Abstract

Why is cannabis not our drug of choice? On the face of it, cannabis seems so much better than legal drugs: it does not cause aggression, it gives the user no hangover, makes everything seem funny, and appears to be a lot healthier. Of course, at the dark end of the spectrum, cannabis is thought by some to act as a gateway drug, gets the user involved with criminals, causes social isolation and depression, and can lead to psychosis or even schizophrenia. Regardless of the supposed pros and cons of cannabis use, it certainly is the drug of choice for many. For instance, 22.7% of English and Welsh 16 to 29 year olds had used cannabis in the previous 12 months in 2001/2002.1 The popularity of cannabis raises concerns that the use of less popular drugs perhaps does not, namely, how does the use of cannabis affect the quality of life and what sort of socio-economical impact does it have? Given the widespread use of cannabis, the implications that it may have should be taken under careful consideration. In what follows, I will examine both the adverse effects as well as potential benefits that cannabis use is likely to have in the light of recent research. The inquiry will be divided into two sections: the implications of cannabis use from the point of view of the individual on one hand, and from the point of view of society on the other.