In response to the recent legalisation of cannabis for personal use, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) noted with concern a growing public perception of cannabis as a harmless plant, and that few measures have been instituted to address this.
According to Dr Abdul Kader Domingo, member of the Sasop Special Group on Addictions, it is estimated that one in six teenagers using cannabis will become addicted to it.
“Human brain development and maturation is a process that is guided by the body’s endogenous cannabinoid system and occurs until the early 20s. Exposure to phyto-cannabinoids (cannabinoids obtained from the cannabis plant) during this vulnerable period may disrupt the process of brain maturation and affect aspects of memory, attention, processing speed and overall intelligence. Cannabis use during the adolescent period may cause lasting cognitive deficits, even after sustained abstinence,” Dr Domingo said.
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The South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (Sacendu) reported that cannabis was the most common primary substance of abuse for persons younger than 20 years presenting to treatment facilities during the second half of 2016.
Dr Domingo said the ease of accessing an intoxicating substance may have an underestimated impact on the initiation, frequency and amount of use, and the subsequent risk of developing a substance use disorder and added that any change to the legislation regulating cannabis use should have been undertaken in consultation with all the relevant stakeholders, be based on good quality scientific evidence and take into consideration the availability and accessibility of current drug addiction prevention and treatment resources in South Africa.
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“The decriminalisation of cannabis removes the criminal penalty related to the use of cannabis; it allows for a distinction between a drug dealer and an individual experimenting with or addicted to a drug. While Sasop supports the human rights of all individuals, we argue that a decision to protect those addicted to substances should not be viewed as a simple binary decision based on criminal penalties,” he said.
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Dr Domingo said available evidence does not support the strong positive public opinion favouring the medicinal benefits of cannabis and advised that the decriminalisation of cannabis be preceded by drug education campaigns and other socially responsible strategies.
“We support ongoing research on the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes to ensure that its purported and potential benefits can be scientifically measured against medical and societal risks.”
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