In the light of the recent attempt to legalise drug laws in the UK (via the HASC report) we must continue to be vigilant and inform the public and our politicians of the harms – not just to individual users  but to society as a whole – deriving from the use of illegal drugs and the irresponsible use of alcohol.

The following perceptive article was received from a colleague in the United States. 

Please note that the people of Colorado have just put the right to use marijuana into their state constitution, on the same level as the right to assemble, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. What a great day for the children of Colorado, and all of us.

Someday, in the not-too-distant future, we will look back at this moment like we looked back at the 60s and early 70s at one point in our history, and we will view this day as evidence of a massive and destructive social experiment that careened predictably out of control. But until then, we may have to endure the fact that many lives will be lost in the aftermath of a cultural tsunami, led by counter-culture anti-heroes who preach their religion of pot from the concert stage, movie set, political podium (and sometimes shamefully from a law enforcement website).

At one point in our history, we rejected the notion of a drug culture and made impressive strides in educating America. And like our success with tobacco education, these educational efforts led to fewer people using and abusing drugs – because EDUCATION WORKS. But now, with millions of dollars being used for the dumbing down of America in a haze of marijuana smoke, we may have to relearn the same lessons before we all wake up and fight back.

The saddest part of this is that our federal government has always had the ability to shut this down. As a federal drug prosecutor of almost 25 years, I know that we never had to endure a decade or more of so-called “medicinal” marijuana before the pretense was dropped and full legalization efforts began. For the price of a postage stamp and some paper, the federal government could send a notice of forfeiture to marijuana landlords. This would be most effective in states like Arizona and New Jersey where only one dispensary exists (at this point). Other enforcement action could be taken against the New Barons of Pot who were so interestingly portrayed in Newsweek not too long ago. And the barons would get the message that there is a new Sheriff in town and their looting of the candy store would have to stop. Surprisingly, these new pot entrepreneurs are willing to brag about their millions and even be the stars of TV shows. In the old days, we would have treated these episodes as “confessions” and would have used their own videotapes to convict them.

When the feds have taken decisive action, they have achieved wonderful results, which have been greatly appreciated by municipalities and counties going bankrupt trying to reign in the circus. But these efforts have been too few, too late, and almost nonexistent in some states.

Instead, with limited exceptions, the feds have chosen to “fiddle as Rome burns” while complicit state officials think of ways to launder drug proceeds disguised as tax revenue. In the meantime however, our children our being spoon fed a pop culture by pro-drug anti-heroes masquerading as enlightened people – because it is “cool” to be for pot.

As the marijuana industry has amassed millions, and purchased the souls of politicians and pundits who either ignorantly or purposely point to significant “tax revenues”, the end of drug cartels, and the emptying of prisons from all of those non-existent marijuana user prison inmates, our voting public has been duped into believing them. It isn’t hard to imagine how this happened when the Washington pro-marijuana campaign spent more than $6,000,000 to reach out to soccer moms. What political candidate could have successfully faced this foe with a measly $16,000 in their bank account?

So, on the day that Colorado joins Washington in the revelry, let me add my hope that the quickest solution manifests itself immediately – that the federal government simply enforces the law. This action by President Obama and DOJ would be a welcome relief to everyone who knows that sober children learn better, sober drivers drive better, and sober parents parent better. And it may give the drug prevention coalitions time to catch up.

For this to occur in time, some miracles will have to to happen. But during a season that is defined by miracles, perhaps this is our best hope for a drug free future.

Source: Monte Stiles Retired Federal Organised Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force USA

An official at an Everett drug treatment center and former pot user believes we’re setting ourselves up for big problems

When he was 15, Robert McCullough knew he was addicted to marijuana. As a high school student in the 1970s, he skipped class to smoke, stole money from his parents to support his habit, and scraped his pipe for resin when he didn’t have pot to get high.

Today, McCullough, 43, still considers himself an addict. He attends weekly meetings and recognizes if it weren’t for treatment, he would have never gotten clean.

“I will always be an addict,” said McCullough, now clinical manager at Evergreen Manor, a treatment facility in Everett. “It is something I will have to acknowledge my whole life.”

In the aftermath of Washington’s legalization of marijuana, critics of the law are pointing to a rarely discussed issue: addiction. Last year, marijuana use accounted for nearly half of youth admissions to treatment facilities in Washington state, according to data released in October from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More than 4,200 young people were treated in the state for marijuana use, more than any other drug.

“People are failing to notice that youth use rates are high, availability of marijuana has increased and the perception of harm associated with the drug has dropped,” said Dr. Sharon Levy, director of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on substance abuse. “These factors have been shown to cause large increases in not only use, but daily use.”

Washington’s law allows adults 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, but drug counselors worry that increased availability will also lead to more underage use. Individuals who start using marijuana at a young age are more likely to become dependent on the drug, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

“It’s frightening. We’re seeing that the average age of first use has dropped and that more and more kids are using daily,” said Levy, who is also an assistant professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. “I think we’re really setting ourselves up for some big problems.”

Kevin Oliver, executive director of Washington’s National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), acknowledged that marijuana dependence can occur if the drug is abused but believes the substance is not addictive enough to pose a significant threat.

“I know users that have no problem consuming cannabis responsibly,” Oliver said. “I smoke pot on a regular basis, but I don’t let the desire to get high control my life or my actions.”

In Snohomish County, more people seek treatment for marijuana addiction than they do for methamphetamine abuse, said Linda Grant, chief executive of Evergreen Manor in Everett.

“I do not think the public is aware of the extent to which marijuana impacts everyday activities,” Grant said. “Many patients who come to us arrive for driving under the influence. Other patients arrive knowing they have a problem.”

Regardless of the perception of marijuana addiction, treatment statistics are showing growth in marijuana-related problems. In just one month, outpatient admissions for marijuana treatment among Washington state youth increased by 23 percent, growing by 41 new patients from August to September, according to data taken from the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Deb Schnellman, spokeswoman for Washington’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, said she expects to see an increase in the use of marijuana after its legalization.

“Research shows that when the availability of a substance increases, use goes up as well,” Schnellman said.

“The young, developing brain is especially vulnerable to substance use,” Schnellman said. “This is why youth are at an increased risk for problems related to drug use.”

Levy said tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can be addictive.

THC is stored in the user’s fat tissue and can linger in the body, so withdrawal symptoms may not be immediately observable.

“Because marijuana dependence looks different than heroin dependence or cocaine dependence, people may be confused into thinking there is no such thing,” Levy said.

McCullough recalls sleepless nights filled with discomfort and irritability when he was not able to use the drug. McCullough said he was in a haze while using. “I didn’t think I had a problem because of the effect of the drug,” McCullough said. “My ability to rationalize was affected, my whole scope of life was different, I couldn’t assess if I was out of control, and I was.”

Oliver said he experienced some sleeplessness and irritability when he had to stop consuming marijuana in the past but said it was “no big deal” and didn’t “affect his ability to function.”

“There is still a social stigma attached to using marijuana that creates a negative view of cannabis being harmful and dangerous,” Oliver said. “You can be addicted to anything that causes mental euphoria, sex, gambling, even caffeine. It just depends on the person involved, and if they’re in-control or not.”

Source: www.heraldnet.com 9th Dec. 2012