Page 458 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 20 February 2019
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people who are naive to the consequence of cannabis use and not just the risk of a small fine.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:
Ongoing and regular use of cannabis is associated with a number of negative long-term effects. Regular users of cannabis can become dependent and commonly reported symptoms of withdrawal include anxiety, sleep difficulties, appetite disturbance and depression.
The 2016 national drug strategy household survey found:
… a significant increase in the proportion of past month and past 12-month cannabis users that reported mental illness and ‘high to very high’ levels of psychological distress.
The AMA found that cannabis can cause a fivefold increase in numbers of users developing psychosis and that maternal use can lead to similar risks for unborn children. These are words we cannot ignore. It is extraordinary to have the Minister for Mental Health basically saying that the jury is out on how dangerous cannabis can be to some people in terms of its links to psychosis.
The AMA also points to the negative impact on vulnerable groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups. The AMA rejects the personal recreational use of cannabis and says it should be prohibited. In its position statement on cannabis use and health, the AMA supports the current approach, stating, “The personal recreational use of cannabis should also be prohibited.”
We had a debate on this issue yesterday in which we heard that we should listen to the evidence and the expert advice. This is from a government that is going to ignore the AMA and a wealth of academic research on this issue. I quote from a traumatised mother who contacted my office, whose son’s life was destroyed by cannabis:
I have a son aged 38. He was an excellent student, a high achiever, with good prospects for a successful life. At the age of 19, he and his friends thought it was cool, and became cannabis users.
After one particular time my son over indulged, and became psychotic, developing schizophrenia. That is almost 20 years ago. Since 1999, he has been incapable of working, has no friends, and has a very poor quality of life.
His psychiatrist told us that one in ten cannabis users were likely to develop short term psychotic illness, many going on to develop schizophrenia.”
That mother implored me not to support this legislation that will make cannabis use more prevalent in our community. I also have personal experience of a friend who became violent towards his wife and threatened to kill her during a psychotic episode we understand was triggered by cannabis use, and I have heard of many similar stories.
In the recently released book Tell Your Children: the Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence, Alex Berenson exposes the high instance of violent behaviour
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