NO REASON TO REFUSE A LIFT OFF A CANNABIS USER: Published letter

Source: East Anglian Daily Times, [UK]

Pub Date: 29 March 2002

Pub LTE: No reason to refuse a lift off a cannabis user

Author: Don Barnard

Contact: eadtletters@ecn.co.uk

NO REASON TO REFUSE A LIFT OFF A CANNABIS USER

Sir, - Ronald Kerredge in his letter (Cannabis can drive you crazy - evidence shows; EADT March 22) demands a response.

He asked:

a) What I based the statement: "Cannabis has never killed anybody." upon (Letter EADT March 18).

I actually said: "There is no 'authenticated' recorded death directly attributed to cannabis use in the world."

b) I supply him conclusive evidence no one has ever died in a road accident caused by the use of cannabis. There are no records to show otherwise. - If he knows different please tell.

c) If I would I accept a lift off someone who has just smoked a joint.

If there was nothing wrong, with his/her driving abilities. Why not?

Mr Kerredge also said, as a former psychiatric nurse he came across many people suffering from full-blown psychotic illness, which appeared to follow the use of cannabis "as if the drug had uncovered a weakness or tendency which might otherwise have lain dormant" adding that in some patients the

illness became prolonged.

I am presuming these patients were under Mental Health Supervision so it is safe to assume they had underlying mental health problems.

This accepted, It is a fact that cannabis may cause problems with those who are predisposed to psychosis (no measurable harm has be recorded in normally predisposed persons). I would respectively suggest, the 'prescribed liquid cosh' was responsible for many long term problems rather than cannabis.

To support his argument he cited an old article, by 'Anti-Drug Columnist' Professor Susan Greenfield:

a) Smoking one or two 'joints" impairs the skills needed for driving for a full 24 hours.

The most recent research done by The Department of Transport [unpublished] concludes: In controlled studies a person after smoking a whole joint is a better driver than one who had drunk one glass of wine (60% of the legal limit).

b) Cannabis is worse than alcohol in causing reactions such as panic, disorientation and confusion. Impairs memory and co-ordination, and can also cause shrinkage and death of brain cells.

The Governments Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (experts on drug including cannabis) in its report "Cannabis Classification under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971" (14 March 2002). Concluded: In the light of current scientific evidence. The present classification of cannabis is disproportionate in relation both to its inherent harmfulness, and to the harmfulness of other substances, such as amphetamines, that are currently in Class B. and recommended classification of all cannabis preparations to Class C.

Finally Mr Kerredge asks: "Would I like to re-consider my statement". Only if or when he can prove me wrong. I won't hold my breath.

Until then I hold my line.

Cannabis is a relatively harmless substance with no 'authenticated' recorded death directly attributed to its use in the world.

Don Barnard

Aetheric Road

Braintree