Pubdate: Thu, 29 May 2008
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2008 Southam Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: David Malmo-Levine
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n000/a034.html

REEFER MADNESS? OR SANITY?

Re: Don't Call It Reefer Madness, Barbara Kay, May 28.

So much misinformation, so little space. Briefly:

- -"Legalization will reduce harms" is not a theory "that will never be 
tested in real life" -- it's tested every day in Holland with 
considerable success.

- -Readily available cannabis will not increase consumption 
- --demonstrated again by Holland, which has one of the lowest 
consumption rates of both hard and soft drugs in the world.

- -I agree tobacco and cannabis are apples and oranges; I challenge Ms. 
Kay to find one cannabis-only smoker who has gone on to get lung 
cancer. -Cannabis users do not thrive "in solitude and mental 
torpor." Ms. Kay should visit the various vapour lounges across the 
country and meet some of the bright and engaging people she accuses 
of cranial and social dormancy.

- -Ms. Kay talks about legalizing other drugs as if it's a bad thing, 
or something cannabis supporters attempt to hide. The benefits of 
supervised injection sites and heroin-prescription are commonly 
understood and difficult to dispute.

I challenge Barbara Kay to a public debate on this subject. Anytime, anywhere.

David Malmo-Levine, curator, Herb Museum, Vancouver.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom