Don’t legalise use of cannabis

By Dr. Anula Wijesundere

Vice President, Temperance Association of Sri Lanka

During the past few months, various views have been expressed in the electronic, print and social media regarding legalization of the growth of cannabis in Sri Lanka. Some who promote cannabis growth indicate that it promotes nationalism, being a vital ingredient for ayurvedic medicinal preparations

In the recent past, before the second COVID-19 pandemic occurred in Sri Lanka, daily raids were conducted by our security forces to apprehend drug traffickers and addicts to minimize the use of heroin in Sri Lanka. These daily detections were greatly appreciated by the people.

When we consider the massive haul of heroin confiscated in mid seas in the recent months and the daily detections of large quantities of heroin, it seems that Sri Lanka is the central point of the major heroin network in South East Asia. When the government is thus engaged in a massive anti-narcotic drive, the expressions of certain prominent politicians, promoting cannabis, is in stark contrast to the government policy on narcotic control.

Health hazards of cannabis

The use of cannabis is indeed detrimental to public health. The harmful effect of cannabis is related to the chemical THC (Tetra Hydro Carbinol), which is a psycho stimulant. The regular use of cannabis leads to the development of psychological and physical dependence and addiction.

Cannabis also aggravates psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, panic attacks, self-harm and depression and leads to impairment of memory and dementia. There is a greater incidence of suicide among cannabis users.

Apart from involvement of the nervous system, cannabis also affects the heart, causing rapid heart rate and shortness of breath. Recurrent lung infections are also common among cannabis users due to the presence of carcinogens and irritants in cannabis smoke.

Effects of cannabis on the newborn

Use of cannabis during pregnancy results in the birth of low birth weight babies with abnormalities in the brain and genital organs. Thus, the use of cannabis is extremely harmful to the baby throughout the pregnancy. Cannabis can be considered as a gateway drug which leads to the use of more potent and dangerous drugs subsequently.

Restrictions to the use of cannabis

The use of cannabis containing drugs is prohibited by the Federal Drug Agency (FDA) of the USA. The International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) has warned that the use of cannabis is likely to increase  globally, unless the growth for medicinal use is not controlled adequately. The British National Formulary (BNF), which indicates all drugs used in the UK, does not include any cannabis related drugs. In Sri Lanka, cannabis is prohibited by law, namely by the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinances of Sri Lanka.

Global restrictions on the use of cannabis

Only a few countries in the world have legalized the use of cannabis. These include Uruguay, Canada, Georgia, South Africa and the city of Amsterdam. Studies done in Uruguay have shown that the incidence of road traffic accidents, crime, mass murder and violence against women have increased after the legalizing of cannabis in that country.

Use of cannabis by Sri Lankan bus drivers and road traffic

accidents

The traffic police of Sri Lanka have confirmed that many long distance bus drivers use cannabis, break road rules, overtake and speed, leading to the death of innocent civilians. In other instances, excessive intake of cannabis may lead to drowsiness, resulting in drivers falling asleep at the wheel, with drastic consequences.

At present the Sri Lankan highways have indeed become bloody with around 3000 deaths annually with about eight deaths per day. The deaths affect mainly the breadwinners in most families, thus leaving families in dire poverty. Furthermore, about 25000 persons become disabled partly or totally annually. Sadly, the care of the disabled becomes the responsibility of the affected unfortunate families. The promotion of cannabis growth will certainly lead to more accidents with their dire consequences.

Use of cannabis for medicinal purposes

The requirement of cannabis for the ayurvedic drug manufacturers is supplied by the police via confiscation of illegally grown cannabis. The aryuvedic doctors have also been granted permission to grow limited amounts of cannabis for their own drug requirements.

However, we are not aware of any disease for which cannabis is absolutely essential in the ayurvedic stream. In allopathic medicine, the only requirement of cannabis is in the treatment of two very rare types of complex seizure disorders, eg: Dravet Syndrome and Lannox Gastaut Syndrome. However, a recent article in the British Medical Journal has raised doubts about the usefulness of cannabis based anticonvulsant in treatment of these conditions.

The current state in the anti-narcotics drive

The Secretary of Defence recently expressed that over 6000 persons have been arrested in possession or peddling illicit drugs, in the recent past. However, he mentioned that the actual number of illicit drug users in Sri Lanka is likely to exceed 600,000, approximately 2.5% of our population. He also stated that a large extent of land is already under illegal cannabis cultivation. If such large numbers of Sri Lankan’s use dangerous drugs when it is illegal, it is inevitable that the legalizing of cannabis will certainly increase the supply and demand.

Consequences of promoting the growth of cannabis

If the growth of cannabis is legalized for medical purposes, despite strong assurances that the growth would be done with all security measures, it is very likely that the cannabis grown would reach the public at large. The people of Sri Lanka have lost confidence in all security measures pertaining to narcotics with the discovery of some officials of the Police Narcotic Bureau, selling the cannabis confiscated, back to drug lords.

The National Alcohol and Tobacco Authority (NATA), prohibits the advertising of the said products in the electronic and print media. Similarly, promoting the growth of cannabis, especially through the social media claiming to improve the economy of the country, should be prohibited. With the deterioration of physical, mental and social health of the nation with cannabis use, there can be no economic development.

Legalizing the use of cannabis would therefore impede the development of the nation. The Temperance Association of Sri Lanka earnestly requests the government not to legalize the growth of cannabis, which would definitely obstruct the vision of “vistas of prosperity and splendour”, projected by the present government and the expectations of all.