(BBC News) Researchers looking at the effects of cannabis on bones have found its impact varies dramatically with age.

The study found that while the drug may reduce bone strength in the young, it could protect against osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones, in later life.

The results were uncovered by a team at the University of Edinburgh who compared the drug’s effects on mice.

Osteoporosis affects up to 30% of women and about 12% of men at some point in their lives.

The group found that cannabis can activate a molecule found naturally in the body that is key to the development of osteoporosis.

When the type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) comes into contact with cannabis, it has an impact on bone regeneration.

Stuart Ralston, the Arthritis Research Campaign Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Edinburgh, who led the study, said: “This is an exciting step forward, but we must recognise that these are early results and more tests are needed on the effects of cannabis in humans to determine how the effects differ with age in people.”

How many ads have you seen on TV for pharmaceuticals that are meant to help older women stave off osteoporosis?  Forget the Boniva, try some Sativa!  I’ve always been a big proponent of older ladies smoking weed; it’s just nice to finally have some science to back me up. 

One of my common one-liners in response to the claim across the pond that smoking the dreaded “skunk” will lead to psychosis and schizophrenia is to sarcastically say, “Yes, that’s why there was such a spike in schizophrenia around 1979 in the US… oh, no, wait, there wasn’t; schizophrenia remains a relatively stable phenomenon that affects less than 1% of the population worldwide.”

Looks like some scientists in the United Kingdom decided to look for just such a correlation:

Assessing the impact of cannabis use on trends in diagnosed schizophrenia in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2005

A recent systematic review concluded that cannabis use increases risk of psychotic outcomes independently of confounding and transient intoxication effects. Furthermore, a model of the association between cannabis use and schizophrenia indicated that the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia would increase from 1990 onwards.

The model is based on three factors:

• a) increased relative risk of psychotic outcomes for frequent cannabis users compared to those who have never used cannabis between 1.8 and 3.1,
• b) a substantial rise in UK cannabis use from the mid-1970s and
• c) elevated risk of 20 years from first use of cannabis.

This paper investigates whether this has occurred in the UK by examining trends in the annual prevalence and incidence of schizophrenia and psychoses, as measured by diagnosed cases from 1996 to 2005. Retrospective analysis of the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) was conducted for 183 practices in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The study cohort comprised almost 600,000 patients each year, representing approximately 2.3% of the UK population aged 16 to 44.

Between 1996 and 2005 the incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses were either stable or declining. Explanations other than a genuine stability or decline were considered, but appeared less plausible. In conclusion, this study did not find any evidence of increasing schizophrenia or psychoses in the general population from 1996 to 2005.

Ah, but the 1970s cannabis, which would cause the spike 20 years later in the 1990s, was just that 1% to 2% THC that the hippies smoked!  It’s not the 3000% stronger “skunk” of today, which will cause schizophrenia and psychoses to manifest sometime in 2025!  Just you wait!

It’s bull, of course.  1970s cannabis was every bit as strong as what you’ll find today.  Those who were consuming cannabis regularly – the ones you’d expect to “go schizo” – were always finding or growing the good stuff.  This “Woodstock Weed” idea of low-THC joints is what the casual smoker with no connections would smoke, and not very often.

The reclassification of cannabis as a Class B drug has come into effect in England and Wales amid complaints the new laws are “illogical”.

Plans to introduce a “three strikes” system for cannabis possession start with a warning, then an £80 spot fine for a second offence. Scotland and Northern Ireland have opted out of this penalties arrangement for England and Wales, retaining the former system for class B drugs.

Only when a third offence is committed, will the person be liable to arrest and prosecution.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith decided to reclassify cannabis despite an Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ review – commissioned by Gordon Brown – saying it should remain Class C.

Ms Smith said stronger “skunk” varieties account for 80% of the cannabis seized on the streets, and that the drug is nearly three times stronger than in 1995.

The advisory council’s report, Cannabis: Classification and Public Health, described the drug as a “significant public health issue”.

But it said it should still remain a Class C drug, saying the risks were not as serious as those of Class B substances such as amphetamines and barbiturates.

Britain and America are so much alike when it comes to marijuana policy.  Both have commissioned independent reviews of cannabis policy, both have had these reviews recommend decriminalization, both have ignored the scientists and the pollsters and the doctors and the people in continuing to punish people for their responsible use of cannabis.

PENALTIES FOR DRUG DEALING AND POSSESSION

Drug class	Type of drug	Possession	Dealing
Class A	Ecstasy, LSD, heroin, cocaine, crack, magic mushrooms, amphetamines (if prepared for injection).	Up to seven years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.	Up to life in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Class B	Cannabis, amphetamines, Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Pholcodine.	Up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.	Up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.
Class C	Tranquilisers, some painkillers, Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Ketamine.	Up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine or both.	Up to 14 years in prison or an unlimited fine or both

Source: Home Offfice

via BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Cannabis law change ‘illogical’.

Now experts say cannabis should be legal – Scotsman.com News
CANNABIS should be legalised and taxed, an influential Scottish think tank recommended yesterday, just weeks after the Government hardened its attitude towards the drug, reclassifying it as a class B substance.

The Scottish Futures Forum yesterday published a report on drugs and alcohol in Scotland, saying one way to tackle the problem of addiction to harder drugs was to tax and regulate cannabis.

Forum chairman Frank Pignatelli said studies of San Francisco, where cannabis is illegal, and the Netherlands, where it is decriminalised, showed that the idea is worth considering because it breaks the link with class A drugs. In the Netherlands, only 17 per cent of cannabis sellers were also selling drugs such as crack, cocaine and heroin, while in San Francisco it was more than 50 per cent.

The idea was one of several aimed at halving drug addiction in Scotland by 2025.

The forum’s suggestion has been welcomed by the Legalise Cannabis Alliance UK, which claimed Scotland is leading the way on the issue.

Don Barnard, a spokesman, said: “The Scots seem to have been taking a more mature view and I hope the recommendation is taken seriously.”

The idea has also been backed by the Greens. Patrick Harvie, MSP, said: “The current approach to criminalising drug users has been one of the most obvious failures of social policy over the last 50 years, and the Futures Forum should be thanked for their efforts to move the debate on. We broadly welcome their report.”

The only way that marijuana is a gateway drug is that it takes you to the gate of the drug dealer who is also selling harder drugs.  You know why scotch isn’t a gateway drug?  Because there is no shelf full of cocaine next to it at the liquor store.  When 1 out of 6 Dutch pot dealers offer hard drugs compared to 3 out of 6 San Francisco dealers, it becomes obvious that criminalization of cannabis is exacerbating hard drug use.

Oh, that dastardly cannabis! First you turn us into sex crazed dope fiends back in the 1930s, now you shrink our willies and force the gub’mint to spend too much money on boner pills!

Doctors blame cannabis for rise in NHS viagra spending – The Sunday Mail
SOARING demand is forcing Scotland’s health boards to spend £25million a year on impotence drug Viagra.

The number of patients being prescribed the blue pill is climbing by 20 per cent a year in some areas.

Experts believe cannabis use could be why more younger men and teens are being treated for impotence.

The majority of those taking Viagra are men under 40 – but there has been a marked increase in the number of teenage boys being treated for erectile dysfunction.

In the last two weeks, two experts have linked cannabis use with impotence in young men.

Ian Russell, an expert on sexual health at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, revealed more Scottish teens than ever before are suffering impotence after smoking cannabis during puberty.

And Derek Rutherford, a specialist in sexual medicine for NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said he had prescribed Viagra to cannabis smokers.

It is believed so much is being spent in the west of Scotland because traditional health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, coupled with the high incidence of smoking, all increase the likelihood of impotence.

Leading urologist Robyn Webber believes men are no longer embarrassed to admit they have problems in the bedroom.

She said: “Only a few years ago, it was quite rare for men to come forward and seek help for sexual problems. Now it is far more common.”

No, it’s not that there is wall-to-wall advertising for Viagra, more people have heard of Viagra, more people know they can get Viagra, men feel pressure to perform and would buy the drug as an enhancement rather than a treatment, more young people are fatter and eating poorly and playing video games all day, no, no, it’s the reefers!

Hey, I don’t have any problem with men who wish to take a moderately-safe drug for recreational purposes.  But I think that the ratio of young men with medical-grade erectile dysfunction to those who use it to make their sex lives better is about the same as the ratio of cancer and AIDS patients in state medical marijuana programs to those who use it to make their daily lives better.  (No offense, cuz I think anyone who wants the herb should have it, medical condition or not.)

Could it be that there are just a lot of people who smoke cannabis, and some get ED?  And what of the men who report enhanced sex lives from using cannabis?  Whoever they may be…