The UN doesn’t use science in cannabis policy, so ignore it

We are often told that we need “science” to guide our cannabis policy. However, the people who call for “science” to dictate politics usually do not use science when making their own rules.

This is perfectly illustrated by the recent statements by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime calling for an international ban on the advertising of cannabis.

You heard right, they want to censor all global cannabis branding and marketing because they “think” it could have a negative impact on people.

UNODC’s head of research and trend analysis, Angele Me, said: The main reason was to ensure that advertisements did not mislead young people into believing cannabis was a healthy choice. – source

Unless the main reason is to make sure the ads don’t “make young people” think cannabis is a healthy choice, then why do we need a ban? Are there no regulators to make sure you obey the rules when addressing children?

I mean, Youtube warned me about a video because it showed rioting people and because it was unacceptable for children. I made a statement about the fickle nature of humanity, but the censors don’t understand art.

However, the purpose of the Youtube strike is to simply illustrate that there are indeed agencies that are watching what we are marketing to children. Hence, a worldwide ban on cannabis advertising is ridiculous to say the least.

The question is; Have these “researchers” actually done the right research to justify a global ban?

What the UNODC actually said …

The UNODC has published its annual world drug report. According to Today Health Science, public health should take precedence over the business interests of the cannabis industry.

This is a position any sane person would support. We don’t want “industry” to trump public health, and that is precisely why there are regulations.

We make sure the cannabis sold is properly labeled, public awareness campaigns are industry funded, and age restrictions are put in place so kids can’t just go to a store and buy weed.

Here is an excerpt from the article about their “Findings”.

The special focus is on Cannabis crisis. The report analyzes changes in cannabis use and risk perceptions over time. The UN anticipates the challenges that may soon arise and is addressing them directly.

The latest estimates and trends in cannabis use show a significant increase in marijuana products in recent years. Long-term, heavy consumption of the drug can lead to mental disorders.

In addition, the agency found that the strength of cannabis products has nearly quadrupled in the US and doubled in Europe over the past two decades.

A bigger cause for concern is that the percentage of teenagers who view marijuana as harmful has decreased by nearly 40% over the past 20 years.

The UNODC therefore suggests that private companies and social media channels stop aggressively marketing cannabis products, especially those with a high THC content.

At the moment, we don’t know how such a ban would work. But the UNODC says it will be similar to those set out by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. (Emphasis added)

The problem with this approach is that there are a lot of “maybe” in the air. There’s no hard science to back up their fears, and it seems more like the predictions of people who have never used cannabis in their lives.

Yet these people are the ones “suggesting” how countries should act.

Without the UN, global drug trafficking would not have grown to the extent it is today. Her “science” suggested that a total ban on all “illegal drugs” was the best course of action.

But it was precisely these decisions that drove cartels to power and increased drug availability, especially to children.

A young Reginald at the age of 16 – Drugzapalooza!

I remember when I was a teenager the drug war was in full swing. We have been told by every person in authority not to use drugs – but when we asked “why” we were told, “Because it’s bad!”

But anyone who has actually tried drugs has realized that the opposite was the case. Sure, there are risks – but you can explore the vastness of your own consciousness from the comfort of your couch.

Because of the illegality of drugs, cartels produced a great deal, with the idea that some of their products would be confiscated. This was part of their business model.

As a result, there was an influx of drugs that brought the price down and allowed small children with pocket money to buy all sorts of psychedelic goodies.

There was no advertising for these drugs – you just had to “know a guy”. This “guy” wasn’t too difficult to track down.

Why the UN should run away!

The reason I referred to the previous example of a young person using drugs like tic tacs is because policies like the one proposed by the UN help create these conditions.

Of course we want to protect public health – we want to discourage children from using drugs. But we don’t do it by hiding the existence of drugs, but by properly educating them.

I used a lot of drugs as a teenager, but that doesn’t mean I advocate that teenagers use drugs too. On the contrary, I have many reasons why children should wait until they are around 25 years old to experiment with such substances.

However, the UN suggests taking drastic action on a whim – and then, in the same breath, calls upon “science to dictate drug policy”.

Listen, if you don’t want to restrict alcohol advertising then you definitely shouldn’t be restricting cannabis advertising. Just like with alcohol, you should just make sure that it appeals to the right audience.

Fortunately, the UN can never get anything done, it just “suggests” – but honestly we don’t need their input on cannabis or any drugs – they have a damned bad track record of making smart decisions about these kinds of things.

THE UN AND CANNABIS, READ MORE …

THE UN HAS NO TIME TO REPART THC, SORRY!