Cannabis under fire in "Brain Damage" adverts.

[jon-q]

Cannabis Under Fire In 'Brain Damage' Adverts

8 hours 12 mins ago
Sky News

A £2.2m advertising campaign warning of the links between cannabis use and mental health damage has been launched.



In the television advert, the negative effects of the drug - paranoia, memory loss and panic attacks - appear as unwanted guests at a party in the user's brain.
Cannabis user Simon smokes a joint and at first feels giggly and talkative and craves food, before the side effects of the drug take over.
The campaign, which follows the reclassification of cannabis to Class B last month, is targeted at 11 to 18-year-olds.
It urges youngsters with questions about the drug to "Talk to Frank" by calling an information line or visiting the campaign website.
Frank spokesperson Chris Hudson said: "Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Britain and 'binge smoking' to achieve maximum effect may be putting peoples' mental health in serious danger.
"There is evidence of a link between cannabis and mental health problems such as schizophrenia, and those who first use it at an early age may be more at risk.
"You never truly know what you're getting and stronger cannabis, such as skunk, can increase the chance of suffering a nasty reaction."
Marjorie Wallace, of mental health charity SANE, said: "This is a victory for the campaigning of SANE and other organisations who have for years been warning about the direct effects of cannabis in damaging the minds of young people, particularly if they take skunk and smoke from an early age.
"We need hard-hitting campaigns like this to convince people just how frightening the effects of cannabis can be, and that for those who are vulnerable, taking it may not be just chilling out for an evening but could mean robbing themselves of their chances in life."
New penalties for cannabis users were introduced when the drug was reclassified.
Anyone caught in possession of the drug is now given a warning, followed by a fine and prosecution for a third offence.
Dealers can be jailed for up to 14 years.
************************************************** ************************************************** *
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090216/...e-45dbed5.html

[Nature Boy]

So he's giggly, talkative and peckish then he suddenly gets paranoid and loses his memory? It doesn't really work like that. When people get a bad a reaction to cannabis, they get paranoid straight away. It doesn't have a come up or a come down as such. Nice to see they're wasting their time with more useless ads like this. It's well known that these ads do little or nothing to change the minds of people who are likely to use cannabis. Yes, it drives fear into people who've already made their minds up about avoiding the stuff but no, it's not going to convert anyone who already smokes. It's like preaching to the Pope. Utterly pointless. Thanks again Frank.