The madness of synthetic cannabis

1. I think Government is probably working as fast as it reasonably can to address the problems of the sale of untested synthetic cannabis concoctions.

   I have supported a review of our laws on natural cannabis for years, and still do. I think we need to reconsider how we deal with all our currently illegal drugs.

   Almost certainly nothing will happen here under a National led government, but it’s worth driving a public debate, because that’s where any future direction on drug law should come from.

   • Really? Because it worked MUCH faster when bringing in new and expansive powers for the GCSB.

2. What do you expect from a product that looks like rat poison? Natural cannabis – sedative, synthetic cannabis – stimulant, the product doesn’t deserve to be marketed as cannabis.

   • Actually Cannabis has multiple active components.
     Primary active agents e.g.
     Delta 8-THC can act as a stimulant
     Cannabidiol can as a sedative.

     This is also affected by the secondary receptor interactions, the individuals genetics (e.g. binding affinity of receptors) and mind state at the time.

     Procrastinator – I think it would be beneficial for you to do some study in biochem/pharmacology before you churn out uninformed anger. It doesn’t help anyone on any side of the debate (cannabis/synthetic/anti drug). 🙂

     • While I am not an expert in the field of biochemistry or pharmacology and not fully versed with the interactions of active components with the brain, I have witnessed drug users all my life, indeed many of the closest people to me are such people. Although I have never used any illicit drugs, or for that matter not many prescription drugs.

       Following the news, there are concerns many synthetic cannabis products are responsible for psychotic episodes and are as dangerous as methamphetamine. Throughout my experience, I often witnessed many using cannabis in a harmonious social way, indeed more harmonious than any event where alcohol is concerned. I never witnessed any psychotic behaviour from anyone using cannabis and the relaxed nature of those I witness who use it suggested to me a sedative effect, contrast this with methamphetamine a stimulant of which synthetic cannabis is claimed to have similarities to.

       Many who worked as labourers throughout their lives claim cannabis is effective for relieving long term back pain where medical assistance couldn’t help.

       In contrast, those I have known to use methamphetamine are visibly psychotic, exhibiting very erratic behaviour and someone you no longer recognise. Many drugs used for the treatment of mental illnesses I consider destructive, there are people I know who have been treated with them and are no longer recognisable as the people they once were. Once pleasant company now unpleasant and occasionally prone to violence.

       If the news is correct about the claims and concerns of synthetic cannabis products, from my experience natural cannabis is less harmful. I especially support the legalisation of cannabis due to the way in which many I know have had opportunities taken away due to convictions on its possession or cultivation. Decent people who aren’t able to travel or face limited employment opportunities.

       Experience in the real world often conflicts with what one learns in institutionalised education. Uninformed anger? I never intended to offend anyone nor resort to insults.

     • How often have you had the company of illicit drug users?

       • Anyone who claims that synthetic cannabis is similar to methamphetamine probably doesn’t know much about what they are claiming.

         If you also believe the news as reporting accurately I’d be a little concerned. Try peer reviewed literature/journals.. They are not perfect, but at least don’t suffer from the same problem as the general media (i.e. can make up pretty much anything whether it is true or not and publish it). Their job is to sell stories, so also initiates a certain level of conflict of interest vs ‘truth’.
         Re the difference between institutionalised education vs real world.. Well maybe at undergrad level, but from my experience post grad and above research is amazingly applied and actively tests and works in the ‘real world’…all with a solid statistical requirement backing up any statements 🙂

         • So sorry to have offended you with my inane drivel, the observations of a wretched peasant who can’t afford an intellect in a world where the truth is so elusive. But I guess some of us are rather quaint, in having faith in a product that can be produced by oneself from Mother-Earth as it has over thousands of years, as opposed to fairly recent manufacturing.

3. This project looks awesome! Would love to pledge support but can’t find where to sign up.

4. In the 1970s it seemed obvious to me that grass would be legal by the turn of the century, as more and more people smoked it and realised how harmless it was, and realised the harm done by prohibition.
   Sadly, I overestimated people’s ability to look at evidence and think for themselves and underestimated the numbers among us that have a craven school prefect mentality and just want to please teacher. I also underestimated the hypocrisy of people as they get the slightest grip on the levers of power. I also didn’t realise at the time how the whole war on drugs provided an excuse for building a huge and unrestrained apparatus to keep firstly young Maori under control, and then come for the rest of us.
   I thought we were really beginning to change the world, but along came Douglas and people settled for the dream of getting trickled all over at some indeterminate time in the future. Meanwhile the beneficiaries of his policies powder their noses in Sydney. Ha.

5. Why are we calling this stuff synthetic cannabis? It’s not cannabis. It’s not even an analogue of it. It’s something completely different trading on the relatively benign reputation cannabis has.

6. Hey Bomber,

   Perhaps it would be worth considering the problem as a legislative issue first and foremost. i.e. Cannabis being illegal under UN/US directive. Have you considered that the synthetic/analogue market and psychoactives bill is perhaps the biggest help (long term) for the legalisation of cannabis in that it will help provide a framework for Cannabis to be moved over into, plus the incomes derived from the synthetic market will help pay for the legal costs and lobbying that will be required to more Cannabis into the new framework. Being illegal at present Cannabis reform has the problem of being under-resourced to fight its own battle. But you can bet your bottom dollar that the legal highs industry would be ideologically behind helping cannabis reform (after all they seem to be non sectarian) and worth talking to about how to do it…i.e. strength in numbers always worked better than infighting about subtle differences of the same cause.

   I see both Cannabis and synthetics as being different choice options, much like chicken chips and salt and vinegar, or wine and tequila. Each to their own and support for the right to choose 🙂

   Transient – both cannabis and the synthetic analogues bind to the ananamide receptors for effect, so they are in the same group/class. So yes, it can be considered an analog, think of it in the same way that Psilocybin and LSD bind to the Serotonin receptors 🙂

   Time for people to put away the anger and infighting (which only helps ‘The Man’ and see the bigger picture I think.

7. Drug prohibition is a very convenient tool for attacking those in society you don’t like

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