Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2001
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2001
Contact:  http://www2.odt.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925
Author: Duncan Eddy
Note: Headline supplied by newshawk
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PROHIBITION THE MAJOR DANGER

I'D LIKE TO thank Dr Ivan Harper for his reflections on my stance against 
cannabis prohibition (6.4.01).

It is an honour to have been the subject of one of his unique diatribes.

The prejudice and fear that clouds Dr Harper's view of cannabis and 
cannabis law reform might have been taken seriously 10 or 15 years ago, but 
times have changed.

These days a large number of New Zealanders choose to smoke cannabis, and 
the resulting harm is far less than that caused by alcohol and tobacco abuse.

Our flawed cannabis legislation unjustly criminalises hundreds of thousands 
of New Zealanders, as well as presenting a major impediment to drug 
education, treatment, and community intervention.

The impact of cannabis prohibition is by far the major danger associated 
with cannabis use.

Duncan Eddy,

Dunedin

[Abridged. - Ed.]
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