One cannabis joint ‘can bring on schizophrenia’ as well as damaging memory

Smoking just one cannabis joint can bring on symptoms of schizophrenia, a study has found.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have, for the first time, looked in detail at the changes in the brains of cannabis users.
They found the drug disrupts the same parts of the brain as the psychotic illness, those associated with memory and decision-making.

Cannabis abuse has previously been linked with increased rates of schizophrenia but this is the strongest evidence yet that the drug mimics its effects.
The scientists studied rats who had been given the active ingredient of cannabis - in a similar dose to a person smoking a joint.

Using electrodes embedded into their brains – which cannot be done in humans – they found those who had the drug were ‘significantly impaired’ in carrying out tasks for up to two hours afterwards.
If this dose of cannabis has the same effect on humans, just one joint could significantly change their behaviour.
Dr Matt Jones, the lead author of the study said: ‘Cannabis is making normal people behave more like schizophrenia patients when they take it and that’s something they should bear in mind.
‘Previous studies have shown a link but we didn’t have this level of detail.
'What we have shown is that the brain waves which process information and share it with other regions of the brain become de-synchronised like parts of an orchestra playing out of synch.
‘Cannabis has a docile reputation in the drug world. Most people would accept that cannabis abusers are not at their sharpest and might have subtle impairments in memory or decision making but sometimes small doses of the ingredient can cause psychiatric episodes similar to schizophrenia.'

In experiments, the rats who were given cannabis all became unable to make accurate decisions when navigating around a maze, compared with those who had not been given any.
Two parts of their brain were shown to be affected - the hippocampus which is essential for forming new memories and prefrontal cortex which integrates those memories and uses them for future behaviour and decision-making.
Disruption of the brain waves which allow these two areas to communicate is what happens in schizophrenia, a mental disorder.
It is associated with muddled thought which causes problems in social interaction, bizarre and paranoid delusions and changes in behaviour.
Dr Jones added: ‘You might feel fine – the rats overt behaviour did not look impaired - but when asked to make rapid and accurate decisions following a joint of cannabis, the cross-talk between these parts of the brain was not normal.
‘Taking cannabis while sitting on the couch watching DVDs is one thing, but if you decide to drive to the shops, that’s when the cognitive impairments come out.’
He said super-strong versions of cannabis – known as ‘skunk’ – contain a higher proportion of the active ingredient THC and would most likely have an even more pronounced effect.
The researchers, whose study is published today in the Journal of Neuroscience, hope further research will help them develop treatments for these effects which could help people with mental illnesses.
Schizophrenia is linked to a number of genes, and previous studies have shown cannabis use can accelerate the risk of developing the disease in people who are already pre-disposed to get it.
An analysis of 83 studies earlier this year involving 22,000 young people, concluded that smoking cannabis can accelerate the onset of psychotic illnesses by several years making them harder to treat successfully.
Recently scientists in Germany and the Institute of Psychiatry in London found people who use cannabis are doubling their risk of developing psychotic problems – including schizophrenia as well as paranoid ideas, hallucination and hearing voices.
They looked at 1,900 young people aged 14 to 24 and found a link at a very early stage of use among youngsters who had never experienced such symptoms before.

MI5 thought I was another femme fatale like Anna Chapman says Lib Dem MP's 'spy'

The arrest of ‘femme fatale’ spy Anna Chapman in America was the trigger for MI5 to target a Russian blonde having an affair with an MP in the UK, it was alleged yesterday.
Katia Zatuliveter, 26, was accused of spying only when the British Secret Service decided it ‘had better see’ if there were other Moscow-backed women using sex to ensnare powerful men, a court heard.
MI5, it is claimed, swiftly believed the Commons research assistant had been recruited by the Russians as a teenager and ‘worked her way through significant men to get secrets’.

But Miss Zatuliveter was really targeted because she had ‘many similarities’ with Chapman, a deportation tribunal heard.
This is because both Russians were ‘young, attractive and adept networkers’.

Miss Zatuliveter admits having an affair with Mike Hancock, 65, the MP for Portsmouth South and a then member of the Commons defence select committee.
But her lawyers insist MI5 had decided she must be a spy simply because Mr Hancock was ‘pro-Russian’ and ‘had vulnerabilities in his private life’.

Yesterday a woman MI5 officer known as witness ZZ said Russian intelligence would have marked Mr Hancock out ‘as a good candidate’ to be targeted by a female Russian spy.
As well as having an affair with Mr Hancock, Miss Zatuliveter admits being sexually involved with an unnamed Nato official.
Tim Owen QC, for Miss Zatuliveter, said these two affairs were ‘the crux of the security services case against her’.
He added: ‘Your case is that she has been an agent since 17 or 18 and working her way through significant men to get secrets.’
Giving evidence from behind a curtain, the MI5 agent admitted these points were part of the case against Miss Zatuliveter but could not be discussed ‘in open’ session.
They will be considered in a closed session of the hearing by special security-cleared advocates.
The FBI arrested Chapman in June 2010, and Miss Zatuliveter was stopped for questioning at Gatwick airport in August the same year.
Miss Zatuliveter was appearing for the second day before the tribunal in a bid to remain in the UK. The Government wants to deport her on the grounds her presence is a danger to national security.

ZZ said she was familiar with the Chapman case in the U.S. She said: ‘The security services case is there are similarities but not by any means the same.’
She said one difference is the FBI ‘has found an evidential case which could be described in open in a criminal prosecution.’
Mr Owen said: ‘The difference is the FBI has got some evidence. Yes?’ 
The MI5 officer replied: ‘I’m unable to disclose what is in the closed case, but there is a closed case.’
Mr Owen asked her: ‘Your decision to become interested in Miss Zatuliveter in 2010 was entirely because of Anna Chapman, wasn’t it?’
The agent denied the suggestion.

The hearing was told Miss Chapman had an ‘obvious route’ into espionage, as her father was involved in Russian Intelligence.
ZZ said: ‘To ordinary members of the public, to someone who meets Miss Chapman or Miss Zatuliveter in public, it wouldn’t be obvious they were working for the Russian Intelligence services.’
Mr Owen asked ZZ: ‘Are you saying this woman was able to co-exist for four years in a relationship with Mike Hancock, genuinely loving him…but all the time acting in secret with the Russian Intelligence Service?'
ZZ said: ‘I’m afraid I’ve gone as far as I can in open [session] on this question.’
Mr Owen also referred to a statement from Miss Zatuliveter’s brother in law who said he thought it unlikely she was a spy as she was often ill and unlikely to be able to cope with the ‘pressure’ of espionage.
Miss Zatuliveter began working for Mr Hancock in 2006, later getting a Commons pass and moving into his London flat.
The hearing continues.

'Skiving' MPs want another mini-break: An extra five days off... because riots disturbed recess

MPs were last night labelled ‘skivers’ as they announced plans to take an extra five-day holiday in November.
The deal was offered after politicians complained about being recalled twice over the summer recess to discuss phone hacking and riots.
In an attempt to placate them, Commons Leader Sir George Young has proposed they enjoy a five-day ‘mini-break’ next month.
But the idea has enraged union leaders, who have accused MPs of going ‘on the skive’ at a time when families are working hard just to make ends meet.
The row comes after David Cameron promised to cut MPs’ holidays to show he understands public concern about their conduct.
While most workers in the public and private sectors get four or  five weeks off annually, this  deal – thrashed out in behind-the-scenes talks with all parties – will bring the number of Parliamentary recess days this year to 87, excluding weekends.
The holiday, which begins on November 15, would replace the break usually given around that time ahead of the Queen’s Speech, which has been postponed by the coalition until the spring.
But the mini-break begins just six weeks after MPs have returned from their three-week conference break – and is followed by a three-week Christmas holiday only  a month later.
Bob Crow, general secretary  of the National Union of Rail,  Maritime and Transport Workers, said: ‘While working people are struggling round the clock to make ends meet, the same politicians who unleashed the austerity programme have been caught out on the skive.
‘We will take no more of the “We are all in this together” rubbish from this crowd.’
A spokesman for Sir George said MPs would be sitting for a greater number of days during this Parliament than the last one and insisted the mini-break was shorter than those given in the past around the Queen’s Speech.
Next year’s summer holiday will also be shorter than those in previous years, with MPs returning to Westminster in September ahead of party conferences.
The spokesman added: ‘The Government is ensuring that the House sits more evenly throughout the year, rather than breaking up for an 82-day summer recess as under the previous government.
‘As usual, MPs continue to undertake important constituency and select committee work, even when the House is not sitting for the days in question.’
But Emma Boon, of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: ‘It’s utterly astounding that some members want a holiday barely six weeks after returning from their  last recess.
‘This motion makes Parliament look incredibly out of touch at a time when many ordinary families don’t have the time or the money to enjoy a vacation themselves.’
Meanwhile, Commons speaker John Bercow revealed that a new security chief could be appointed to protect Parliament following the foam pie attack on media mogul Rupert Murdoch in July.
He said a review into the incident had found that there was ‘inadequate’ security in the committee room at the time.
Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, the official in charge of security at the Palace of Westminster, last week announced that she intends to retire in January.

LEGENDS CONVINCED THEY’LL BE JOINED BY NEW GOLDEN GENERATION

FORTY years ago a thrilling band of young Welsh rugby players flew to New Zealand and inspired the Lions to their only series victory in history against the All Blacks.
Their names went into legend: Barry John, Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Gerald Davies and Mervyn Davies. They were all in their early to mid-20s back then, fearless and ferocious in their hunger to succeed.
The parallels with the vibrant, youthful Wales team at this Rugby World Cup are too strong to be resisted, the echoes from the past as loud and as resonant as a capacity 75,000 crowd singing ‘Bread of Heaven’ at the Millennium Stadium.
Modern Wales exude the same dynamic qualities. They have seven players aged 24 or younger in the side who have charmed the world on their journey to the semi-finals. Nobody is more excited by their style and their progress than the superstar legends of long ago.
To a man they are predicting Wales will beat France and reach the final – and then giving them every chance of lifting the trophy.
Gerald Davies is here in Auckland, marvelling at what he has seen. “It is the most fabulous time for Welsh rugby,” he said.
“A year ago I’d never heard of Sam Warburton and now he is the outstanding young captain who can lead us to the World Cup final.
“The players were magnificent against Ireland; they are such a thrilling young team.”
Back home the other ancient heroes are having their say.
“This is a wonderful Wales team to watch,” said John.
“The great thing is that these youngsters show no fear, and we are in for a golden time. Wales will be ready for France and I believe they will make the final. Then anything is possible.” Williams is equally positive, saying: “The absolutely fantastic performance against Ireland has convinced me Wales will beat France and then New Zealand. I have always believed in giving youth a chance and these players are good enough in spite of their age.”
He also apologised for doubting the appointment and strategy of Wales coach Warren Gatland, saying: “I thought it was wrong but it was I who got it wrong.”
Those words will have brought a smile to the faces of the Welsh management team, whose brave decision to trust in youth has paid off so handsomely. It is very rare in sport that national team bosses rely so heavily on the vitality of talented kids.
But as Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards said: “It was deliberate planning by Warren .
“It was his gut instinct and it was a decision that took guts.
“Not many people are willing to go with such courage in sport and Warren took a lot of flak for it . He has proved his critics wrong.
“One of the great benefits of a young team is that they don’t have any history of losing, they don’t have their minds filled with doubts. ” Edwards could talk all day about Warburton, Rhys Priestland and others like George North and Leigh Halfpenny. The pleasure of guiding them shines through in his conversation.
“You do have to coach them a little differently,” he said. “If you tell them to jump over a wall, they just go and jump over it.
“If it’s an experienced player, you have to tell them why you want them to jump the wall.
“People ask me how good they are. That will be decided over the next two games, hopefully in the final.”
Yes, we will discover in the next few days whether Warburton and company can match the heroics of 40 years ago.
The legends of yesteryear are convinced they will. They believed long ago and they believe now.
“Wales are playing with such calm assurance at the moment and they are the side to beat,” said Mervyn Davies.
But maybe the last word should go to the greatest of them all, Edwards, who said: “We don’t have to fear anybody.
“It’s a breath of fresh air the way these young boys are playing the game. It might be difficult, but of course we can win the World Cup.”

Foreign aid for countries with anti-gay rights records to be slashed, pledges Cameron

David Cameron has pledged to slash aid to African countries with poor records on homosexual rights.
The Prime Minister will tell struggling nations they will receive funding ‘fines’ if persecution of gays continues.
The Government has already cut aid to Malawi by ￡19million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour. The southern African nation also plans to bring in tough anti-lesbian laws.
Malawi has received ￡200million from Britain over the past three years.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell could also reduce aid to Uganda and Ghana unless they drop laws against gays.
Uganda, which is due to receive ￡70million in 2011, plans to punish homosexuality with the death penalty.
The president of Ghana, which gets ￡36million a year, has promised to bring in measures to ‘check the menace of homosexuality’.
However, no mention has been made of cutting aid to Zimbabwe, which got ￡69million last year. Gays there still face persecution from security forces. 
Just days ago, Mr Cameron told the Conservative Party conference that it was right to legalise gay marriage.
A spokesman for Mr Mitchell said: ‘The Government is committed to combating violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all circumstances, in this country and abroad. We take action where we have concerns.
‘We only provide aid directly to governments when we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty and respect human rights.’  

WHY DID BA GIVE AMANDA KNOX VIP TREATMENT?

BRITISH Airways has allowed Amanda Knox’s family to have cheap flights between the US and Italy for the past seven months, the Sunday Express can reveal.
A representative of the UK’s national airline bought them tickets worth several thousands pounds to help their campaign to free Knox, who was jailed for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher, 21.
Last week an Italian court overturned her 2009 conviction.
In stark contrast, Meredith’s -parents Arline and John have spent thousands flying to Perugia in their quest for justice.
Since March, a BA employee based at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been using staff privileges to snap up discounted seats and pass them on to the Knox family.
This allowed Knox’s mother Edda Mellas, stepfather Chris Mellas and father Curt Knox to make regular trips to Perugia via Rome.
They are unlikely to have reimbursed the employee, a supporter of their campaign, because of their struggle to pay their ￡1million legal bills.
Both Edda and Curt have taken out second mortgages, run up credit card debt and drained their retirement funds. Even Knox’s grandmother, Elisabeth Huff, remortgaged her -modest home to help the appeal.
The fact that a member of staff for Britain’s flag carrier airline paid for the family of a woman who had been convicted of murdering a Briton to travel to Italy has shocked the Kerchers. At her home in Coulsdon, Surrey, Meredith’s sister Stephanie, 28, said: “It costs a lot of money to fly all that distance. it has done for us. This is the first I have heard of it so I don’t really want to make any further comment.”
Francesco Maresca, the Kercher family spokesman, said it highlighted the differing fortunes of the two -families: “The Kerchers have raised all the funds themselves whereas the Knoxes have been happy to take money from everybody, from individuals to large foundations.
“Mr and Mrs Kercher and Meredith’s brothers and sister have been able to fly to Italy only a few times, mainly for the appeal decision, because of work commitments and financial reasons.
“The Knox family has made many trips and the sight of them in court put pressure on the judge and caught the interest of the media.”
Last night British Airways said: “Our employees can purchase standby tickets for close family members or friends. We are fully satisfied that a member of staff based in the US has used their ability to buy standby tickets within the scheme’s strict rules.”
On Monday, Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were cleared of killing Meredith, who had her throat slashed on November 1, 2007.
The American, who had served four years in prison, flew home in -luxury after being upgraded by British Airways to business class. She and her family landed at Heathrow to catch a connecting flight to the -Seattle. There they were then allowed to wait in the exclusive Windsor Suite, normally reserved for royalty and foreign dignitaries.
BAA Limited, which runs Heathrow, said this was to give the Knox family privacy while waiting for their flight.
Amanda Knox has received hate mail and death threats by those sickened by the prospect of her making millions out of Meredith’s murder.
She is thought to be renting a property under a false name on one of the many islands sprinkled throughout the vast Puget Sound waterways that form Seattle’s natural harbour.
A former senior FBI agent who spent many years on the Los Angeles SWAT team, will also give Knox specialist training to keep her safe.
Her father Curt admitted to the Sunday Express: “It’s impossible for her to be here. She hasn’t been sleeping. Could you if you had been through what she has?”
At least 60 offers from US television networks, magazines and publishers have already been pitched to west coast PR guru David Marriott, hired by Curt to act as family spokesman and media adviser.
However, a family friend, who asked not to be named, said: “Amanda feels terribly guilty about the huge sums of money her loved ones have lost to get her freed.
“She knows she is now capable of earning a fortune very quickly but the pressure on her is ferocious. She craves a normal life but knows that might be impossible.”

'On-the-loose worker who killed three and wounded six in quarry shooting was upset at being moved from day shift to night shift'

A worker who is being hunted by SWAT teams after opening fire at a meeting in a quarry - killing three people and injuring six more - was reportedly disgruntled at having been switched from day shifts to night shifts.

Loader operator Shareff Allman, 47, allegedly opened fire after walking into a safety meeting at a California quarry with a handgun and rifle. He was angered at the rota switch which stopped him from spending more time with his teenage daughter, neighbours said.

Allman fled the scene at Permanente Quarry in Cupertino this morning and several SWAT teams have been dispatched to find him - searching door-to-door with guns drawn, authorities said.
Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith confirmed the fatalities as Manual Pinon, 51, of Newman, California, John Vallejos, 51, of San Jose and Mark Munoz, 59, of San Jose.

Police said Allman walked into a routine safety meeting this morning at 4.15am.

When he left the meeting he began walking around the grounds of the quarry owned by Lehigh Southwest Cement Company, authorities said.

He returned with a handgun and an assault rifle, and opened fire, according to Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies.

Inside that meeting room, nine people of the 15 people in the meeting were shot.
One of the victims, now in critical condition, was shot in the face outside of the meeting room, according to a sheriff's deputy at the scene who declined to be named, NBC reported.

The sheriff said the suspect left the scene of that workplace shooting in his car.

Three hours later and five miles away, police said the suspect ditched his car near Homestead and Wolfe Road and attempted a carjacking in a nearby Hewlett-Packard parking lot.

The sheriff said he shot the female driver in the leg there and took off on foot to a nearby neighbourhood in Sunnyvale.

At 7pm Sheriff Smith said the search of a Sunnyvale neighbourhood would finish soon. She said SWAT officers had searched extensively but could not find the man they were looking for after a 12-hour effort, NBC reported.
The only reports we have right now is that he was disgruntled and he was unhappy,' a Santa Clara County Sheriff's spokesman told NBC News.

'Whether it was work-related or home-related, we don't know at this point.'

Potential reductions in employee hours at the quarry were cited as a possible reason for the shooting, but one of Allman's neighbours told the San Jose Mercury News that he had been upset after being moved from the day shift to the night shift.

The rota switch interfered with his plans to spend more time with his teenage daughter, Rose Douglas said.

Cupertino schools were on lockdown or closed as the search continued on Wednesday.

Sheriff Smith said two people were pronounced dead at Permanente Quarry in Cupertino, and a third person died later at the hospital.

Six others at the quarry were wounded and taken to area hospitals, Sheriff Smith said. Some of them remained in critical condition.

About 15 workers were evacuated and being kept at a safe location.

The carjacking victim is expected to fully recover.
The woman was shot at a Cupertino intersection by the suspect, who then fled on foot, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's spokesman said.

Allman allegedly used a weapon similar to the gun used in the quarry shooting.

Permanente Quarry is a limestone and aggregate mining operation and cement plant located in the foothills above Cupertino, near San Jose.

The shootings rattled those who know Allman.

'He's always had a smile on his face,' said Paulette Conner, 57, a neighbour at Allman's San Jose apartment complex who said she's known him for five years. 'I've never known him to have any violent tendencies. Never. Ever.'

Conner said Allman occasionally griped to her and others over the years about his job, including his various shift changes and some co-workers.

Allman is known as a local fixture long involved in San Jose's black community. Before a news conference where community leaders urged him to turn himself in, friends described Allman as a non-violent person not known to own guns.

'He used to do so much for the community. Something must have happened to make him flip out like this,' said Pastor Oscar Dace of Bible Way Christian Center. 'Everybody just can't believe that this has happened.'

'Dancing with the Stars' results week 3: This one had a twist!

SEATTLE (Reuters) - A tearful and "overwhelmed" Amanda Knox returned home to Seattle on Tuesday, a day after an Italian appeals court cleared her of murder, and said she just wanted to spend time with her family.

A plane carrying Knox, who grew up in the close-knit West Seattle neighborhood where both of her divorced parents still live, landed at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shortly after 5 p.m. local time.

Knox, who spent four years in prison for the murder of her housemate before she was freed by an Italian appeals court, wiped away tears as she spoke to a throng of reporters at the airport minutes after she stepped off the plane.

"They are reminding me to speak in English because I'm having trouble with that," Knox, 24, said in brief remarks. "I'm really overwhelmed right now. I was looking down from the airplane and it seemed like everything wasn't real."

Knox, a former University of Washington student, also thanked "everyone who has believed in me, who has defended me," during her ordeal.

"I just want my family. That's the most important thing to me right now, and I just want to go be with them so thank you for being here with me," she said.

Anne Bremner, a Seattle defense attorney and spokeswoman for Friends of Amanda Knox, said that, according to her family, Knox was looking forward to having a backyard barbecue, being outside in the grass, playing soccer and seeing old friends.

Knox sobbed on Monday on hearing that the court had overturned her 2009 conviction for murdering her housemate, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher, in what prosecutors had said was a drug-fueled sexual assault.

Also cleared was her former boyfriend, Rafaele Sollecito, leaving Ivorian drifter Rudy Guede as the only person convicted in a killing that investigators believe was carried out by more than one person.

PROSECUTORS PLAN APPEAL

Kercher's half-naked body was found with more than 40 wounds and a deep gash in her throat in the apartment she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy, where both were studying.

The Italian prosecutor has said he intends to appeal Knox's acquittal to Italy's highest appellate court, Corte Suprema di Cassazione, which only can review technical errors that occurred in the lower courts.

If the Corte Suprema overturns the acquittal, it could reinstate the original murder charges against Knox, which would allow prosecutors to seek her extradition from the United States under a treaty between the two countries.

Considering the controversy surrounding the case, legal experts say there likely would be a heated diplomatic dispute before the United States would agree to extradite Knox.

Kercher's family has refrained from criticizing Knox or Sollecito but has said repeatedly that Meredith has been forgotten in the media frenzy.

Knox's supporters cheered, cried and hugged on Monday at the news that she had been released. Her home area, framed by Puget Sound waters on three sides, is one of Seattle's oldest neighborhoods and is known for its strong sense of community.

Evan Hundley, head of the private Explorer Middle School, where Knox attended sixth, seventh and eighth grades, described West Seattle as "a city within a city".

"When something happens here, it's big news," Hundley said. "We're a strong neighborhood."

Hundley said students whooped with delight during the school's daily student assembly on Monday when the news of Knox's release was announced.

Knox won the school's first Manvel Schauffler Award, named after a founder of the school, which has about 100 students who pay an annual average tuition of about $15,000, said Debbie Ehri, the school's business manager who knew Knox.

"It was our first award for our most outstanding student. Amanda was an academically strong student. She was genuinely a lovely, kind and talented student," Ehri told Reuters.

"Teachers absolutely adored her. She was just delightful to have in class," she said. "She was caring, not only with her studies, but she was a kind, lovely girl."

Knox also attended Seattle Preparatory School, a small Jesuit high school, graduating in 2005. The school organized letter-writing campaigns on her behalf and fund-raising efforts to help pay for her defense.