Smoking strong skunk cannabis left Channel 4 News host Jon Snow more frightened than he was reporting from warzones.
The 67-year-old journalist joined ex-MP Matthew Parris and former royal correspondent Jennie Bond in a scientific trial approved by the Home Office.
Jennie took skunk for an experiment (Andy Butterton/PA)
Viewers will see the trio take part in the test that will look at the effects on the brain of two different forms of cannabis – skunk and hash – compared to a placebo.
Jon said: “I’ve worked in war zones, but I’ve never been as overwhelmingly frightened as I was when I was in the MRI scanner after taking skunk. I would never do it again. I can fully believe this week’s figures that tell us that 25 per cent of all psychosis treated in Britain is associated with smoking skunk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpwy9BSXs3s&feature=oembed
“I had no idea it could be so powerful and terrifyingly mind altering. And I am someone who worked for three years in a drug dependence day centre.
“If many who smoke this stuff had ever seen the physical effects on the brain as displayed through the MRI scanner, they would make a more informed judgment as to what they were doing.”
Stoned on Skunk: I felt my soul had been wrenched out of my body http://t.co/JWznuvoxol pic.twitter.com/grmk0Gfm1x
— Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) February 17, 2015
The Channel 4 show, Drugs Live: Cannabis On Trial, will be shown on March 3.
Skunk, a more potent form of the drug, accounts for around 80 per cent of the UK drug market and is believed to be more addictive and can provoke paranoid episodes, psychotic symptoms and memory loss.
A sample of medical marijuana (Don Ryan/AP/Press Association Images)
Professor Val Curran, who organised the trial, said: “This is a hugely exciting and important research project which will show how Skunk and hash can produce different effects on the human brain, mind and behaviour.
“My research group were concerned that cannabis addiction in the UK has increased over recent years alongside the increased market dominance of skunk.
“I hope this new programme will scientifically inform those who use, have used or are thinking of using this drug about the diverse effects of different types of cannabis.”
But many people seemed unimpressed with Jon’s attempts.
Despite trying and not liking skunk for Channel 4's Drugs Live, Jon Snow seems to be fine with ecstasy. pic.twitter.com/wGlec4NTbf
— HaveIGotNewsForYou (@haveigotnews) February 17, 2015
This 'John Snow smokes skunk' experiment has as much value as downing 2 bottles of vodka and declaring "I was drunk" http://t.co/ZuoImnYSpW
— Johann Hari (@johannhari101) February 18, 2015
The equivalent of a teetotaller drinking half a bottle of whisky, good one @jonsnowC4 http://t.co/sumHWMm2kL
— Scuba (@ScubaOfficial) February 17, 2015
Jon Snow says he went to a "very, very, dark place" when he did skunk. Should've watched The Clangers, mate
— Ms Krystal (@KrystalSim) February 17, 2015
How I got stoned on skunk by @jonsnowC4 (or why non-smokers with no tolerance make terrible guinea pigs) http://t.co/rOTAoOYpbE
— Brownpants (@PantiusBrown) February 17, 2015
Jon Snow would probably make more sense if he smoked some skunk #C4News
— Alex Murray (@AlexRJMurray) February 16, 2015
