Pubdate: Sun, 13 Aug 2000
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2000 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Author: Andrew Byrne, Redfern

CANNABIS CLAIM

COMPARING drugs is a difficult area, but Dr Wickham's claim that 
cannabis is more dangerous than alcohol is very hard to justify. 
Alcohol kills thousands of Australians every year, while there have 
been no reported deaths from cannabis. Cannabis has not been shown to 
cause clinically significant brain damage, although even small amounts 
of alcohol probably do.  

The suggestion that cannabis may specifically lead on to other drugs is
not a view held by most experts in the field. Dr Wickham's advice is so
alarming that most sensible citizens will have had doubts.
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