Rome, 23 Oct. (LaPresse) – “Cannabis derivatives, which some people still irresponsibly insist on calling ‘soft drugs’, have an average THC content – that is, the active ingredient – that is 30 times higher than it was a few decades ago. The age at which people first use it is falling ever lower, and its prevalence amongst minors is endemic. Old addictions are intertwining with new ones, such as those to social media and gambling, creating vulnerability and entirely new, extremely complex problems – clearly an alarming scenario, yet one that is all too often not perceived as such, partly because in far too many contexts people continue to claim that drug use is a choice of freedom, or even almost a right that must be guaranteed.” These were the words of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking at San Patrignano during the high-level international meeting on the prevention and recovery from addiction, organised by Italy and France, co-founders of the European Coalition Against Drugs (ECAD). “I think the young people here know better than I do why that isn’t true. I think those who have tried them know that drugs have absolutely nothing – and I mean absolutely nothing – to do with either the concept of freedom or the concept of rights, because drugs turn you into a slave. Slaves are not free and, by definition, have no rights. And we must not be afraid to tell the truth about this,” she added.
Cannabis, Meloni: ‘Anyone who calls it a “soft drug” is being irresponsible’
Rome, 23 Oct. (LaPresse) – “Cannabis derivatives, which some people still irresponsibly insist on calling ‘soft drugs’, have an average THC content – that is, the active ingredient – that is 30 times higher than it was a few decades ago. The age at which people first use it is falling ever lower, and its prevalence amongst minors is endemic. Old addictions are intertwining with new ones, such as those to social media and gambling, creating vulnerability and entirely new, extremely complex problems – clearly an alarming scenario, yet one that is all too often not perceived as such, partly because in far too many contexts people continue to claim that drug use is a choice of freedom, or even almost a right that must be guaranteed.” These were the words of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaking at San Patrignano during the high-level international meeting on the prevention and recovery from addiction, organised by Italy and France, co-founders of the European Coalition Against Drugs (ECAD). “I think the young people here know better than I do why that isn’t true. I think those who have tried them know that drugs have absolutely nothing – and I mean absolutely nothing – to do with either the concept of freedom or the concept of rights, because drugs turn you into a slave. Slaves are not free and, by definition, have no rights. And we must not be afraid to tell the truth about this,” she added.