Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2014
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Marc Fibbens
Page: A18

PURE SENSATIONALISM

I find your headline "Evidence Mounts Against Cannabis" (Sept 11) 
totally misleading and pure sensationalism, akin to the propaganda 
propagated by the Hurst newspaper chain that lead to cannabis 
becoming an illegal substance in America back in the 1920s.

The article that follows refers to a correlation between teens using 
cannabis and a series of negative outcomes such as poor educational 
achievement. Firstly, I would note that no one advocating 
legalisation of cannabis would want teenagers using the drug in the 
first place, and also that regulation, education and control will 
limit the availability to the teen market.

The article implies mounting evidence for the harm caused by 
cannabis. In fact quite the contrary is true. More evidence of the 
medicinal and industrial benefits come to light everyday. Cannabis 
has been studied for half a century and the detrimental effects are 
shown to be minor when compared with other more harmful drugs, 
alcohol for example; the real scourge on society. Scaremongering only 
panders to those with preconceived ideas based on historical 
mistruths about cannabis.

MARC FIBBENS

Halswell
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