U.K:> Cannabis To Be Reclassified As Class B, U-turn in government law:

[Dibbz]

Is it inevetiable???

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,17129-1970798,00.html

THE PUBLIC was misled about the dangers of taking cannabis when the Government unwittingly decided to downgrade the drug less than a year ago, the Home Secretary admits today.

In a damning assessment of the decision taken by his predecessor, David Blunkett, Charles Clarke said he is “very worried” about recent evidence suggesting a strong link between cannabis and mental illness. His remarks, made in an interview with The Times, come just weeks before he must decide whether or not to execute an embarrassing about-turn and restore the drug’s Class B status.



Mr Clarke said there was an alarming lack of knowledge about the health dangers posed by the drug among the general public. He also admitted that many people had been left confused by the law change.

“Whatever happens after this, let me reveal one recommendation of the advisory committee, which they make very, very strongly, which is a renewed commitment to public education about the potential affects of the consumption of cannabis, and the legal status of cannabis. That is well made, and I will accept it.”

Asked specifically if the confusion was a result of Mr Blunkett’s decision to downgrade the drug, he said: “Yes. People do not understand the impact of the consumption of cannabis well enough, and what the legal consequences of consuming cannabis are.” Over Christmas Mr Clarke read the report from a special advisory group he set up to assess the latest medical evidence, and will discuss its findings with colleagues this week before making a final decision.

Leaks of the report suggest the committee says use of the drug is clearly linked to mental illness, but stops short of recommending reclassification.

Mr Clarke refused to confirm the report’s central thrust, but said he had already accepted a secondary recommendation, that ministers had to clear up the confusion in the public’s mind about the drug. “The thing that worries me most (about the downgrading of cannabis) is confusion among the punters about what the legal status of cannabis is.”

The drug was downgraded in in the hope that it would allow the police to focus on more serious drug abuse. Mr Clarke said it was significant how many advocates of the change had had second thoughts.

“I’m very struck by the advocacy of a number of people who have been proposers of the reclassification of cannabis that they were wrong,” he said.

“I am also very worried about the most recent medical evidence on mental health. This is a very serious issue.”

Asked if the downgrading of the drug had served any useful purpose, Mr Clarke paused before responding: “I think it gives it a steer to the citizen on more serious drug consumption.”

Although an about-turn would be embarrassing, it may cause Labour fewer problems in the long run. Mr Clarke will champion curbs on antisocial behaviour this year, which strategists say is undermined by a soft approach to cannabis.



Well, this is yet another press report of the many leading up to the inevitable, imo, that cannabis will be re-

classified to a calss B drug. I have too many opinoins to voice at this minute, but it seems that the

government and its advisors are fretting over the mental illness implications of 'using cannabis'.

[Cranky]

Mental health link to diet change

Changes to diet are being linked to a range of mental health problems
Changes to diets over the last 50 years may be playing a key role in the rise of mental illness, a study says.
Food campaigners Sustain and the Mental Health Foundation said the way food was now produced had altered the balance of key nutrients people consume.

The period has also seen the UK population eating less fresh food and more saturated fats and sugars.

They said this is leading to depression and memory problems, but food experts said the research was not conclusive.

Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: "We are well aware of the effect of diet upon our physical health.

DIET AND MENTAL HEALTH
Depression - Linked to low intakes of fish - high in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for good brain health
Schizophrenia - Epidemiological evidence has shown sufferers have lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, unclear though what changes need to address this
Alzheimer's disease - Some studies have suggested high vegetable consumption can protect against the brain disorder
ADHD - Research shown children with disorder are low in iron and fatty acids


'Diet change cured me'

"But we are only just beginning to understand how the brain as an organ is influenced by the nutrients it derives from the foods we eat and how diets have an impact on our mental health."

And he added that addressing mental health problems with changes in diet was showing better results in some cases than using drugs or counselling.

The report, Feeding Minds, pointed out the delicate balance of minerals, vitamins and essential fats consumed had changed in the past five decades.

Researchers said the proliferation of industrialised farming had introduced pesticides and altered the body fat composition of animals due to the diet they are now fed.

For example, the report said chickens reach their slaughter weight twice as fast as they did 30 years ago, increasing the fat content from 2% to 22%.

The diet has also altered the balance of vital fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in chickens which the brain needs to ensure it functions properly.

Fats

In contrast, saturated fats, consumption of which has been increasing with the boom in ready meals, act to slow down the brain's working process.

The report said people were eating 34% less vegetables and two-thirds less fish - the main source of omega-3 fatty acids - than they were 50 years ago.

Such changes, the study said, could be linked to depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's disease.

The two groups urged people to adopt healthier diets, with more fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, and called on the government to raise awareness about the issue.

Report researcher Courtney Van de Weyer said: "The good news is that the diet for a healthy mind is the same as the diet for a healthy body.

"The bad news is that, unless there is a radical overhaul of food and farming policies there won't be healthy and nutritious foods available in the future for people to eat."

Rebecca Foster, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "The evidence associating mental health and nutrient intake is in its infancy, this is a very difficult association to research and in many cases results are subjective.

"Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the association between mental illness and dietary intake at this point.

"However, the nutrient recommendations outlined in this report are in line with recommendations for good health, which should continue to be advocated by all health professionals."

maybe the goverment should consisder making these foods class b to;)

cranky

[AzGrowa]

Well Crankster...
I certainly feel better after I've had a good meal, especially if it's veggies and a fish dish.
I feel even better after smoking a doobie then satisfying the munchies with a hot bowl'o'chili...
I think Mr. Clarke has it backwards...of course I doubt the Mr. Clarke has "taken Cannais"
Maybe you, dibbz and Mr Clarke need to sit down an smoke a doob......

Think he might the picture, after smokin a phatty of blueberry?