DABBLING IN CANNABIS

Sir, -- The Dominion editorial (May 15), argues that cannabis should remain
illegal to protect our young people based on the notion that "dabbling with
drugs is often an indication that a young person has other problems as well".

However, psychologists have found that adolescents who dabble with drugs
are healthier psychologically than either frequent drug users, who usually
exhibit pre-existent emotional problems, or drug abstainers, who are often
emotionally constricted and socially retarded.

The zero-tolerance of cannabis use by the establishment may be harmful to
the formative development of healthy young adults, especially if they are
expelled from school, given a criminal conviction or simply alienated from
society.

Jason Baker-Sherman, Dunedin