The variety of appearances for cannabis.

Psychosis could cause cannabis use, rather than vice versa, or an unknown mediating factor could cause both cannabis use and psychosis.

Projects included the monitoring of cannabis cultivation in Morocco finding alternative activities for cannabis farmers monitoring the impact of cannabis trafficking out of North Africa into Europe HIV AIDS corruption and the trafficking of Afghan heroin.

Regarding efforts to eradicate cannabis cultivation, a number of countries were reported to be studying cannabis cultivation and its socio economic impact and assessing the feasibility of implementing alternative development programmes to tackle illicit cannabis cultivation.

In connection with illicit cannabis cultivation, the hope was expressed that UNODC would be able to contribute to efforts to reduce cannabis production.

In Morocco, the first cannabis surveys conducted in the Rif region in 2003 and 2004 confirmed the country as one of the world's leading cannabis producing and exporting countries, supplying 80 per cent of cannabis resin seized in Europe.

59 160. Control of cultivation of and trafficking in cannabis

So, does cannabis use harm mental health? Yes and no.

Concern was also expressed at the increased use of cannabis.

Cannabis was mentioned as a matter of special concern in Africa.

Moreover, different strains of cannabis pose more or less risk for psychosis.

Cannabis production grew by 300 metric tons over this period, to 15,800 metric tons.

A number of representatives reported on efforts to eradicate cannabis cultivation in their countries.

Since then, however, many studies have explored the association between cannabis use and psychotic illness.

For example, the age at which cannabis use begins appears to be an important factor.

Concerned also that the abuse of cannabis, especially among young people, often leads to risk taking behaviour,

Some studies have also explored the role of cannabis use in disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Small scale illicit cultivation of cannabis occurs in a large number of African and Middle Eastern countries.

Noting with concern that increased cultivation of cannabis in Africa is extremely dangerous for the ecosystem because it leads to extensive use of fertilizers, overexploitation of the soil and destruction of forests to make room for new cannabis fields, thus accelerating soil erosion,

Again, CBD seems to offset the addictive effects of cannabis, and seems to provide relief from withdrawal symptoms.

Many studies have focused on the possible negative impact of cannabis use on memory and other cognitive functions.

A number of speakers referred to the need to implement alternative development plans to address illicit cannabis cultivation.

Such programmes or plans covered cannabis in 32 States, opium poppy in 19 and coca bush in 7.

It was long thought that cannabis was a relatively harmless drug, and that concerns about its use were overstated.

While little sign of a link has been found, there is better evidence for the addictive potential of cannabis.

1. Welcomes the 2003 cannabis survey conducted by Morocco in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Reported cannabis use at the study s start increased the likelihood of being diagnosed with schizophrenia in the next 15 years.

7. Encourages Member States to apply new strategies and tools to complement existing ones in efforts to combat trafficking in cannabis

In 2007, a compilation of the best studies concluded that frequent (daily) cannabis use doubles the risk of a psychotic outcome.

This is in line with biological evidence suggesting that the maturing brain is more susceptible to the negative impact of cannabis.

Concerned further that cultivation of and trafficking in cannabis are on the increase in Africa partly as a result of extreme poverty and the absence of any viable alternative crop and partly because of the profitability of such activity and the high demand for cannabis in other regions of the world,

LONDON Is cannabis harmful to mental health? That question has provoked much debate over the years, often generating more heat than light.

Since the lifetime prevalence of a psychotic illness is roughly 1 of the population, daily cannabis use would increase this to 2 .

People who started using cannabis before the age of 16 have a higher risk of psychosis compared to those who start after 18.

The explanation for this difference lies in the composition of the two main components of cannabis, delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

A final, and often overlooked, source of harm to mental health associated with cannabis is the legal fallout of being caught with it.

Penalties for cannabis possession range from none (for example, the Netherlands and Portugal) to legal warnings, fines, and even life imprisonment (Southeast Asia).

When the plant is called hemp (Cannabis genus) the reason it is illegal in the United States has all to do with politics.

With regard to cannabis cultivation, no such comparable data exists, but it is clear that further efforts by the international community are urgently needed.

It is generally accepted that frequent and prolonged cannabis use impairs cognitive functioning, but that these effects are reversible following abstinence of 3 12 months.

Coca surveys in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru opium poppy surveys in Afghanistan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Myanmar and a cannabis survey in Morocco.

Trends are also following similar patterns use of cannabis is increasing heroin use is stable or decreasing and use of ATS and cocaine is increasing.

Of course, the existence of a positive correlation between cannabis use and psychosis does not allow us to draw a direct causal link between the two.

As to the kind of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances they used, it was cannabis (52.8 per cent), ecstasy (18.4 per cent), diazepam (9.4 per cent).

The bottom line is this within the scientific community, there is a general consensus that most people who use cannabis will not develop significant mental health problems.