This Fragrant Weed

This Fragrant Weed

The plant Napeta cataria colloquially known as Catnip is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens. It is known for its effects on cats. Cats will be drawn to the plant and will lick and chew it. Catnip is also available in commercial products for domesticated cats designed to increase their “enjoyment”. Although once consumed the plant can have adverse effects on the cat, including; sleepiness, anxiety, hyperactivity and biting at the hand. This is due to an organic compound contained in the plant called nepetalactone which has effects on a cat similar to what a drug like cannabis might have on a human.

There is now a mass movement for the legalisation of cannabis. The Liberal Democrats have adopted it as their party policy. It has already been legalised in Canada and some American states. Initially my libertarian instincts persuaded me that this was a good idea after all prohibition of alcohol did not work and what business does the government have telling people what they can and cannot put into their own bodies. But further research into the effects this can have on people and in some cases seeing this first hand, I have come to the conclusion not only that this drug should not be made available for commercial use but that we should also begin enforcing our drug laws properly.

The short-term effects of cannabis may be relaxation and stress reduction or even an increased sense of humour. However, the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, which is the main psychoactive substance found in cannabis, can lead to all sorts of negative effects in the long term including; anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, hallucinations, memory loss and the development of long-term mental disorders such as schizophrenia. This in turn leads to people acting irrationally and is a danger to public safety.

Recent examples of this include the Dayton, Ohio gunman, Connor Betts who shot 9 people including his own sister and was found to be a serial cannabis user. The effects of the drug on him included hearing voices in his head. Another example of this includes the case of Che Ambe who sliced off the hand of 21-year-old Tyler Stevenson and had been convicted 4 times for drug possession and was a known cannabis user. Even the Adam Smith institute, which advocates the legalisation of cannabis, has concluded that it led to an increase in gang violence and knife crime. The more commonly available cannabis is, the more likely incidents such as this will happen in the future. Cannabis deprives people of their critical faculties and limits their ability to reason.

But those who would advocate its legalisation often say that it could be taxed and regulated to remove impurities and control the strength of THC. However, evidence shows that this is not the case. In Colorado where the drug is legal the strength is between 18.7-30 % THC which is far above what it was in past years when it was often below 10%. While it may bring in additional tax revenue this would pale in comparison to the psychological effects readily available cannabis would have on the most vulnerable elements of society.

My solution to this mess would be to adopt the policies of Japan. A zero-tolerance approach.

Composed by,

Derek Gardiner, Postgraduate of Law