Screaming Penguin - Source Does Matter

Scientists at the US National Institute on Drug Abuse have released new findings that claim to support the case that Marijuana is as or more addictive than other traditionally more hard core drugs such as heroine and cocaine.

The study pitted monkeys against various drugs in an apparatus whereby they could dose themselves. The bottom line, the monkeys liked cocaine, and the monkeys liked pot, they dosed themselves up to 30 times an hour.

The conclusion: "So basically this is the first clear
demonstration that the active ingredient in
marijuana will maintain drug taking behaviour in
experimental animals, and it indicates - from a
pre-clinical standpoint - that it has the same
potential for abuse that other drugs such as
heroin and cocaine do."

Does this really prove the addictive properties of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)? I think the scientists may be confusing cause and effect. The monkeys surely liked it, who wouldnt, but does the fact they liked it and continued to use it prove addiction? It certainly may make the animals "maintain drug taking behavior" but I dont see the correlation with addiction. I think we are taking a bit of a leap with the conclusion.

The conclusion may be accurate anyway but the evidence in this study demonstrates no direct cause and effect. Prove the addiction by demonstrating which cells are receptors of the active ingredients and how they are affected and changed by usage (or prolonged usage), not by watching monkeys shoot up.

Its an interesting take as the drug debates heat up. No matter which side of the drug legalization debate you are on, we can all agree (I hope, statistics certainly prove that drug usage and profits are higher than ever, that billions are spent annually on "punishment" and that is not effective for non violent victemless offenders) that making the use of euphoriants by adults a crime and declaring a "war" is NOT working.

Check the BBC link for details.   Cannabis as "addictive as Cocaine": BBC