Source: Evening News, Norwich, UK

Pub Date: Monday, 11 August 2003

Pub LTE: Choosing To Take Just An Extra Risk

Choosing To Take Just An Extra Risk

June Rose (Evening News, Friday, 25 July) implied; that she did not approve of the prosecution/jailing of sick people who use cannabis.

But she expressed concern a legal supply for medicinal users could open the floodgates to increased trafficking and recreational use, which, in turn may lead to more mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression.

There is no evidence to show that a legal regulated (tolerated) cannabis supply would lead to increased consumption

The decision to use, or not to use, cannabis rarely has anything to do with the law.

And, as will become transparently clear, neither, "prohibition" or "reclassification" has anything to do with the health and safety risks.

Life is full risks.

So what if cannabis may pose some health risks. Why are we not prepared to accept and live with these risks?

Every supermarket in the country sells heavily promoted food items, over the counter medications and domestic cleaning products, many of which, if used inappropriately or in excess, can lead to poisoning (toxic response) gastrointestinal distress, cardiac arrest, obesity, liver damage, neurological damage, schizophrenia, depression - Eeen death.

We do not prohibit these substances,

We do not arrest and imprison people who use them.

Neither do we refuse them household insurance, sack them, evict them from their homes, expel children from school or take children

into care.

Instead, we live with these risks, we try to educate the public with health promotions literature and warn the consumer of the potential harms with labels on the packaging (except for alcohol).

And we regulate the supply!

Don Barnard

Legalise Cannabis Alliance

Norwich