The National US Drug Intelligence Centre states "In some cases, people suffering from serious mental disorders (often undiagnosed ones) take drugs to alleviate their symptoms--a practice known as self-medicating. According to the American Psychiatric Association, individuals with schizophrenia sometimes use substances such as marijuana to mitigate the disorder's negative symptoms (depression, apathy, and social withdrawal), to combat auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions, or to lessen the adverse effects of their medication, which can include depression and restlessness." In a New York psychiatric study almost 80-90% of diagnosed schizophrenics took illicit drugs to self medicate.

Disorders with increased risk of drug abuse are listed as follows:

Antisocial personality disorder 15.5%
Manic episode 14.5%
Schizophrenia 10.1%
Panic disorder 04. 3%
Major depressive episode 04.1%
Obsessive-compulsive disorder 03.4%
Phobias 02.1%

It also states: "In other cases mental disorders are caused by drug abuse. For example, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy), produces long-term deficits in serotonin function in the brain, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety."

In particular, ecstasy and meth amphetamine (speed) have been proven to induce psychotic effects in both chronic and light users and are highly dangerous.

My husband has suffered from chronic bipolar disorder for almost 13 years and has been hospitalised 4 times during that period - twice for attempted suicide. After many years of using traditional medication he found small doses of marijuana to be the most highly effective in curbing his symptoms. Over the years and since his diagnosis, he has been prescribed by his psychiatrist, every medication known in the treatment of bi-polar disorder with very disappointing and heart-wrenching results. A daily, medicinal dose of marijuana has proven to be the most highly sucessful treatment for his illness. With marijuana he is able to live a normal life. Marijuana is also 'recommended' by medical practicioners in the treatment of HIV and cancer. Why then should it be illegal?

I have not lived a sheltered life and have seen the devastating effects of alcohol, cocaine and speed addiction/abuse. However, in my own observations I have never seen adverse effects from the use of marijuana.

The most important point is that alcohol and tobacco use will always far exceed that of stronger drugs. And I am surprised that no-one has yet mentioned the despicable situation of drug companies marketing highly addictive antidepressants to people who arguably do not need them. Addiction is the enemy of the common man, and the golden goose for those profiting from legal and illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeinated and sweetened beverages, and fatty foods.

There is hope on the horizon, with a recent observation suggesting that a small and defined area of the brain is responsible for addiction.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/01/27/2003346507

Hopefully this will lead to remarkable treatments for addiction, and at once end the addiction economy and expose the wickedness of “treating” addicts by throwing them in jail.

Rex: “But exactly what is the attraction of smoking marijuana?”
Unlike tobacco marijuana is psychoactive – it changes your mind in an extremely pleasant way.

“I'm so pleased that we didn't also have to put up with what is to me the extremely unpleasant smell of marijuana.”
I couldn’t agree more however one thing that often seems to be overlooked in this debate is that marijuana does not have to be smoked. It could be made available in a drinkable form and served at pubs and clubs with exactly the same restrictions as drinkable alcohol.

Aime: “I've always believed that the difference between dope being illegal and alcohol being legal was simply down to the fact that one can be grown and processed by a six year old, the other requiring an elaborate brewing and/or distillation process.”
People can legally brew their own beer, make their own wine and even distil their own spirits – it is not that difficult – many, many people do it, however most people choose to go to a pub or club and imbibe there because it is part of a social activity. I suspect the same thing would happen if marijuana was made legal – sure people could grow it but most won't bother they will simply buy the commercially available product of consistent and known quality.

Serenity Now: “A daily, medicinal dose of marijuana has proven to be the most highly successful treatment for his illness.”
I am in a similar position – marijuana is the only effective medication I have found. For whatever reason, a small dose 2-3 puffs, 2-3 times a day, keeps the thoughts of suicide away.
(cont.)

(cont. from previous)
Col Rouge: “Someone who I knew and cared about is dead, murdered by a schizophrenic, a condition induced by use of cannabis.”
I think the key word here is ‘schizophrenic’. People with allergies can go into anaphylactic shock and die if, for example, they eat strawberries, it is not the strawberries that are the problem, it is the allergy. Likewise it is not the marijuana that is the problem in the case you cite it is the schizophrenia.

“When I was 23 I heard of a guy I was at school with who I liked as a person was already dead from drug which started with cannabis.”
And he probably ‘started with breast milk’ too. The only links between marijuana and the use of harder drugs is that because this usually benign, extremely pleasant and often beneficial drug is illegal it damages the credibility of claims that other drugs are dangerous. Secondly, because it is illegal it acquaints users with illegal drug-dealers who usually sell other drugs as well. Both of these are actually arguments in favor of legalization not against it.

There also seems to be little differentiation between people who use marijuana in moderation and people who take huge quantities – all drugs have an optimum dosage and all drugs can be abused. To not make this differentiation is like not differentiating between people who have a few glasses of wine with dinner and derelict alcoholics who sleep on the street, piss in their pants and rant at the world – to not make that distinction is either dishonest or naïve.

Thanks for the rational answers. I had a friend some years ago who's only effective relief from constant pain from an incurable [and apparently untreatable condition] was marijuana cookies, so I have an understanding of this use.

The way things are now in regard to passive smoking, in WA and many other parts of the world, the chances of marijuana smokers being able to become part of the social scene are probable virtually nil. And as a regular socialiser, I'm certainly very pleased about that. But I wouldn't have a problem being in the close vicinity of people who were consuming marijuana drinks or cookies.

Perhaps it would be appropriate to have the equivalent of booze buses, to catch out those who had consumed marijuana to the extent that it seriously affected their driving. Is this possible, BTW?

How easy is it for police to "drug-test" drivers for pot? Perhaps the difficulties in doing this is why the drug has remained illegal. Alcohol is pretty easy to test for. I know more drug testing kits are being rolled out, but they are certainly not everywhere. Maybe when we can make sure that people arent driving under the influence, then we wont be so worried about its use.

Also, bear in mind that it is a reasonably big leap of faith to decriminalise a substance.