I want to clarify some of the statements about cannabis's possibly harmful effects (Drug swoop targets national shop chain, April 28). Heavy use of cannabis doesn't cause psychosis. The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission (1893-94) made that clear. Studies in Jamaica in 1971 and 1973 showed that groups of heavy users there showed no signs of mental illness or brain damage, nor was there any evidence of permanent memory impairment. I question whether New Zealand's National Drug Intelligence Bureau and the Drug Foundation have their facts right. Neither made submissions to the government inquiry into the mental health effects of cannabis in 1998. [continues 102 words]
I became a medical marijuana patient about five years ago, not long after the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (OMMA) program started. John Sajo, director of the medical marijuana advocacy organization "Voter Power" explained how easy applying for the OMMA program was, and gave me the two simple forms I needed: one for the patient, and one for the physician. Fortunately I had an enlightened doctor who is knowledgeable about alternative medicine, and he agreed to help me after I explained my situation. He already knew that I had problems with cachexia (no appetite) and chronic pain, both qualifying as "debilitating conditions" for the OMMA program. After I told him how much marijuana relieved my suffering from these conditions he was glad to recommend medical marijuana for me. [continues 745 words]
SIR, -- I thought your editorial of March 12 was a bit over the top in its denigration of cannabis. Evidence shows cannabis is not nearly as bad as you make out. Many families have had toddlers who have eaten noxious substances and required medical help. Five and a half cases a year involving cannabis in the North Island is not a shattering problem. If cannabis were legal, this sort of problem would be easier to deal with. For a start, parents would not feel hesitant at telling doctors if cannabis were involved. Also, the law could make it compulsory for strong cannabis preparations to be kept in child-proof containers. [continues 196 words]
First of all, I want to thank Mr. Howard for expressing his feelings about the subject. This is a free country and people can say whatever they want about anything, but then I can respond to it in kind =D2 which is what makes our First Amendment freedom so wonderful! Mr. Howard states that he feels people like me, who support "cannabis liberation," are "whiners." Well, I have tried to live without cannabis, but life was completely unbearable for me. I am now an extremely grateful member of the OMMA program (Oregon Medicinal Marijuana Act, card #1019), and it has given me my life back. I no longer have to support the "evil" element that prospers because of our current worse than useless anti-drug (marijuana) laws, and technically be a "criminal" =D2 while I'm also having to spend most of my available money on "black-market medicine." Now, I can grow, use and possess a reasonable amount of medicinal marijuana legally! [continues 659 words]
If you check Holland, where cannabis has been decriminalised, you will see that they are doing much better than their neighbours at keeping the children off hard drugs (including alcohol, one of the hardest of drugs). DAVID CURRIE [end]
