NCJ Number
216359
Journal
Perspectives Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 22-25
Date Published
2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article explains why cannabis, the world's most popular illicit drug is more potent and harmful than is commonly believed.
Abstract
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) argues that the world should take cannabis more seriously. It is the dominant illicit drug in every region of the world and its use is growing almost everywhere. It is reported that approximately 4 percent of the world's adults, some 6 million people, use cannabis every year, making it the world's most widely used illicit drug. Despite this knowledge, many basic facts about cannabis remain obscure. In most markets, cannabis is relatively cheap, and unlike other drugs, it is not sold by precise weight. Most users get the drug for free or buy it through friends and acquaintances. According to key market studies, the potency of sinsemilla cannabis (made from the unfertilized buds of the female plant) has doubled in recent years. Recent research indicates that cannabis consumption may have greater mental health implications than previously believed. Lastly, the risk of becoming dependent on cannabis is higher than most casual users suspect.