"There are few substances which are surrounded by more controversy, and which have at the same time such important and potentially far-reaching public health implications".
This comment, originally made in 2006, was never more apposite. Cannabis is still the most commonly used illicit substance in the UK and the one most widely used by adolescents. However, it continues to be exempt from the hazardous reputation held by other illicit drugs, drugs which are recognized by government as posing a serious public health risk.
Although its association with a range of health problems is established in the literature and is associated with double the risk of schizophrenia (from 0.7 in 1000 to 1.4 in 1000), a risk that starting young increases; many view cannabis as non-problematic. This is in the face of evidence that shows that first episode psychosis is associated with the use of higher potency cannabis; and that its use is associated with increased relapse and problems with nonadherance to medication in patients with schizophrenia. Although adolescent use significantly increases risks for dependence, other substance abuse problems, mental health problems and poor emotional, academic and social development,4 symptoms that adolescent addiction psychiatrists routinely note, it is still viewed by many policy makers, advisors and commentators as a benign drug.
It is a drug around which, despite this ever growing corpus of scientific evidence, a culture of denial still persists. Of the mind altering drugs, it is the one with which demands for decriminalization or legalization are most associated. [Extract]