Experts?

I just read an article on,'The Student's' web page relating to a possible link between cannabis use and mental health problems. I must say that I'm fucking outraged by the hippocracy that surrounds this issue. It may well be the case that cannabis has what society deems as a, 'negative' effect on a persons mental state, but is this any worse, or indeed different than the results of excessive sugar, salt or alcohol consumtion? When is a drug not a drug? It seems that both the UK and US medical councils are perfectly happy to feed us pills for coping with all manner of fear related psycosis, e.g sleep disorders, deppression, head aches and so on. Carling beer is the main sponser of premier league football in the UK and adverts often activly incourage unhealthy persuits. I just don't get it. Futher more, the increasing number of conrtoversial and sometimes horrific medical mistakes uncovered by the media in recent times begs the question, can we trust the so called experts any way?

"It may well be the case that cannabis has what society deems as a, 'negative' effect on a persons mental state, but is this any worse, or indeed different than the results of excessive sugar, salt or alcohol consumtion?"

I see your point, but sugar and salt are basic chemical compounds, not drugs...It's not really a fair comparison. You're right about the hypocrisy; a definition I found for 'drug' was:
A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication.
Such a substance as recognized or defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.

The irony is, cannabis can fulfil any of these definitions- it's medicinal value is now beyond question. I agree with your point about anti-psychotics; I don't think I'm wrong in saying cannabis has a lot less negative side effects than other analgesics.

"Futher more, the increasing number of conrtoversial and sometimes horrific medical mistakes uncovered by the media in recent times begs the question, can we trust the so called experts any way?"

I think the vast majority of doctors are a safe bet; you're obviously going to get the odd nob head who sews a spoon or something up in someone, but lifes about risk, and no doctors are perfect. After all what are the alternatives? Hopi candle therapy? Acupuncture? I'll take my chances...

Your faith in the system is admirable Mr Chinney. However, doctors are only one example of an expert. The point is, who classifies things in the first place, and to what degree are the decisions that are made affected by personal agendas? You are correct to say that sugar isn't catagorized as a drug, but like a drug it causes changes in our brain chemistry, (release of endorphins) so how come? Based on this I would say that food is a very powerful drug indeed. You need food to exsist, but shops are full of what we want and this is a very important distingtion. Relating back to the original thread, who is to say what is good, bad, right or wrong? The government, the church, the doctor? Call me cynical, but all these people need to make a living, and from my experience some seem to need more of a living than others. Just look back in history to see what the medical establishment has been built on. A bunch of elitist patrearchal idiots that believe in little more than maintaining their own glorious position in society. Don't get me wrong, science has produced many advantages for most, but it doesn't give it's creators the right to play god!

Unfortunatly, it appears that for now cannabis will remain a,'Folk Devil' rightly or wrongly.