16 November 2006
Others
The social perception of cannabis consumption has changed dramatically during the last few years, ranging from great permissiveness to strong prohibitionism; from the recognition of its therapeutic consumption to the concern about the psychic consequences of continuous consumption; from its occasional use by some adults to frequent consumption by youth. Some of the attitudes emerging from apparently conservative and/or progressive groups often tinge scientific reflection with ideological postulates. This makes it difficult to carry out a real analysis of the situation and consequences that the consumption of this substance has in its different forms, especially among the teen population.
This Symposium seeks to create a forum for scientific analysis and open reflection, with focus on the different aspects involved in cannabis-related problems. These range from the implications of the distribution of this substance to the sociological changes in its consumption, as well as its medical and psychological consequences. In this regard, it also aims to reflect upon the international policies regarding cannabis, and their effect on the achievement of the objectives established by the European and Spanish strategy; and to examine the legal and criminal situation in Spain within the European framework, as well as to incorporate elements for the current debate about penalisation and legalisation. In addition, it is designed to examine the current state of the scientific research into the consequences of cannabis consumption and its treatment for mental health.
The Regional Minister for Housing and Social Affairs opened this Symposium and presented the first round table entitled 'Aspectos jurídicos y penales en torno al cannabis'. Javier Huete, Public Prosecutor at the Supreme Court, talked about cannabis as a target in drugs trafficking, and José Antonio Martín Pallín, Judge of the Supreme Court lectured on ?Penalisation and Legalisation?.
The second round table focused on the international perspective. Danilo Ballota, Institutional Coordinator of the European Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction-OEDT, Lisbon, talked about ?Actitudes internacionales sobre el cannabis y sus aplicaciones en la Unión Europea', and Joep Oomen, Coordinator of the European Coalition for fair and effective drug policies ?ENCOD, Antwerp, gave a lecture on 'Alternativas europeas en políticas de drogas.
The third round table was entitled 'Aspectos médicos del consumo del cannabis'. 'Mecanismos neurofisiológicos' was the lecture given by Joan Sallés, Professor of Pharmacology, University of the Basque Country, Deputy Rector, Alava Campus, and Miquel Casad (Professor of Psychiatry, Autonomous University in Barcelona, and Head of the Psychiatry Service at the Vall d?Hebron University Hospital), talked about 'Implicaciones médico-psiquiátricas. Cuestiones psiquiátricas y su tratamiento'.
This Symposium ended with a Debate on 'La política del cannabis en un estado social y democrático de derecho'. Speakers included: Eusebio Megías, Technical Director, Fundación de Ayuda contra la Drogadicción -FAD , Amador Calafat, Director of Adicciones Magazine, Martín Barriuso, Chairman of the Federación de Asociaciones Cannábicas-FAC, and Juan Muñoz, Lecturer in Criminal Law, University of Malaga.
