Talk to Frank Cannabis info
V3 2006
Nearly two years after its last, the Talk to Frank website finally had an update. This time however it seems to have been a rush job, with a a fairly crude cut-and-paste addition to the information.
So the first part of Franks information is much as before, although some of it has changed slightly - see comments in bold
The Talk to Frank page on cannabis can be seen here
The new section is here
| Most of the new information has been stuck on here | |
Self control tips |
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| While you're better to avoid smoking cannabis altogether, if you are finding it difficult to cut down or stop there are tips that you might find useful: | Of course, it has to have the "don't use" message - this is a government anti-cananbis site remember. This is a pity, because this information is good for everyone who uses cannabis, even if they aren't finding it difficult to cut down or stop. |
| To reduce the risk of overdoing it, try to space out the days between using cannabis. | Er, don't get stoned everyday I think he means. What's wrong with a quick toke before bedtime or after work? |
| Don't buy more than you need thinking you will save some for tomorrow - you probably won't. | Why ever not? Not everyone canes the whole lot in one go Frank. Better advice is to learn when you've had enough as most users do. |
| The more you break up the pattern of use the easier it is to control cannabis and reduce the risks. | That's probably true, but other factors like the way you use cannabis are important. Still no advice about smoking with tobacco note. |
| If you are trying to cut down, avoid things that remind you of cannabis. Certain places, people, events or times might make you think of cannabis and want to take it. | This is good advice for breaking a psychological addiction. |
| Try to identify all the things you associate with using cannabis and make an effort to avoid them until you feel OK about not smoking. Plan to do something else at the time of day you usually have a joint. | This is actually a cut and paste from the stop smoking tobacco information issued by the government. Frank doesn't understand that cannabis is different to tobacco, to him its all just smoking. Good advice as far as it goes, but what's the advice if you're not trying to cut down or stop Frank? |
| SKUNK ID: home-grown, buds, tops, nederwiet/netherweed, sinsemilla |
Ah! Frank has noticed the skunk debate at last. It only took him three years. |
| 'Skunk' is a term that is often used to describe herbal cannabis grown from selected seeds by intensive indoor methods (e.g. using hydroponic methods, artificial lighting etc.). The term originally related to the strong smell of these particular strains. | "Skunk" is actually the name of a particular strain of cannabis, grown from "skunk" seeds made by skunk plants. Skunk is a cross between Sativa and Indica types of cannabis plant. However, Frank is right to say the term "skunk" is often used to mean cannabis grown indoors under lights and the illegal nature of the supply side does often mean it's grown intensively. In fact, a lot of "skunk" - better to call it "bud" - isn't grown from seeds but from cuttings of an older plant. Cuttings are not a new idea for gardeners, they've been doing it for thousands of years. Each plant grown from a cutting is a clone of the original - ie identical in every way. Growing from "cuts" thus produces a very predictable product. The name did originally come from the smell. |
| Other terms for, and varieties of, such domestically produced herbal cannabis include homegrown, 'buds', 'tops', 'nederwiet/netherweed' or domestically produced 'sinsemilla' | That's better |
Purity |
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| The method of selection and cultivation of homegrown or 'skunk' tend to produce cannabis with greater average strength than 'imported herbal cannabis' or 'imported cannabis resin' (i.e. greater amounts of the active ingredient 'tetrahydrocannabinol'). It is around twice as potent on average. | Well, Frank isn't going to tell you. This is information about strength, not purity. "Purity" means does it have contaminants? The straight answer to that question is as long as the plant is grown properly and not fed a diet of toxic chemicals, it will be totally pure. Of course, because of prohibition, there are no checks to make sure it is always grown in a pure way, but any cannabis you grow yourself will be pure if you do it right. Of course, Frank can't tell you that. The information about strength comes from the recent European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction here Frank doesn't mention that different varieties of cannabis have different effects though. |
| It is not actually possible to tell whether a particular sample of 'skunk' will be any higher potency than an equal amount of 'imported herbal cannabis' - because the potencies overlap substantially. The potency anyway decreases over time in storage and is affected by what parts of the plant have been included in the product - so a consumer has little guarantee about the strength. The strength of the skunk smell appears to be no guide to actual potency either | What Franks is trying not to say is the claims that cannabis is now much stronger than it used to be are really not true. It's because of prohibition that the consumer has no idea of how strong cannabis is, but Frank can't tell you that either. Uncertain strengths are a direct result of government policy and nothing else. |
Effects |
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| Clearly a stronger 'joint' may have more powerful effects, but the user may inhale less and use less to moderate this. | So, used responsibly, stronger cannabis is safer than weaker cannabis. But again, Frank can't actually tell you that. |
| Some users may wish to purchase stronger herbal cannabis to obtain a stronger effect but unpleasant reactions may also be more powerful with the use of stronger strains. | Frank has to end this on a negative note to keep the government happy. Most people buy domestically produced cannabis for one reason only - it's way better quality than the imported stuff. If your dealer knows the grower - or if you grow it yourself of course - you'll also know it's cleaner than imported cannabis. Also, growing your own or buying from a home-grower avoids contact with the illegal drug dealers, but that's something else Frank can't tell you. |
Cost |
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| £200 for skunk per ounce (price may vary). | More like £160 per ounce actually, if you do buy it in ounces of course. If you buy in smaller amounts then it's going to cost more. Of course, if you grow it yourself it's near enough free as long as you don't get caught. |
The information Frank is giving is getting better, but very slowly and it's still badly compromised by having to support the policy of prohibition. The worst omission with this information is that Frank avoids warning that health risks - especially regarding mental health - are mostly concerning children and not adults, certainly not adults who use cannabis in a responsible way. If Frank were to raise this issue, it would fuel demands for age limits on sales, something not possible under prohibition. |
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