Pubdate: Wed, 06 Apr 2016
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2016 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069
Author: Victoria Davis

MISINFORMED

I was astonished to read the ignorant statements about cannabis made 
by Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman.

With widespread media attention on medicinal cannabis, you would 
think he would have availed himself to accurate information.

The cannabis plant and tinctures have been used for centuries, until 
the strange "War on Drugs" launched from America.

Subsequent drug prohibition resulted in the same disaster that 
alcohol prohibition created, it did not diminish use, it simply went 
underground, ultimately causing more harm.

Recent global medical and economic experts have declared the "War on 
Drugs" a total failure. There is no argument. The misguided war has 
caused more harm than it has prevented. Every state and country that 
has initiated decriminalization of drugs has proven the scaremongers 
to be completely wrong, there was no chaos as a result. There can be 
no excuse for continuing the expensive, ineffective, harmful and 
heartless war on drugs. We could benefit greatly by changing our 
$200,000,000 drug prohibition industry of policing, prosecuting and 
incarceration, into a New Zealand medicinal cannabis industry. Why 
should we pay ridiculous prices for imported pharmaceutical cannabis 
products? Our politicians seem to need help relinquishing their 
cruel, punitive and misinformed attitudes towards cannabis.

Victoria Davis

Golden Bay
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom