Pubdate: Tue, 31 Jul 2007
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n906/a02.html
Author: Nigel Longhurst

HONESTY NEEDED IN CANNABIS DEBATE

Ben Goldacre's level-headed reanalysis of the "cannabis psychosis" 
stats (Bad Science, July 28) came as a welcome relief following last 
week's tabloid hysteria. But he could have gone further: isn't it 
possible - likely even - that people experiencing embryonic, 
undiagnosed psychotic symptoms might turn to cannabis for therapeutic 
reasons, especially where normal social interactions have become 
problematic? That population levels of schizophrenia have remained 
constant in the UK over the last 30 years would appear to support 
this possibility. As ever, in the social (and all) sciences, one 
cannot infer causation from correlation.

Nigel Longhurst Liverpool
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