PROJECT
KONOPLJA.ORG
1. ABOUT
THE PROJECT
Project Konoplja.org
consists of various informative and educational programmes which
provide information about cannabis, hemp and other drugs. The general
Slovene public still seems to be lacking reliable information on
these subjects. Since we are living in a period of broken taboos,
the individual's access to information and general awareness are
of utmost importance. The main aim of our project is to provide
trustworthy data about cannabis, describe its qualities, as well
as enlighten additional factors connected with it. We have decided
to use pro et contra approach.
We believe ignorance
can be extremely harmful to our public and our contemporary society
nowadays has a very low tolerance of unawareness. We therefore decided
to provide everyone with easy, accessible information on the subject,
since in the past many people were not aware this information could
be obtained at all. Nevertheless we must understand that general
negligence and ignorance of facts only aggravate this constantly
growing problem of drug use in our society.
However, the
time has come we face the truth- we have to accept drugs are present
in our society and that our denial is not going to not solve any
problems. Every individual has a choice and our mission is to clarify
and enlighten this complex situation. By providing sufficient and
useful information we believe we can, to some extent, influence
public's reaction to the word "drug", which is sometimes
perceived too broadly and is inadequately defined. Consequently,
the main objective of our project is setting the record straight
about drugs, define basic differences among them, while putting
stress on cannabis, the oldest and most widely used drug in the
history of mankind.
2. DESCRITPION
OF THE PROJECT
2.1. Our
vision
The basic aim
of our organisation is collecting, organising and providing credible
information to everyone interested in cannabis, either as a drug
or medicine, and hemp, which is widely used in different sectors
of industry, such as cosmetic, building, textile, paper and food
industry. At the same time, our team is actively involved in cooperating
with other non-governmental and governmental organisations and,
in addition, we also organise various workshops, seminars and public
debates. We wish to grow as an educational and apolitical non-governmental
organisation dealing with drug use and abuse, as well as provide
helpful and reliable information in the sphere of agriculture, health-care
and industry. The quality of our work can be seen through organisations
neutral and thorough approach to the previously mentioned topics.
Our work is mostly independent and we strive to achieve our goals,
but at the same time we expect support and cooperation from government
and local communities.
2.2. Current
situation
This project
was brought to light mainly due to lack of accessible information
on the previously mentioned subject. Relevant information can be
obtained from various research results, which are usually inaccessible
to general public or they tend to be too elaborate, or from newspaper
articles; however, these are often prejudicial and narrow-minded.
Certain amount of data is also provided by the Ministry for Home
Affairs, but they treat the issue one-sidedly, from the aspect of
law.
Lack of information
and inadequate facts can result in false and inappropriate perception
of the above presented issue, which provided suitable ground for
starting off our project.
Drug problem
in Slovenia has lately reached a critical point and this situation
can be compared to similar circumstances in Western Europe during
the last decade. Drug abuse in Slovenia is rapidly increasing, whereas
the amount of information and the level of public awareness have
remained unchanged.
The generation
gap in Slovenia is widening due to strong public belief which perceives
the youth as lazy, uninterested and aimless, and this is often the
reason why the young, mainly out of rebellion and in search of their
own identity, reach for drugs. However, at this point, we do not
intend to unjustly stigmatise or generalise young generations in
Slovenia. We are basically trying to reach those who are aware that
drugs are an integral part of contemporary society and who do not
regard them as being apocalyptic to the mankind. Changes in the
modern society have brought about new lifestyles, one of them being
the growing popularity of electronic dance music events (rave parties).
These events provide a suitable environment for experimenting with
legal and illegal drugs. Unfortunately, the use of these substances
is increasing and many still believe they are crucial for having
a good time.
2.3. Project
aims
In the last
decade many local, regional and state governments from different
countries' have responded to the problem of drug abuse with various
initiatives, based on the idea of harm reduction. Rather than focusing
their attention exclusively on the goal - life without drugs- the
countries decided to use different approach, aimed at reducing the
harm, which is a consequence of continuous drug abuse and countries
politics of drug control. This approach proved to be more beneficial
for individuals as well as for the countries. Harm-reduction policy
or programme is focused on reduction of various medical, social
or economic consequences of drug use and abuse according to society
and an individual user. We conclude that sensible drug policy has
an immense impact on society as a whole. Some individuals are still
bound to use drugs despite the existing legislation.
In our organisation we believe that the current drug policy is not
successful at harm reduction, instead it creates new problems such
as:
disregarding efficient education about drugs and obstructing
drug users of the access to relevant information on least harmful
drug use
creating medical risk for drug users and their families
encouraging younger generations to use drugs by creating
a daring and interesting picture of a drug user
growing levels of crime; addicted drug users have to pay
large sums of money to buy overpriced stuff on the black market
obstructing hemp production for commercial purposes and denying
economic and ecological benefits that could be gained from that
If we compare
the results of different studies about the efficiency of various
government policies towards the drug problem, for instance Holland
and the USA, we notice that Hollands programme of harm reduction
is far more successful than American model of repression. Although
the use of cannabis has increased among the Dutch teenagers, the
number of recreational cannabis users remained much lower than in
the States. (Dekleva B., Grund C. J.- P., Nolima D.: "Harm
Reduction Paradigm as Drug Policy", Mreža drog Magazin, year
V/1997, Number 2-4, p. 164- 187)
The 1998 research
"Popularity and Characteristics of Drug Use among Highschool
Students in Celje Region" (Razširjenost in značilnost uporabe
drog med srednješolci celjske regije) showed that 22.8 per cent
of students in question have already smoked cannabis or its products.
This makes up for nearly a quarter of all highschool population
who need to be educated about cannabis and its effects, dangers
and safe use (Eržen I. 1998- Celje Region; ZZV Celje).
Other studies
carried out throughout Slovenia between 1995-1998, dealing with
the use of cannabis as a drug, revealed similar results as indicated
earlier (Stergar 1995 Ljubljana, Dekleva B. 1998 Ljubljana).
The results of a telephone survey on dangers and harmful use of
drugs, carried out by the newspaper Delo, placed cannabis right
after alcohol and tobacco, according to its bad effects and accessibility
to students. The survey also showed that 4 per cent of parents believed
the best way to prevent drug abuse and its harmful consequences
is providing students with adequate information. (Delo, Aug. 28,
2000; supplement Šolstvo: Greater Emphasis Put on Marijuana than
on Alcohol)
Regarding the
fact there are still deeply rooted methods based on false beliefs
that the drug problem can be fixed, cured or simply outrooted, we
have chosen to use harm reduction approach, which is gaining more
and more recognition worldwide. This method was chosen due to its
multiplicity, as it accepts the fact that drugs have been present
in all societies throughout history and cannot be completely eradicated.
Nevertheless, use of drugs is a matter of personal decision and
every individual has the right to choose his own path in life.
Accessibility
of information on drugs, their effects and consequences gives every
individual the opportunity to form his own opinion and draw conclusions
about positive and negative effects of drug use. Consequently, our
main aim is to enable access to credible, thorough and reliable
information on different drugs, highlighting the use of cannabis.
More: Info@konoplja.org
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