Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495
Author: Niall Young
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PUBLIC MISLED ON CANNABIS

A recent Westpoll found that more West Australians support the Cannabis 
Control Bill than oppose it. And yet 40 per cent of respondents still 
believe that cannabis is more harmful than alcohol while more than 30 per 
cent rate them the same.

Alcohol is more harmful than cannabis. It directly kills thousands of 
people each year. Cannabis has not directly killed a single person. Alcohol 
has been found responsible for disease, cancer and brain damage. Cannabis 
has not been shown to cause any form of mental illness or significant 
health problems.

A survey of West Australians in 1993 found that 37 per cent of respondents 
supported making cannabis as legal as alcohol and 64 per cent supported the 
decriminalisation of cannabis. After decriminalisation was properly 
explained, support shot up to 71 per cent.

It is clear that the community has been subjected to decades of 
scaremongering and misinformation about cannabis. If the Cannabis Control 
Bill and its supporting evidence were more thoroughly explained, public 
support would be even higher.

NIALL YOUNG, Mount Lawley.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager