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Research Says Cannabis is Less Harmful Than Drinking, Smoking

by Rajashri on October 03, 2008 at 2:38 PM Alcohol & Drug Abuse News

A report by a research charity has said that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. It also called for a "serious rethink" of drug policy.

Research Says Cannabis is Less Harmful Than Drinking, Smoking

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The Beckley Foundation, a charity which numbers senior experts and other academics among its advisors, said banning cannabis has no impact on supply and turns users into criminals.

"Although cannabis can have a negative impact on health, including mental health, in terms of relative harms it is considerably less harmful than alcohol or tobacco," says the report by the Foundation's Global Cannabis Commission.

The government is pressing for cannabis to be re-classified in law as a Class B drug compared with its current, less serious, Class C classification.

Authorities are concerned notably by the growing prevalence of the potent "skunk" form of the drug. Around 80 percent of cannabis seizures are of this strain, said to be linked to mental health problems, official figures show.

The Beckley Foundation, a charitable trust, claimed only two deaths worldwide have been attributed to cannabis, while alcohol and tobacco use together kill an estimated 150,000 people in Britain alone.

"Many of the harms associated with cannabis use are the result of prohibition itself, particularly the social harms arising from arrest and imprisonment," it said.

"It is only through a regulated market that we can better protect young people from the ever more potent forms of dope," it added.

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guest

10/23/2008

The ban on smoking in public places is a worst act took by the government.Government will enjoy the
revenue from cigarettes.If they are actually keen about the health of people,govt.should have banned tobacco at crop level and all the cigarette,cigar and beedi comapanies must be shutdown immediately.This act is providing the officers incharge to collect penalties from smokers.But in my openion not even 5% of penalties will reach govt.,making the official rich.Govt. should arrange smoking zones and allow private smoking zones.

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Research Says Cannabis is Less Harmful Than Drinking, Smoking

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