UP IN SMOKE

Editor, The News:

Thirty years and more now, during The Age of Aquarius, the products of the
plant cannabis sativa were first widely introduced into North American society.

"Guilty until proven innocent" was the title of a position paper on their
use taken by the secondary school principals of P.E.I. at the time.

As of yesterday, "regulations on marijuana for medicinal use take effect"
without guilt or innocence having been clinically proven as would normally
be the case with prescription drugs, though studies are now under way.

"Unfortunately the government has decided to go ahead to appease a few
lobby groups" is the reaction of Dr. Raju Hajela, past-president of the
Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine which is calling for more clinical
research because "there is more risk than benefit".

"The courts can't be deciding how doctors should be practising medicine,
because that's what is essentially happening here," Hajela said. This,
though, is precisely what's happening.

Joe Hueglin Niagara Falls, Ont.