Government Doobie

With the publication of a recent report linking the use of cannabis with mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, the Home Secretary Charles Clarke has been considering re-classifying the drug back from C class to a B class in spite of reclassifying it downwards last year. This report rather reminds me of a young man I met some years ago who was a heavy user, a full-on “head” as his friends called him who when asked if he would join the gang down the pub for a few drinks politely refused explaining that he suffered from mild schizophrenia and that when he drank alcohol he became aggressive and paranoid, so would rather stay at home and smoke for his own sake. So I do wonder if this report has got its chickens and eggs muddled up. Just maybe cannabis is the preferred recreational experience of the schizophrenic rather than actually causing it? Also added to this argument is the fact that its continued illegality means that the potency is not regulated, spawning much more potent varieties such as “skunk”. So it is with alcohol that a couple of social drinks with a meal is of no harm whatsoever but a litre of moonshine can ruin a man’s life. Maybe it would be best in the light of this report for the government to actually bite the bullet and licence its regulated production so that potency can be controlled once and for all? The winning points being that they can finally collect revenue on its sale and move it away from the hands of shadowy dealers who can offer a whole menu of other recreational substances. Mind you its going to take a government with some balls to make such a move so that would seem quite unlikely.

We were expecting a decision from Mr Clarke this week but judging by the silence he has smoked the evidence and can’t remember where he put the report.