How Drugs Work – Cannabis
Well done to the BBC for its programme “How Drugs Work – Cannabis” tonight. It was a well balanced and wide ranging examination of the subject. Inevitably it looked at extreme cases and was sensational in parts but I thought it was fair.
I could pick at details. It certainly didn’t provide any comparisons against other drugs. It should have clarified how dramatically more dangerous is alcohol and with many fewer benefits but overall it was a good job, well done.
I am encouraged by this well produced treatment of the subject. We may well be making progress!
Peter Reynolds 
Wasn’t bad was it, feeling slightly better for my outing that’s coming up.
Jason Reed (HomeGrown Outlaw)
January 6, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Your insight is welcome Jason. This programme represents huge progress even if it might take some time to realise.
Peter Reynolds
January 7, 2011 at 12:04 am
I thought it was terrible from start to finish. So many misconceptions.
Phil
January 7, 2011 at 12:05 am
Complately agree Phil. I felt it was more anti-cannabis rather than well-balanced.
J
January 7, 2011 at 12:58 am
I’m with Phil on this one Peter. I believe the phrase “herbal terrorist” was used when referring to cannabis having activity on the brain.
The show spent around 3/4 of its time focusing on the negatives, which they didn’t take great care to put in perspective.
At the end they paid some brief lip service to the benefits of sativex (careful to portray the benefits as being of the spray, not of herbal cannabis) There were no fantastic visualisations of cannabis having its positive effects on the MS patient’s nervous system. No specifics, nothing that would stick in the minds of easily swayed voters and parents.
It was very one sided and I will be making a complaint, even if the likelihood of it having any sway is slim.
Ed
January 7, 2011 at 12:18 am
Personally I thought it was funded by the prohibitionist themselves rather than the tax payers, experts, they kept saying, who? everything they said could have been debunked easily, the link to mental illness and paranoia? that ol chestnut, giving a lady LABORATORY THC to try make a link between psychosis and cannabis, do me a favour, most probably the worst programme ever and believe me, the ones who are blissfully ignorant of anything to do with cannabis, will take it as read that it causes paranoia.. tis a step backwards and I really am pretty disgusted with the way it was broadcasted, their has been much better programmes and indeed debates.. and see they way they pushed sativex?????.. oh and I am 5 times more at risk of dying from a heart attack from smoking cannabis.. sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh.. take the cannabis out and I am still at 5 times more risk.. soz for the rant peter but for both me and my wife it was very hard going… I would be asking who paid who, because this came from a very prohibitionist slant, lacked any independence whatsoever.. and who where these experts? prof murray no less who hasn’t even tested his theory… oh i best shut up. LOL
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 12:20 am
Unbelievable!! (sp?) Total BS,government propaganda.Let’s hear from people who really smoke and not silly little students who love “puddles”!!! The kids who were in this really need a smack upside their heads for making smokers look stupid.OMG i will have a heart attack if i smoke this next one,or shall i eat this bacon double cheeseburger??? LMAO BBC3 asks stupid little children and not real people!!!
dk
January 7, 2011 at 1:42 am
Just to follow up…everything in moderation,be responsible,be grown up.Let’s get a comparison with smokers,alchoholics and even gamblers! jesus!!! just poorly made “TV” and idiotic progamming.Even the “science” was wrong,wrong,wrong.Thanks BBC3 for living in the world of idiotic children and students and not taking into account the REAL WORLD.IDIOTS.
dk
January 7, 2011 at 1:48 am
And another one…..hallucinations???!!! Bad Trip???!!! I have NEVER SEEN A PROGRAMME SO POOORLY MADE!
“Innit” Peter??!! Before you make something make sure it works!!!! Let’s ask kids!! They’re not confused with life at all anyway are they? Poor,poor,poor.
Response?
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:01 am
Planting a thought……what this programmes all about.
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:03 am
And…awaiting moderation???? OK screenshots taken and posted on other sites.I pay my tv licence for bs like this and i’m not allowed to comment unless it’s moderated?!!! OMG i paid for this BS!!!
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:12 am
I use the word bs a lot cuz i just smoked and forgot what i just said!!!!
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:13 am
Not that it’s a word but seeing as i’m being moderated(censored) CENSORED!!!!!! Did the public have a chance to censor this one sided propaganda before it was shown.I’m guessing you proclaim to be against censorship Peter? But not when it’s about something you’ve made??? Standards are poor!! Screenshot,post,post,post.
This is the Interwebs btw,my specs don’t rest on the end of my nose,and if i put them there it wouldn’t make me feel as self important as it obviously makes you feel.
You get paid for this??? By US??? Really??? Feel Good???
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:20 am
What on earth are you raving about DK? What do you mean “censored”? What do you mean I get “paid for this”, by who? You rude, offensive, ignorant fool.
Peter Reynolds
January 7, 2011 at 8:45 am
I am with you on this Peter, I have smoked for around 35 years, I am a professional person and I also own 2 businesses of my own, in addition whilst smoking this I studied and passed a masters degree. I don’t think this was anti cannabis at all, I would say it gave a bakanced argument. As for the kids in the program I though they were a fine example of how young people can have a good time without getting p* on booze. Showing the mentally ill guy is something that needs to be discussed, a good friend of mine ended up the same, but he would have without the weed. As for the girl I thought she was a good example that not all smokers are jobless layabouts. The other guy was just a loser and a chav he would be drinking cider if he weren’t smoking.
My only issue was how the heck these people can afford to smoke all day, this stuff is really expensive now, they must all be growing thier own me thinks.
Well done BBC I hope this is the start of getting it real on this issue, its about time otherwise law abiding citizens stopped being made into criminals, ther are enough resl criminals out there.
This debate has been raging for years lets put it to bed and concentrate on real social issues.
John
January 7, 2011 at 1:21 pm
Screenshots,post,post post.It’s all out there whether you let this be shown or not!!
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:22 am
Shamed……Ok Peter i got it totally wrong here,just pi**ed with it all i did’t check my facts.But Still, “well balanced”,”well produced”?? you might aswell have made it and be bigging it up!!!!
Apologies for getting my facts wrong but not for the glasses on end of nose….er,glasses on the end or noseness!!!!
dk
January 7, 2011 at 2:34 am
You have made a real fool of yourself DK. Maybe you should take a few deep breaths and engage your brain before you do so anymore?
Peter Reynolds
January 7, 2011 at 8:47 am
Bad timing though, as the ‘rival’ BBC4 had ‘The Brain, a Secret History’ which would have had a fair number of the same people wanting to watch it. The Brain programme was good… but I’ll catch the Cannabis programme on iPlayer, I hope!
Cheers Peter for a good blog; I read most of the posts!
John
John Cossham
January 7, 2011 at 3:39 am
I agree with Peter: it was a very good program, “well balanced and wide ranging examination of the subject”.
I’ve never tried cannabis myself, thanks god! Now, after watching this program, I know I will never never do because it’s very addi……ctive (1 in 4 users become dependents!!! And the rate of people addicted is “rising strongly”!), hits your brain (makes you hear voices that control you, gives you schizophrenia, paranoia, psychosis, all kind of mental health problems and disorders), destroys your memory (because it affect that vulnerable part of your brain call hippocampus or something like that), destroys your lungs and floods you with messages to overeat and turn normal people into homeless morons. It’s a really scary drug!
I have friends who like to have some cocaine on the weekend and they never get crazy like that. I guess cannabis is too different and too weird. I guess if you are already a bit crazy, or weird, it doesn’t affects you that much, but normal people like me better don’t touch it.
All in all, a very scary drug. Luckily it will never be legal. Its good to know that BBC is on my side, on the *normal people* side.
I think the phrase that better summaries cannabis is when the BBC commentator says “when you smoke a joint, cannabis somehow penetrates deep into the brain and hijack the nervous system like a herbal terrorist” and “it’s like a Russian roulette”
Well, I don’t know you guys, but me, I’m not playing Russian roulette.
Sativex its cool though; completely different as it doesn’t make you crazy and is prescribed by doctors
victoria
January 7, 2011 at 4:32 am
You’ve completely misunderstood the programme Victoria. I’m alarmed at your interpretation of it, particularly if it’s made you think cocaine is less harmful than cannabis and as for what you say about Sativex, what on earth do you mean? Sativex is cannabis. It’s no different at all. All over Europe doctors prescribe cannabis. It’s only in this backward, neanderthal, prejudiced nation that such medicine is denied.
Surely you can understand the chemistry described in the programme without going into panic mode over it? If a similar explanation was given of the way sugar works you might find that alarming too!
As for “1 in 4 become dependent”, what programme were you watching? Cannabis is one of the safest products on the planet and, thank God, it will be legal soon.
Peter Reynolds
January 7, 2011 at 8:42 am
I know irony etc. isn’t always that clear when written down but I’m pretty sure Victoria’s post was not serious!
I read it as a quite amusing parody of how a lot of people would react to the programme (not seen it myself but may watch it on iplayer now if I get a chance) if it wasn’t then that’s a pretty scary post!!
AlexM
January 7, 2011 at 11:19 am
Well said Peter you have saved me commenting on this.
John
January 7, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Good grief Victoria did you watch the same program as me? Normal people , what on earth does that mean. I am a professional with 3 kids and lead a very ‘normal’ life and I have smoked for over 30 years..
Ban alchol I say, how much harm does that drug do to society.
John
January 7, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Are you sure you were watching the same documentary as everyone else Peter? The documentary I saw was completely biased.
Rex
January 7, 2011 at 5:39 am
Peter Reynolds, what i would like to know is where the “one in ten users become addicts” came from?
I work with enduring mental health sufferers, a lot of which use Cannabis, and have done for many years, i have never heard of a single “Cannabis addict”.
Where can you point me that proves this? Which study? Where are the papers?
I am amazed you did not pick this up, i would also take issue with the sensationalistic language used to put a negative slant on the whole thing.
tom
January 7, 2011 at 10:04 am
I thought the kids in the woods were brilliant myself, it was the narrative, making issues with young people who were simply HAVING FUN, NO ONE FELL OVER, GOT HURT OR WENT MAD WITH PARANOIA, but that is not the impression one got from the narrative, the narrator talked about balance and reflexes etc when it came to crossing the ditch, but never said anything about the dexterity and sure skill the wee lad showed at the end with that stick thing.
Nothing wrong with the lads at all and they were far from stupid. I can understand where Victoria is coming from as her reaction is what the programme makers wanted and like I said previously I wonder who financed it? off course it will be the license payers, but something tells me the prohibitionists had a hand in this.
BBC Horizon’s Cannabis The Evil Weed? Now that was a programme to get excited about unfortunately it is no longer available via iplayer.
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 10:22 am
If anything Peter, Victoria’s post is exactly the response I expected and will happen up and down the country, Victoria is not alone nor is she guilty of anything, the programme has deliberately misled her.
People may very well steer clear of cannabis and take more dangerous drugs as a result, it is also telling that this run of drugs series on bbc runs the title, “guilty pleasures” next week it is ectasy which I will give a miss as it is going to be total BS if the cannabis programme was anything to go by.
Victoria is just one of many who will form the same opinion as she has, I completely understand how she has arrived at her conclusion, the media is a powerful tool.
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 10:57 am
I can see exactly where these difference in opinion about the show come from. I’ll clarify.
For the BBC, this program was extremely well made and a relatively unbiased account (given some their previous broadcasts)
For everybody else, there was, as has been said, a subtle but yet rather nasty position taken. The phrase about the ‘herbal terrorist’ was completely unnecessary terminology that can do no good in disseminating the truth to the uneducated. The whole program was tarnished with this sensationalist approach.
What we need, are programs about prohibition, it’s goals/aims. it’s achievements, and above all, what makes one substance prohibited whilst others fall under more normal trading practices. This program really was trying to big-up marijuana’s addictiveness and possible side effects when these attributes play no part in whether or not other substances are prohibited.
Doobz
January 7, 2011 at 11:52 am
I’m with you on this Peter. A step forward I think. As balanced as it was ever going to be. I think that those of you stamping feet must have assumed that the programme was going to’sell’ any perceived benefits. Be real to your selves people. Weed is a vice and as such the subject would always be approached from the perspective of ‘some harm will be done’ and in all honesty can any of us say this a completely harm free way of life. The truth is non of us actually know for sure and it is only right that the programme express this truth. Also, with regard to them exploring myths such as hallucinations, these stories are out there so they would be addressed by the programme. What should be focused on is that there were stories about individuals who did’t appear to have any significant negative reaction. This is what has been waited for and we should rejoice that this insight has been shared. Regarding terminology ie Hijacking ect. this to me appears to be nothing more that a mode of speech which can reach out to the target viewer. Does ‘its takes control of the receptors’ really mean anything different to hijacked? No, its simply an attention getter. All in all very balanced however, in relation to lower CBD levels potentially causing negative reaction then this could have been a platform to argue that regulation could reduce these negatives.
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 12:09 pm
I must say I got the impression the programme was emphasizing the negative aspects of cannabis use and pretty much ignoring the positives. I missed the first 10 minutes but the only positives I noticed was those guys having a laugh in the woods with hash cakes – but with narration telling us that hash cakes are dangerous and if they eat more then they’ll get more stoned like it was a significant danger.
The majority of the people they interviewed seemed perfectly lovely individuals which was nice, not the usual kids in an abandoned building types.
The usual police smashing doors down macho nonsense as always, but to be expected.
Perhaps the best thing they did was introduce CBD to mainstream discussion. And it seemed like they used more balanced material from Robin Murray, not his usual cries that cannabis is evil.
Not as bad as it could have been, but overall I felt an anti-cannabis tinge throughout.
Sam
January 7, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Certainly hope you are not referring to me as a foot stamper Nick 😉
The Ditch.. what was revealing about the ditch crossing was just how much cannabis REDUCES risk of harm, they actually THOUGHT about it, had a laugh and then did the deed. Now equate that with driving? Yes driving a car, a few studies one recent (will dig it out if you want) prove that those driving with cannabis in their system are just as safe if not safer than drivers without any cannabis in their system, now I am willing to bet that perfectly straight and sober people could quite have easily fallen into that ditch.
The laboratory THC, what on earth was all that about?
I respect your opinions but simply do not agree, for me this programme handed the prohibitionist lobby a gift as Victoria’s post clearly shows how it was designed to mislead, it would all be too easy to blame Victoria herself for not understanding the programme but isn’t a little odd that it is the reaction I fully expected, if anything the programme has set legislation back and I cant see how in anyway the programme forwarded the cause to end prohibition.
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Wouldn’t dream of it Catt..
I think it is very difficult here for any of us to view the programme without bias. Most smoke so we are by default, biased.
Also, i would suggest that the target audience was young adults, again, not everyone hear is a young adult so they weren’t actually shooting at us.
Viewed that this was an educational feature it was never going to say its great, go get stoned. People need to clarify their own REALISTIC expectations of any documentary on this subject. Blind devotion won’t change laws. People need, and by people I mean smokers,, to be realistic and accept that, like it or not, there will be those who suffer poor reactions and it is only right that people are made aware of the risks associated with any substance be it this or any other.
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 12:41 pm
One of the things I didn’t like was the large section devoted to psychosis and schizophrenia, with the most fleeting mention that it is a tiny tiny proportion of users who experience this. It was so brief that I almost missed it, it looked like it was only included because it was in the middle of another sentence.
Sam
January 7, 2011 at 12:57 pm
It had to be Sam. Much of the media’s talk on this subject relates to psychosis. They have to address whats out there. The fact that ‘only a few’ have this reaction is unimportant. To a doctor the fact that a person can have this reaction IS important as, I would suggest they don’t want people to harm themselves.
If we gave three children a screw driver and two didn’t do anything potentially harmful OK But, you would start shouting if one of them attempted to unscrew a plug socket. shocking example I know but what I’m saying is that the medical fraternity have a massive responsibility to those who could harm themselves.
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 1:07 pm
So are we saying that we have to dumb down the positives effects of MJ and blow the negatives out of all proportion?, reverse psychology?
Have you seen the horizon programme Nick? I suspect so, that too covered the very few negatives about MJ but was far more honest and truthful and highly recommend it to Victoria but alas it is no longer available on iplayer…, the truth is the Alcohol industry et al do not want people educated on this, the programme very much promoted the myths and pure LIES that enforce prohibition, we will just have to disagree on this one, from yours and peters stance it was a great programme that will help bring about an end to prohibition, but for me, the programme very much handed a gift for all those in favour of prohibition and also persuaded some that it should always remain illegal.
A plea to Victoria should she be reading this, I would be grateful if you could watch the horizon programme.. cannabis the evil weed? on you tube, here is a link to the first one and from there, you have to find parts 2.. 3 4 etc.. and then come back and tell us if your opinion has changed or remained the same, I can fully understand how you came to your conclusion after watching the bbc3 programme and wondering if this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qscNnWhnkRM will have any impact on your opinion. many thanks.
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Hi Catt. Not sure its that we actually disagree more, we might be looking at this from a different angle.
I don’t for one minute think the programme will further the cause because i don’t believe it was designed to have a political message. Rather, here’s some people who smoke, most don’t have problems but here’s some who do. The fact is some people don’t get on with it. And, I would suggest that these people suffer significantly…. we all know its true. So, people having a good time..not much you can say about them…
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Sorry, my comment made it look like they should have skipped any mention of psychosis or schizophrenia. I didn’t intend this, it is crucial that this be included. I just didn’t like the way it was presented, as if ‘skunk’ (always used incorrectly to mean high thc weed!) almost inevitably leads to these outcomes.
They nearly made it look like higher CBD weed is safe, which would be irresponsible.
Sam
January 7, 2011 at 2:27 pm
The tactic is a very common (and so far, effective) one.
Sidestep the well known benefits of cannabis by claiming “skunk” is some new, genetically engineered super-cannabis which is completely different and of course, to quote Gordon Brown “lethal”.
The problem here is that the issues posed by low CBD cannabis will undoubtedly invoke some prohibitionist circular reasoning.
Cannabis is grown richer in THC, intensively indoors for higher profit and lower risk of detection – due to prohibition
This results in more high THC cannabis on the street
High THC cannabis can cause issues therefore lets keep it prohibited.
And round and round it goes
This documentary tows the line pretty well.
Ed
January 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I do know what you mean. I think its also a bit of a tricky subject to report on in general but, I would say to their credit, that no ‘moral’..ie. we are all criminals etc. came up which, I found refreshing. Yes, they mentioned we could all go to prison for five years but, no judgement as such made by the programme on the practice. The one and only thing I dislike about this culture is the fact that its illegal.
I suspect we all agree on this.
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 4:40 pm
I thought the narration was generally negative about cannabis….’heart attacks’….’herbal terrorist’!? but I guess bias should be expected from the BBC. I was very interested in the part where the woman scientist was talking about thc increasing a ‘brain chemical’ which has something to do with facial perception. Anyone know what the ‘brain chemical’ is she was talking about?
Sam
January 7, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Balanced? Not a bit of it.
I appreciate that they have to cover the psychosis/schizophrenia angle but couldn’t they take 3 minutes to debunk it with hard scientific facts?
Consider one of the most recent studies published, and its subsequent portrayal by the Mail who reached the conclusion that there is an increase factor of 40% for psychosis after smoking one joint. Leaving aside the manipulation of the figures for the newspaper’s sensationalist headline, an actual accredited doctor had the following to say.
“The most dramatic figure is always the “relative risk increase”, or rather: “cannabis doubles the risk of psychosis”, “cannabis increases the risk by 40%”. Because schizophrenia is comparatively rare, translated this into real numbers this works out – if the figures in the paper are correct, and causality is accepted – that about 800 yearly cases of schizophrenia are attributable to cannabis. This is not belittling the risk, merely expressing it clearly…craziest of all is the fantasy that reclassifying cannabis will stop six million people smoking it, and so eradicate those 800 extra cases of psychosis.”
800 people annually out of six million is hardly 10% of the cannabis smoking population. Why the Scottish (Dr?) thought this may equate to 10% of festival goers is beyond me.
Of course that is also assuming that all 800 cases are cannabis linked and not the result of a pre-existing disposition to mental illness.
Moving on to Sativex. What? No mention of the fact that GW pharmaceuticals have been manufacturing this for years and exporting it to the US/Canadian market. That this company is based in Kent and have their own forest of marijuana plants all granted by government license years ago. Well no of course Beeb, it doesn’t do YOU much good to highlight the hypocrisies of government. Who, all the while are espousing the evils of marijuana and yet privately approving testing for medical research. Oh so there are some proven benefits then? You don’t say. Incidentally, I have a clip of Jack Straw as home secretary proclaiming any medical use of marijuana as not proven, all the while GW Pharma were in full flow.
I defy anyone (except Jack – because I saw him do it) to look a cancer/aids/ms patient in the eye and tell them that they can’t use a plant for medicine because it isn’t “legal”. We can, however, offer you a nice big dose of morphine. Makes me sick.
I have no idea as to the efficacy of Sativex. The last time I checked they had managed to synthesize the pain quelling properties of THC. This is obviously a good thing. It doesn’t as far as I know, duplicate the stimulation of appetite (especially beneficial to some patients) but that’s okay I’m sure they have other, nearly as good, pills to give you for that.
Skunk, oh dear it’s smoke and mirrors time again. The relative strength of street cannabis is not increasing. It has stayed around the same level for years. Fact.
A higher concentration usually means less is needed to achieve the same effects.
As for being “lethal” please note; “one estimate of THC’s LD50 for humans indicates that about 1500 pounds (680 kilograms) of cannabis would have to be smoked within 14 minutes. This estimate is supported by studies which indicate that the effective dose of THC is at least 1000 times lower than the estimated lethal dose (a “therapeutic ratio” of 1000:1). This is much higher than alcohol (therapeutic ratio 10:1), cocaine (15:1), or heroin (6:1).
The bottom line is this, this “documentary” featured a lot of morons – I’m thinking mostly the lads in the forest. I guess they should be protected from themselves.
I have never taken anything without knowing what to expect from it. I always researched first.
I smoked cannabis regularly for 8 years between the ages of 16-24. I have been clean for two years, which was my personal choice – we all grow up sometime (ok some of us never do). I will say this though; I have nothing against cannabis or anyone that choses to smoke it. I do have a problem with sanctimonious hand-wringing think-of-the-children types who would stop adults from making a conscious choice to enjoy this plant. I would like to thank Dr Ben Goldacre for the science parts of my post and for telling the truth, in a language most of us can understand. Rant over.
Daz
January 7, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I didn’t come away from this programme with a sickness for the BBC, I didn’t have to scream at the telly too many times, and I have no burning compulsion to vent in post watching discourse – so for me personally, we have progress.
The last BBCthree doc on this left me wanting to eat my own shoe or punch Des O’connor, but they’re personal issues and I’ll move on…
Point is, objectivity is creeping in, sure, I could sit here and rip into the content of this programme in quite a few ways, there were some contestable points and details, but a healthy context and balance was portrayed. There were quite a few good points put across along with the bad. At the end of the day, these programmes are reliant on those that come forward to put the “positive” side across, and this is where it is failing to get out the starting blocks as a debated subject matter in the UK. To put cannabis in a better light, it’s up to each person to do that shading. Until more people collectively change the stereotypes and stigmas of cannabis, we have ourselves to blame for abided clichés which are unfortunately easy to maintain within the cannabis fraternity.
Jason Reed - HomeGrownOutlaw
January 7, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Jason’s statement; ‘Objectivity is creeping in’ for me this sums it up.
Sure, nowhere near perfect but, was it ever going to be?
Also, the argument using alcohol as a control is fundamentally flawed as in reality it kind of reads ‘ Ok, so weed is bad but alcohol is really bad! Which, is no real foundation for the argument to legalise.
The only point we have to make is that legalisation is safer and would lead to damage reduction whereas the current method of prohibition creates more problems than it solves. Simple as that. Yes, this plant has many benefits and qualities for those capable of enjoying and harnessing them but that’s a different subject altogether I believe.
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Jason, couldn’t agree with you more. There was progress made, I suppose I just wish it was being made faster. There were times during this doc I was clutching my sides laughing. For me, there was not enough focus on the medical aspects. This is where the war is being won in the States. I don’t think there is any other way to secure the shift in perspective we are searching for. Sorry Nick, the reality is you say, “legalise cannabis, prohibition doesn’t work” and Middle England Daily Mailers hear “make crack compulsory for under 5s”
We badly need our own Jack Herer 🙂
Daz
January 7, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Daz, the medical side of the doc was very odd though I agree. The sativex angle was almost tagged on and went nowhere. It just phizzled out didn’t it.
I would love to see a dedicated medical programme that deals with it comprehensively.
Jason Reed - HomeGrownOutlaw
January 7, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Your right Daz, Daily Mail readers would be hiding in their tea cosys all over the kingdom.
Rare for me to say this but, I’m not wrong though am I?
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 6:18 pm
This “Cannabis addict” statement needs to be sorted out, it is precisely this kind of myth that will hold everything back, it was stated by Kathy Gyngell on Radio 4 as well.
Where is it coming from? I have requested the information from the BBC.
tom
January 7, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Fully agree Nick!
You simply cannot make a programme on any channel, let alone bbcthree, that does not put across the detrimental aspects of something first and foremost in a sensitive manner. To deal with this objectively and in context is the swingometer of good reporting. I mean, we have seen copious amounts of docs on this channel that really rakes alcohol over the coals.
Sure, we all here have a somewhat further education on cannabis, but we really do have to accept that some have and will see detrimental effects. And as pointed out by you Nick, those effects are largely due to prohibition, ignorance and abuse. THIS is the area we need to fight and drive home. I have partially disengaged from the debate on the dispelling of cannabis myths and negative aspects as this serves no other agenda than bogging down the debate to a prohibitionist’s level of stalemate. We’ve had this “no, it’s not bad Vs. it’s the devil” debate for decades and you cannot win despite all the evidence to hand. The old adage of “to a believer, no evidence is needed, to a sceptic, none will be good enough.”
As soon as we all swing the debate around to the harms that prohibition is causing and how exponentially safer things can be under reform, the onus then gets firmly placed on prohibitionists to defend position instead of mindless accusation throwing; and, this method is working. Every negative point made in last night’s doc can be mopped up with “ok, make it safer, regulate cannabis then”.
Jason Reed - HomeGrownOutlaw
January 7, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Spot on Jason. I’m greatly encouraged that there are people like you, Nick and many other commenters here that can see past their own frustration and recognise that this was a big step forward in coverage of cannabis.
I’ve just spent the whole day at Dorchester Crown Court available to give evidence on Pinky’s behalf. Thank God he came away with a suspended sentence.
Over and above all the issues raised by last night’s programme, I’m left bemused at a society that can even contemplate sending a man with two young children to prison for growing nine plants! Particularly when that man is wheelchair dependent, in constant pain and has been prescribed cannabis by a doctor.
Justice wasn’t done today but I suppose, at least, justice wasn’t disgraced.
The war on prohibition is a war that can and must be won. I urge everyone to do their bit, to take their share of responsibility – whether it be writing to your MP, writing to the BBC, signing petitions, whatever. We need to stand and fight for our rights!
Peter Reynolds
January 7, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Great news that Pinky walks free Peter!
A good couple of days then.
We should be happy you know!
Nick
January 7, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Great news about pinky, the fact that he was in court with thieves, frauds and murderers is a damning statement about the laws surrounding cannabis laws.
Sam
January 8, 2011 at 9:30 pm
I reckon they knew the facts, they knew the truth about marijuana, unlike talktofrank’s hilarious little page on it. But instead of saying “the government lied about this lied about that” (cancer, brain cells, worst than tobacco)they tried to push it as far as they could to make it look as negative as possible.
It can be seen when they use terms like “herbal terrorist” the obsession over skunk as if its the only strain you can get which has a high THC>CBD ratio and lack of detail over the benefits of medicinal use including mentioning that sativex is like £100 a bottle and isn’t even as effective as cannabis in normal form.
It is undoubtedly true however that there are vulnerable people with heart and mental issues which could be made even worst after taking cannabis but they seemed to concentrate on it too much. I mean anything which effects your mind and heart if you have problems in those areas is obviously bad right?
I think they should have compared the damages of cannabis to other drugs such as alcohol (can cause schizophrenia and other mental illnesses as well as many other body based illnesses) for the ignorant viewer who thought “oh how dreadful what what” when they listened to all the “like a herbal terrorist it controls your brain’s functions”
After all I suppose that’s what they are after, trying to make the “deadly pleasures” look as bad as possible.
Stephen
January 7, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Although an outrage it is good news “pinky” did not go to jail, good man you peter for going to court with him.
Its all very well for us to discuss the ins and outs or the pros and cons but it is Victoria’s post that we should be concerned about, How many more out there formed this opinion? Thank god for this place and the internet where a true education can be had, thank god we can counter and hopefully change these opinions, but, what about the ones who are not online and rely on mainstream media for all their news?
Now if I had to pick something good from the programme it would have to be the images of the brain and how it went in and showed us what are receptors look like, is it just me or are they very trichome looking? LOL.
L Catt
January 7, 2011 at 8:23 pm
Agree with most of the other posts. We were never going to get a completely unbiased programme. Don’t make this a moral argument, theres always going to be some who disagree with the use of canabbis. As Jason said, we just need to show people the disadvantages of prohibition. Also in this economy, the tax alone of weed has got to be a quite a persuasive argument.
Adam
January 7, 2011 at 8:45 pm
im going to have to side with the view that that the programme was biased and sensationalist crap. CANNABIS HIGHJACKS THE BRAIN LIKE A HERBAL TERRORIST. cmon people wake up and stop paying for a government propaganda fest.
sharky
January 8, 2011 at 2:24 am
I have now uploaded a recording of this programme which can be viewed here
Peter Reynolds
January 8, 2011 at 1:12 pm
why.. when you could always watch it from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x9ddq ?
Stephen
January 8, 2011 at 3:16 pm
You don’t know why Stephen?
This is why:
1. iPlayer is low resolution
2. iPlayer expires usually in less than 30 days
3. Anything downloaded from iPlayer stops working after 30 days
4. iPlayer doesn’t work outside UK
5. At my link you can watch and download the programme without restriction
Peter Reynolds
January 8, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Isn’t it strange that Cannabis Documentaries always fail to mention the ‘Facts’ behing criminalisation such as can be found on websites such as http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Cannabis
or even those on http://www.opposeprop19.com
Keep fighting the good fight Peter !
Cupid Stunt
January 8, 2011 at 1:37 pm
sorry, should read “behind” not “behing” . . .
( Damn me and my Brain that thinks I can type faster than my fingers can move ! )
Cupid Stunt
January 8, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Overall I thought it was unbalanced but in comparrison to others the BBC have produced its a improvement, whats wrong with just making a serious documentary instead of all this jazz ?
The BBC did another recent mini documentary on “insideout” on bbc london:
http://www.youtube.com/user/PTUKCC?feature=mhum#p/c/900C8D28D07811AD/0/hLlhA09Q6SM
Noticed people wanting to watch the Horizon documentary about cannabis, so I dug up the link
BBC Horizon – Cannabis The Evil Weed ?
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=FN35DU5Y
Got loads more docs if anyone wants them.
mFuk
January 8, 2011 at 7:47 pm
Thank you for those links
Peter Reynolds
January 8, 2011 at 7:57 pm
really 😉 Good, then I reacon you’ll going to love these too :
Strain Hunters – Africa
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=YTMJRHU8
CATO Portugal Report 2009
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=8DVVKE0B
Botany Of Desire Cannabis
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=8LXLMTNK
Marijuana USA
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=MHNSEE2O
Prince of Pot
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=4XB0DTXD
Marijuana A Chronic History
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=667GUMW0
Drugs INC Cannabis
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=PQFCZH02
Hemplands Conspiracy – Hempire Strikes Back
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=4FJH9MZI
The Union – The Business Behind Getting High
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=ECHWJGEK
Inside Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=AQQ62MLE
Hooked Illegal Drugs And How They Got That Way Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=XOSP05YL
Cannabis The Evil Weed?
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=FN35DU5Y
cannabis Britains Secret Farms
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=1P64UMR9
Howard Marks A Video Diary
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=ZGR5VCMB
Hemplands.Conspiracy.E02
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=STUZC4I8
Marijuana.Inc.Inside.America’s.Pot.Industry
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=I4BRAXIZ
THE.GOURMET.MENU.BY.CHEF.HANS
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=DRWYOADI
Stoned.in.Suburbia
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=JXSTWHS2
CannaBiz
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QJ33086W
Grass.History.Of.Cannabis.Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=AW8MGD8Q
national.geographic.explorer.marijuana.nation
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=Q0VV9B5H
The.Magic.Weed.History.Of.Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QUCDKSPD
The.Hemp.Revolution
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=R1G1KOWO
Timeshift.The.Cannabis.Years
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=Z5XR7F4S
HIGH.The.true.tale.of.American.Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=5EJCOY91
Should I Smoke Dope
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=CQR9MLSJ
Hemplands.Conspiracy.E01.Hemplands
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=47MVVN1C
In.Pot.We.Trust
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=66U3XUSA
Our_Drugs_War_Episode1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=TBRN7VMQ
Our_Drugs_War_Episode3
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=KTW2079S
Our_Drugs_War_Episode2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=VSILAPXS
CBC.Cannabis.Pain.Medication.2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=9RLOHW92
BBC_CountdownToDelirium
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=7CYOFLCT
CBC.Cannabis.Pain.Medication.1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=Z2EK67Z9
Escape.to.Canada.(2005).CBC
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=509RYW70
Emperor.Of.Hemp
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=BGA8ILD8
Cannabis.Cup.2003
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=AYLAX5W8
How.Weed.Won.The.West
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=D9SYV6PS
Super.High.Me
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QY3XILZ7
AcapulcoGold.1973.xtra1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=UOIZX6S3
AcapulcoGold.1973.xtra2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=CA7BNA0T
American Drug War The Last White Hope
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=O7XSA513
Ganja Queen
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=FX5BM92V
Waiting to Inhale
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=4NV6XGVV
Aphrodisiac.The.Sexual.Secret.of.Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=Z3SL1596
Adventures.In.Cannabis.Hemp.The.Dutch.Coffeeshop.Experience
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=FDLOLG0J
AcapulcoGold
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=XK80I94Y
National Lampoon’s Totally Baked – A Potumentary
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=EN2896J
Marijuana Inc. with Al Roker (MSNBC)
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=R01P7BBJ
A.K.A.Tommy.Chong
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=L5JFAAPT
Penn and Teller’s Bullshit! S02E04 – War on Drugs
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=RJCTD3HW
Reefer Madness 1938
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=HAUOOEI8
wild.justice.s01e02.marijuana.mountains
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QTANNTXN
Hash.In.The.Attic
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=QSGS1WQZ
Magick.And.Entheogens.Vol.1.Cannabis
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=A41UB4FY
See More Buds Vol:1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=WN4969EQ
See More Buds Vol:2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=7H8VA165
See More Buds Vol:3
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=X586JFEU
Just Say Grow
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=F8C56I3A
Sea Of Green Vol:1 – How To Flower Cannabis Clones
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=OSMYLLM8
Sea Of Green Vol:2 – Closet Cultivation
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=KFN1NHJU
Sea Of Green Vol:3 – Hydroponic Cultivation
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=8NUHU6VX
Sea Of Green Vol:4 – Growing Sinsemilla Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=XVEFWAT9
I Grow Chronic
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I8ITTMHQ
Ready Set Grow Vol:1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=CQ6ETU0C
Ready Set Grow Vol:2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=W3F043GW
Stoned Free Guide To Growing Cannabis
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=M4RIDYIR
Ultimate Grow Vol:1
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=IAWHICG4
Ultimate Grow Vol:2
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=4KXLMTLH
Ultimate Grow Vol:3
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=WHHH3Z5B
How To Make Hash
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=LJRM9UOE
Pot In Pans Cooking With Marijuana
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=TQOMP6UO
The Hashman By High Grow
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=GIXEZE0C
Never Get Busted Vol 2. Never Get Raided – Berry Cooper
http://www.megavideo.com/?d=7Y169SVB
Theres a few more too, I’m in the process of organising everything here : http://www.youtube.com/ptukcc
Theres gota be 45 maybe 50gbs of material so bear with me as I bring it all togeather.
mFuk
January 8, 2011 at 8:14 pm
nice list. many ive not heard of so ill have to allocate some watch time.
have you seen cannabis on sea? its a little known ch4 doozy.
sharky
January 9, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Thank you mFuk
Peter Reynolds
January 9, 2011 at 4:13 pm
It was complete nonsense
Scripted bullshit disguised as investigative journalism.You think the guy presenting it had actually investigated anything OR he had been handed a script?? He said what his producer and script editor told him too.
Skunk is not Genetically modified, its selectivity bred.Like dog breeding, Apples , pears, cabbage
Artificial Lights dont make cannabis stronger.
Potency is genetic, hence the selective breeding.
Sensimilla (without seeds) has always been stronger.
High strength cannabis and extracts have existed for a very long time.
Acapulco Gold has been kicking about since at least the 50’s and is as potent as many of today’s Skunk variety’s.
There has never been ANY link found between cannabis and psychosis /schizophrenia.
Psychosis and schizophrenia are not transient.
They dont wear off after an hour.
This is just reefer madness V 2.0
Psychosis and Schizophrenia rates have remained at a consistent rate for 50 years.
Unchanged by any cannabis smoking habits.
The BBC have investigated nothing.They are too interested in giving you sound bytes which fall in line with what you are being force fed by the Government.
Why any one would applaud this program as a step forward?
TheHerbalTerrorist
January 9, 2011 at 4:01 am
Well said Herbal Terrorist, the thing here is, if you don’t go along with their view Peter et al will just ignore you.
I really thought there would be a discussion here, i got that very wrong.
tom
January 9, 2011 at 10:29 am
I’m not ignoring anyone Tom and to me there seems to be lots of discussion here. What’s your agenda? What do you want to discuss or do you just want to snipe and criticise from the sidelines?
I agree with a lot of what the Herbal Terrorist says – except that the programme wasn’t “complete nonsense”. Of course it was “scripted”. It’s rubbish to say “there has never been ANY link found between cannabis and psychosis /schizophrenia”. These are ludicrous, destructive, over the top criticisms that are just as damaging to our cause as any prohibitionist.
Cannabis is a wonderful thing, a powerful medicine and a gentle pleasure. This latest BBC programme was far from perfect but it is substantial progress towards the truth. We need to work together to inform our fellow citizens and change the law. What’s your contribution?
Peter Reynolds
January 9, 2011 at 11:04 am
Cannabis may trigger an underlying existing mental illness but surely that is a good thing, an early warning system for diagnosing mental illness can only be a good thing, also cannabis can be and is being used to treat a myriad of mental illnesses from depression, bi-polar and PSYCHOSIS… but it does not cause it, and will argue the toss with anyone who wants to say it is the cause.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1728870.ece just of the top of me head from long term memory, there is so much more better science out there regarding cannabis and mental illness.
Again I come back to Victoria’s post which should be embraced as this is the opinion that I believe the programme makers themselves wanted to instil in people and that is where are fight is, taking the debate to Victoria and others who would have formed the negative attitude towards cannabis because that was exactly the aim of the programme.. am amazed that Victoria’s opinion has been dismissed as being her fault, its not.. sole responsibility lies with the programme makers for producing prohibitionist propaganda, that’s how I see it and it will take a good solid debate to persuade me otherwise.
How many Debra Bells did this programme make? how many will internalise the programme as fact and carry that through the rest of their lives and will always remain prejudiced against cannabis because of this programme.
Media is a powerful medium, it shapes opinion, and people are just as easily misled today as they was 30 years ago.
l catt
January 9, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Wise words Cecil! I agree with you entirely about the very worrying reaction from Victoria.
This is my answer:
https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/the-cannabis-campaign-in-2011/
Peter Reynolds
January 9, 2011 at 2:20 pm
Peter, thanks for the reply, no “agenda” here, you offer up a critique of the programme and fail to mention a very important point.
tom
January 9, 2011 at 1:04 pm
This is my point:
https://peterreynolds.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/the-cannabis-campaign-in-2011/
Peter Reynolds
January 9, 2011 at 2:19 pm
nice list. i’ll have to allocate some watch time.
have you seen cannabis on sea? a little known doozy from ch4 i think.
sharky
January 9, 2011 at 4:06 pm
No I don’t beleave so, I’m absolutly mad for cannabis documentarys, one might say “obsessed” …. Please any video material about cannabis is greatly appreciated.
mFuk
January 10, 2011 at 5:51 pm
you don’t mean “spliff on sea” do you ?
mFuk
January 10, 2011 at 11:12 pm
lol no wonder i could not find it.
sharky
January 11, 2011 at 12:02 am
Spliff on sea was the first doc uploaded to my current youtube channel & to be honest it had a significant effect upon me when I watched it, actually to be completely honest it had a massive effect upon me and is still reshaping my life to this day 🙂 but thats whole other story & I don’t wanna get anymore off topic than I allready have.
Anybody have any docs ?
email me : mfuk@hush.com
Spliff On Sea (BBC) (Part of the underground britian series), its soooo prohibition & thats why I love it, anybody surly with a brain can see how wrong this is
http://bit.ly/eBiInZ – more crap from the bbc. Massive respect to BudBuddies for there efforts !
mFuk
January 12, 2011 at 4:53 pm
soz i got an error last time and double posted . please delete as appropriate
sharky
January 9, 2011 at 4:12 pm
California Cannanis Coalition meets with volunteers….
I found your entry interesting thus I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…
Integrity, Community, and Unity
January 9, 2011 at 8:50 pm
With all due respect Peter, that is the campaign, here we are talking about the programme, or at least, that is what i thought we were talking about.
tom
January 10, 2011 at 12:38 pm
I can’t draw a line between reacting to the programme and the campaign. They’re the same thing as far as I’m concerned.
Peter Reynolds
January 10, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Sorry, i should have hit the reply button, just in case you are too busy to read this thread i will retype the message.
Statements regarding this programme, statements such as “ten percent of Cannabis users will become addicts” need to be taken on, this is about the programme, we were not talking about the campaign but this specific programme, were we not?
As a “critique” it fails. The programme gives a confusing message, as confirmed to me by several young people expressing their opinion to me since the programme.
It’s all well and good gushing about a programme that features Cannabis but none factual disinformation needs to be taken on and shown up for what it is.
tom
January 11, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I admire your determination for the truth Tom. I would encourage you to do what you can to correct the inaccuracies and complain about unbalanced emphasis and interpretation.
Peter Reynolds
January 11, 2011 at 3:42 pm
That is precisely what i thought you/ we were doing here!
I have asked for the source regarding the “one in ten become addicts” statement, no reply as yet.
May i suggest everyone does the same.
tom
January 13, 2011 at 10:48 am
Statements regarding this programme, statements such as “ten percent of Cannabis users will become addicts” need to be taken on, this is about the programme, we were not talking about the campaign but this specific programme, were we not?
As a “critique” it fails. The programme gives a confusing message, as confirmed to me by several young people expressing their opinion to me since the programme.
It’s all well and good gushing about a programme that features Cannabis but none factual disinformation needs to be taken on and shown up for what it is.
tom
January 10, 2011 at 2:32 pm