Pubdate: Wed, 03 Feb 2016
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2016 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Author: Debbie Stultz-Giffin
Page: A6
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n061/a01.html

CANNABIS EFFECTIVE AGAINST HARD DRUGS

Mitch Reid is neither a scientist nor a bona fide researcher. Reid's 
claims of research actually fly in the face of science and could have 
grave ramifications for our youth. (Charlottetown man leads petition 
against legalization of cannabis; January 31, 2016)

The 2002 Canadian Senate Committee Report on Cannabis concluded that 
pharmacological studies of the active ingredients in cannabis have 
not found any element that predisposes cannabis consumers to seek 
more potent drugs.

In fact, this report points to studies that show cannabis as an 
effective substitute to treat dependency to hard drugs; a 'gateway 
back drug' if you will with the capability to treat the plethora of 
side effects associated with hard drug withdrawal.

Youth indoctrinated in this gateway mythology who try cannabis and do 
not experience what the Reid's of the world claim they will, 
ultimately question everything they have been taught about all 
substances. The lies they have been taught about cannabis have the 
potential to lead them to experiment with hard, toxic drugs that 
could produce fatal outcomes.

Well intended, but ill-informed citizens like Reid have no place in 
the dialogue about cannabis legalization efforts.

Debbie Stultz-Giffin, Chair, Maritimers Unite For Medical Marijuana 
Society, Bridgetown, N.S.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom