Happy 420: International Marijuana Day
Today is 4/20, or International Marijuana Day. Marijuana is great, one of the least toxic and most rewarding drugs. The fact that this plant, which you can pluck from the ground in Tanamalwila, is illegal is a misnomer at best and an ongoing tragedy in reality. Seriously, it’s a plant, it’s good for sick people, it’s an essential ingredient in traditional Ayurveda, and it supports great music and art. It also good economics and social policy. Today, on International Marijuana Day, everyone should just chill.
Dosthora Mudalihame Waranasuriya, skip to about 6:00
Especially in Sri Lanka, man. You can still find Bhang Lassi in Arugam Bay and Muslim aunties still keep ganja in jars to tenderize beef. Which ganja is amazing at btw, but I try to avoid beef. You need to skip to 6:00 for most interestingness, but do check out this video from Sri Lanka’s Manna King. Talking about medical, cultural, sensible marijuana use. The video is titled Sacred Buddha Cannabis Medicine. Ravan of the plants.
I’m happy to be featured in Echelon magazine’s 40 Under 40 feature, profiling young people who contribute to the economy in some way, mainly in business but also in terms of innovation and thought leadership. It’s an interesting article not just in that I’m in it (mainly for work on indi.ca and 
I won’t add too much commentary, but just read I guess. The youngest Rajapaksa, Rohitha (Chi Chi) has given an amazing interview to the 
In 2009 this strange character appeared on the Sri Lankan Internet scene, getting angry, flaming, trolling whatever. Then he started naming anonymous bloggers, posting comments as people’s kids, nasty stuff, for which I removed him from 
The chutzpah of this government knows no bounds. Every government since Independence has had to balance placating Sinhala nationalists (AKA racists) while at the same time actually running a sensible, inclusive nation that doesn’t send minority citizens, capital and foreign investment fleeing. Basically, they’ve had to pay lip service to nationalists while at the same time trying to run an actual nation. Every government has also generally failed, SWRD being killed by a nationalist monk and everyone after almost losing the country to various rebellions. In that context Mahinda is actually doing a better job by virtue of not being dead and not losing control of the country. But he’s still not doing a good job.
: )
Read this (best hear the opinion of a expert, don’t you think?)
Cannabis addiction: A Colossal Mental Health Problem in the Community by Dr Ruwan M Jayatunge M.D.
(http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2010/04/10/cannabis-addiction-a-colossal-mental-health-problem-in-the-community/)
dude, cannabis is less addictive than coffee. Far less. It’s not really chemically addictive at all, though people can get in bad social loops.
It’s also a lot less dangerous than alcohol.
Cannabis IS addictive causing dependence, tolerance and withdrawal. Canabinoid (CB1) receptors are located in many of the reward-related areas in the brain and direct action on the drug at these sites causes addiction. The endocannabinoid system is also involved in the development and progression of major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Less evidence is available of the role in other disorders such as OCD, anxiety disorders and phobias.
Also, studies have shown that web based information on cannabis use and dependence are of poor quality with regard to content, and accountability etc.
Remove your thinking mind from the smoke Sack….NOT ONCE did this Sri Lanka Doctor promo the smoking of Dope-Cannabis…Yes…. he too would say smoking Cannabis is additive….It wasn’t meant to smoked….to get the best happy and healthy state of mind…..But When heated and mixed with Other herbs (many) and honey….even a small child or a poor health elderly can eat (small portions) as a healthy food for body and mind balance….. and not get addicted or get stoned…..just happy, relaxed, healthy and productive….and with a very clear state of mind….. legal ‘Manna’ as Christ prescribed….and legal ‘Kansa’ that Buddha prescribed to heal all the people….to clear their disillusion and mental illness of Most peoples minds in society….Sri Lanka herbal medicine science holds the secret to make these ancient Cannabis, ‘Manna’ ‘Kansa’ healing gifts that were given to all mankind on this planet from it’s creator God-Dog Cannabis stars of sirius…. The west has lose their way and this cannabis ‘Manna’ recipe wisdom since the time of Christ…..Sri Lanka and Asia didn’t lose the wisdom….they had it beat out of them by the western (cabal) interest in 1948?….Making the growing of Cannabis illegal to grow…..which meant at that time n Sri Lanka, there were about 15,000 + Sri Lanka registered herbal doctors prescribing medical cannabis recipes to all ages of their society……. Sri Lanka holds the gift if people truly want to understand….Dr. Ruwan M. Jayatunge knows this but he also knows he must tow the line….but…. Yes there is a addictive problem with cannabis in Sri lanka….and he is wise to advice people from smoking it……but the legal ban by the west on herbal doctors to grow and make the ‘Manna’…..and just as many years at war (by western interest) …but with almost two generations passing now, all peoples in Sri lanka are told cannabis is bad ……. BUT I believe soon The Sri Lanka health ministry will legalize cannabis again for the herbal doctors to prescribe to the people and their patients…..The present government would legalize it (They know it is better and cheaper than the western drugs that are being pushed on their society by western special interest groups)….but they are afraid….only when the people vote for it to be back into their society will or can the government act upon it for their society… For medicine and health that it has been anciently proven…..learn more, beware, ‘Manna’ gives Man manners. Trust the wisdom that is being shared, will be again… for all humanity. True peace of mind…..’Why burn the fire….when it already has enough fire to satisfy your hunger. Peace on Earth…..Blessings to you Sack…..yes…don’t smoke it.
Angel,
I was under the impression that cannabis not addictive. Certainly not as addictive as tobacco. Am I correct? The Americans have demonised it, but that does is more about bad policy than anything else.
http://norml.org/library/health-reports/item/british-medical-association-s-lancet-supports-marijuana-law-reform
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8056292/Cannabis-should-be-sold-in-shops-alongside-beer-and-cigarettes-doctors-journal-says.html
JP
I repeat, cannabis IS addictive, in that it meets all criteria for that label. Is it “as addictive” as tobacco (or alcohol) – well, it’s hard to compare these scientifically as you need to tread dubious roads of physical vs. psychological addiction, benefits vs. harm, mortality, side effect profile etc. Tobacco has a deplorable track record – I will not even start as this will lead to rants far beyond the point of this comment.
The first link you have given is SEVENTEEN years old. In fact, a subsequent editorial in the Lancet questions the opening statement and moans of how the legalize-cannabis lobby pounced on this “apparent endorsement” with glee (Lancet, 1998)
Since then, the Lancet has published numerous systematic reviews (compilations of clinical research) on the ill effects of cannabis, including (and not limited to) dependence syndrome, high risk in operating machinery, irritation of the lungs, harm to the heart, impaired attention, altered memory, behavioural problems, lower educational achievements and almost double the risk of developing a major psychiatric illness, and persistence of psychosis (Hall & Solowij, 1998; McLeod et al, 2004; Hall & Degenhardt, 2009; Moore et al 2007; Degenhardt & Hall, 2012)
In other words, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that cannabis is physically and psychologically harmful in the short term as well as long term.
The second link is from a BMJ editorial in 2010. The argument of the author emphasises economics rather than health and stresses on the huge costs of the (failed) attempts of drug control. The original article states that between 1990 – 2006 “the retail price of cannabis decreased by more than half, the potency increased, and the proportion of users who were young adults went up from about 25% to more than 30%. Intensified enforcement of cannabis prohibition thus did not have the intended effects” (Robin Room, 2010)
It does not in anyway endorse the use of cannabis or trivialize the harm to the users.
The debate on drug control continues with more research and editorials published in both the Lancet and the BMJ this month (Gilmore, 2012; Stewart, 2012). Australia, US and UK are looking at drug reforms to “de-criminalize” (not legalize) the use of cannabis because the “social harms” such as the criminal culture and creation of a black market, inefficient use of law enforcement resources, non-availability for medical purposes etc. The argument is to change the focus from a “criminal” issue to a “health” issue.
Angel
My comment on addictiveness was based partly on personal observation. I know people who smoke it occasionally at parties but not otherwise. Most tobacco smokers I know cannot get out of bed without smoking a cigarette. That said however, I had not seen some of the other research you cited so, its not quite as harmless as I had previously thought.
On the subject of decriminalising, I have been a long time advocate of this, you can see my thoughts on it below. If you think of it in terms of putting certain ministers who have been much in the new of late, out of business, as it were, this policy becomes SO much more attractive…..
http://jestforkicks.blogspot.com/2008/07/drugs-policy-for-sri-lanka-state-needs.html
Dosthara Warnasuriya is long dead, although he is still “alive” via a blog being run by an imposter. Whatever he once had to say, he didn’t really do a good job of while he was alive, and is not more or less irrelevant.
Marijuana can form bad habits for some people, as can food and alcohol and coffee. A civilized society trusts responsible adults to make these decisions and deals with problem cases as health issues, not criminal ones.
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Cannabis is not Harmful one little bit
its proven it rules out your governments regime
As a smoker of cannabis for 20 years i feel great as other family members have smoked for 40 years they are great
most of the above about cannabis is lies or based on bad poor evidence words alone i would like to see proof Facts ? of the statement above that cannabis is bad ? ill tell you what is bad and why alcohol tobacco alcohol rots your body tobacco with all its 3 thousand chemicals fuck your brain body mind alone
pathetic statements false not one bit of evidence
ECS
Lets face it are brain has these Canabinoid receptors without the cannabis so humans can and do go menially ill in the head but please do fined me one case where a human has killed a other human because he was using cannabis ? then look up how many people have been killed or kill wile they have been drugged up with alcohol
As a smoker I no the Cannabis I have done my own studies and research thanks I make my own Oils simple as I will always grow Cannabis to make my own medicine for me and family and so should you because its true to nature its has been for thousands of years its reality
Cannabis does not make you get ill it makes you better
I don’t like alcohol some people do most people you can not compare two things alcohol and cannabis totality different here is my compare Alcohol is harmful Cannabis is not harmful
Alcohol destroys lives and family’s
cannabis does not do any harm to you only the criminality charges what come with it because some human thought it was good Idea to put laws round plants and humans EPIC FAIL WAR ON DRUGS FAIL
am not a so called criminal for growing eating smoking cannabis whether some man has written a laws saying other humans cant smoke this plant because its bad for your health what we all no is not true EPIC FAIL its here face reality denying the cannabis plant is denying reality you live in your own little world brain washed by your governments church school etc