The National Academy of Medicine believes that “legalizing the recreational use of cannabis would be a serious health error.”
- The National Academy of Medicine opposes the legalization of recreational cannabis.
- To do this, it lists the negative effects of cannabis on health.
- Whether or not to legalize recreational cannabis is debated in France.
“Legalizing the “recreational” use of cannabis would be a serious health error.” In press release, the National Academy of Medicine believes he is able to resolve the thorny debate over the legalization of recreational cannabis in France.
Recreational cannabis: what are the health effects?
“The toxicity of the main psychotropic constituent of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is perfectly established”continues the institution, citing the following elements: physical toxicity greater than that of tobacco (cancers, heart attacks, heart rhythm disorders, stroke, arteritis, etc.), psychological toxicity (cognitive and anxiodepressive disorders, amotivational syndrome, disinhibition, induction or aggravation of schizophrenia, etc.), effects on pregnancy and offspring, epigenetic modifications, induction of family, professional or road violence (with 605 deaths in 2021), deleterious effects on brain maturation, drop in intelligence quotient.
“The 6-fold increase in THC levels in cannabis resin in 25 years also increases its addictive power,” continues the National Academy of Medicine. “This explains the increasing number and severity of its adverse and toxic effects, particularly among the most vulnerable, adolescents and young adults,” add the health professionals.
Legalization of the use of recreational cannabis: what is happening in the United States
In the United States, where more than 30 states have legalized the use of recreational cannabis, the latest data from the National Institute of Drug of Abuse show that consumption of this drug reached historic peaks among adults of childbearing age in 2022. .
“While the fight to reduce the terrible health harms of tobacco and alcohol is having little effect, it would be a serious mistake to legalize an additional source of addiction,” concludes the National Academy of Medicine.
According to the 2022 report of the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Tendencies (OFDT), France has 5 million cannabis users, making it the most consumed illicit substance in France. Among them, around 1.3 million are regular consumers and 850,000 are even daily users.
“In France, cannabis is consumed in 3 main forms. Herb and resin are the most common, while oil is much less frequently observed,” specifies the OFDT.
