Pubdate: Sat, 17 May 2014
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Mark Wheelan-Lamont
Page: A24

BENEFITS OF CANNABIS

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse's call for the decriminalisation of cannabis
is welcome. It is great to see someone in local-body politics willing
to support change.

Western knowledge of the recreational use of cannabis has been around
for some three centuries. Every sector of the plant is usable - the
root, fibre, hurd, leaf, flower, and crystals. From it we can source
many everyday needs, including paper and wood products, concrete,
plastics, oil, foodstuffs, fabrics and medicines.

Before international laws were introduced in the 1930s, it was not
only the most successful medicant known, but so economically valuable
that even one's taxes could be paid with it.

Ideas espoused 100 years ago were misguided, and need to be
reconsidered for the good of all.

Mark Wheelan-Lamont, Auckland Central.
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MAP posted-by: Matt