today.

Suzeonline

I agree that excess use of drugs (from alcohol to crack) particularly by teens (whose brains are not yet fully developed) MAY lead to many of the appalling damage you cite. However, the damage done by keeping drugs illicit is worse - the crime rate, drug-lords, just the 'mystique' of imbibing the banned. We can support and monitor alcoholics, the same cannot be said for illegal drug users.

I am hoping that by the time I reach retirement, it is legal for me to grow a nice little patch of pot in the garden and like my dear departed Grandma who loved a splash or two of whisky in her bedtime milk, I can still on the verandah and partake of a 'cookie' or three. I won't return to smoking the stuff.

Most excellent article and joke, Severin and Cornflower.How does the use of drugs and medicines affect driving skills?

Re driving under the influence of drugs (legal an illegal), some research has been going on in the Netherlands- here's the English version:
http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_Drugs_and_medicines.pdf

"The effect of drugs and medicines on driving skills varies according to the type of drug; there can be differences in the effects even within a single type of drug. The effect of cannabis, for example, is that the user becomes ‘high’ or ‘stoned’. These users experience feelings of euphoria, relaxation and lethargy. Their reaction time increases, their coordination decreases, and their memory is affected. As a result, complex driving tasks in which the driver’s attention has to be divided over various individual tasks are not performed as well. Experienced drug users, however, are aware of their diminished skills and adjust their driving behaviour so that the adverse effects generated by the substances are less than would be expected. In combination with alcohol, however, the use of cannabis leads to an extra deterioration of driving performance."

So, experience should also be calculated in when we talk about risk.

And yes, legalise drugs and they can be regulated, realistic warnings can be put in place on packaging based on science and not hype.

I enjoy alcohol for socialising but rarely drink because it really doesn't go with our lifestyle and recreational activities.

If the growth and possession of small quantities of marijuana were legalised and in the event that we wanted to try it too there is no likelihood that our present behaviour would change. That is, it would rarely be consumed unless we expected to be 'dry docked' (car, boat, climbing etc included) for a fair margin of safety.

Most people would be like that I would think and I can agree with those who feel that their freedom should not be curtailed for the needs on the wilful or vulnerable few. However neither side of politics is all that concerned about individual freedom and I think that situation will worsen rather than improve in the short term. The result will be that more otherwise law-abiding citizens will be treated as law breakers and confidence in our laws and government will continue to nose dive.

It is amusing to think about how many of those mansions and expensive cars might have to be sold if all of the little people presently contributing to the rivers of gold from marijuana could grow a few pot plants instead.

Be interesting too to see what effect it had on reducing the binge drinking and drunkenness that is the root of most violence.

There are risks in reducing restrictions on marijuana, but a spin-off could be reduction in the incidence of violence and crime. Why concentrate on drug control when the goal should be limiting violence and crime? It is another example where police and government have got the problem back to front and have grasped the bull by the teat, so to speak.

I agree entirely Cornflower, and you make 2 points I'm trying to make but more succinctly than I, when you say :

(1) " Most people would be like that( meaning would act responsibly) , and I can agree with those who feel that their freedom should not be curtailed for the needs on the wilful or vulnerable few".

and (2) " Neither side of politics is all that concerned about individual freedom and I think that situation will worsen rather than improve in the short term".

As a declared civil libertarian I am increasingly concerned that govt continues to encroach on a citizens opportunity to be considered a responsible citizen.

Opportunity to participate positively in society is diminished for most people , original idea's are curtailed, views cannot be expressed as readily as before, as the police state (or it's pet name) the nanny state strengthens it's grip.

Suzeonline,

Cannabis smoking has been connected to emphysema to my knowledge, but is not known to cause cancer.

Impairing of motor skills/reduced coordination is much more relevant if you were talking about alcohol than cannabis

and as for some of the other propositions you make, (is it possible) your opinions could be more a product of mindset than evidence, because no actual conclusive proof exists for the conclusions your drawing.

The Australian Health Dept website would be unlikely to be a definitive source on this subject anyway Suze. I say this with absolute trepidation, and with great respect for both the A. H. Dept and absolute admiration and respect for the nursing profession.