Let Australians know new, real harms of cannabis

New scientific studies published in some of the world’s best medical journals (see link below for the studies) are showing that cannabis is likely causal in twice as many cancers as tobacco, as well as most birth defects. Massive population studies are now confirming what decades of laboratory research into the physiological effects of cannabis had already discovered. Yet the media mostly refuses to cover press releases from drug prevention organisations drawing attention to these studies, leaving medicinal and recreational cannabis users in the dark about the damage it is doing. Its damage to mental health is likewise being largely ignored by the media.

Cancers – a recently published study found that cannabis is likely causal in 27 different types of cancer as compared to just 14 for tobacco. Cannabidiol (CBD) is shown to be likely causal for 12 cancers, including breast cancer. Cannabis has also been linked to a majority of pediatric cancers.

Birth defects – another recent population study using European data found that cannabis is causal in 89 of 95 birth defects tracked across 27 countries. Mutations caused by cannabis will likely affect three or four generations of offspring. Specific studies have linked cannabis to autism and also to limblessness, where French areas cultivating large cannabis crops are experiencing bovine and human newborns without limbs 60 times more than elsewhere.

Psychosis - Cannabis has long been established as causal in psychoses and schizophrenia with a recent Kings College study suggesting that use of high-THC cannabis is causal in 30% of all new psychosis cases in London, and 50% of new cases in Amsterdam.

The Australian Taskforce for Drug Prevention seeks to raise $35,000 to disseminate news of the best scientific studies on cannabis via an extensive social media campaign with full accountability to donors. The Taskforce comprises Drug Free Australia, Dalgarno Institute, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Drug Advisory Council Australia, NotEvenOnce Projects Australia and Teen Challenge Australia. All donations are tax-deductible through Drug Free Australia's ABN.

A 15 page documents giving the latest science on cannabis is at https://www.mediafire.com/file/s6tnwe2yqa9bm7k/Cannabis+and+Hemp+Scientific+Review.pdf/file