Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2012
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 The Vancouver Sun
Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n475/a05.html
Author: Rob Brandreth-Gibbs

POTENT MARIJUANA IS A DANGER TO SOCIETY

Re: Municipal leaders take pot decriminalization to a vote, Sept. 25

It's a naive argument to say marijuana legalization would cause the 
drug's dealers, and their associated crime, to largely disappear. 
Common sense will tell you that these "entrepreneurs" will instead 
merely begin pushing other more potent drugs to make themselves their 
desperate buck.

The Netherlands was largely free of international drug-trafficking 
criminals when it began innocently trying to decriminalize personal-use pot.

Now it is the illegal drug capitol of Europe, producing a frightening 
array of designer drugs that requires its own "war" fought by a 
specialized police force.

Amsterdam has recently banned foreign cannabis tour-ism. The 
Netherlands', or any other country's marijuana social experiment is 
nothing we need to duplicate.

Pot continues to evolve into anything but a soft drug with THC 
content rising above 25 per cent from the 1970s' two to four per 
cent. When does marijuana become a "hard" drug? Does anyone really 
believe "safe, recreational" marijuana has no THC upper limit?

And maybe it's a little-known fact that marijuana contains the same 
myriad poisonous chemicals that cigarettes have, except nicotine.

Every year we see new peer-reviewed studies highlighting marijuana's 
dangers. The list is long. Examples: Canada's Maerten study proves 
marijuana smoke is toxic to cells and DNA (compared to cigarette 
smoke). An Australian study shows marijuana may speed or even cause 
psychosis in some people. California has identified marijuana smoke 
as cancer-causing after reviewing 30 studies. Who would vote for 
legalization after seeing these? Who would vote for marijuana even if 
they believed the jury is still out on the question of public safety?

The alcohol-induced carnage on our streets is plenty enough. We do 
not need even more fuzzy-headed people motoring near our families. 
Maybe some-day marijuana inebriation will be as detectable by the 
police as is alcohol.

Think of the enormous effort it has taken to turn our society against 
smoking tobacco. Smoking used to be cool. Smoking is now banned at my 
daughter's high school, as it should be. Classrooms are awash in 
anti-smoking posters. Imagine the mixed-messages and challenges 
cannabis legalization would bring. Not to mention even more first-and 
second-hand smoke.

It was recently announced that a medical marijuana has been developed 
without the high. Miraculous healings to follow.

Marijuana intoxication remains serious stuff. I say we at least wait 
and see how all the scientific and social revelations play out before 
we decide to open Pandora's stash bag.

Rob Brandreth-Gibbs

North Vancouver
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