MARIJUANA MISCONCEPTIONS

I read with interest your article headlined A war worth fighting (The
Okanagan Saturday, March 24). There was a discussion regarding marijuana
decriminalization. Before I go any further, I must say I do not use
marijuana, but defend in court those who use or grow marijuana.

I wish to clear up some misconceptions which may arise from the comments of
Const. Terry Jacklin. First, his comment with respect to not
decriminalizing marijuana because there is already enough of a problem with
alcohol and other illegal drugs seems to suggest a connection between
marijuana use and criminality.

Second, Jacklin asserts that marijuana is a "window drug," meaning the use
of marijuana leads a person to use harder drugs. Jacklin states that 70
per cent of the people who use cocaine started with marijuana. That may
well be, but does not lead logically to the conclusion that the use of
marijuana caused the subsequent use of cocaine.

I also do not know where Jacklin gets his statistics from, but the courts
in British Columbia have heard cases where marijuana fact and fiction has
been an issue, and after listening to many experts, the following findings
of fact with respect to marijuana were found:

* The occasional to moderate use of marijuana by a healthy adult is not
ordinarily harmful to health, even if used over a long period of time;

* There is no conclusive evidence demonstrating any irreversible, organic
or mental damage to the user, except in relation to the lungs.

* There is no evidence demonstrating irreversible, organic or mental damage
from the use of marijuana by an ordinary adult who uses occasionally or
moderately;

* Marijuana use causes alteration of mental function and should not be used
in conjunction with driving, flying or operating complex machinery;

* There is no evidence that marijuana use induces psychosis in ordinary,
healthy adults who use marijuana occasionally or moderately. The evidence
of marijuana psychosis appears to arise only in those having a
predisposition toward such a mental illness;

* Marijuana is not addictive;

* Marijuana is not a highly reinforcing type of drug, like heroin or
cocaine. Physical dependence is not a major problem. Psychological
dependence, however, may be a problem;

* There is no causal relationship between marijuana use and criminality;

* There is no evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug;

* Marijuana does not make people aggressive or violent;

* Assuming current rates of consumption remain stable, the health related
costs of marijuana use are very, very small in comparison with those
associated with tobacco and alcohol.

The Ledain Commission of Inquiry into the non-meidcal use of drugs
(1972-73) chaired by Gerard Ledain (later Justice Ledain of the Supreme
Court of Canada) found, after four years of public hearings and research,
that simple possession of marijuana should not be a criminal offence.

The harm that marijuana may cause was summarized in Regina vs. Malmo-Levine
as follows:

* There is a probable harmful effect of cannabis on the maturing process in
adolescence;

* There are implications for safe driving arising from impairment of
cognitive functions and psycho-motor abilities;

* The possibility that the long-term heavy use of cannabis may result in a
significant amount of mental deterioration and disorder;

These findings made by the court in Regina vs Malmo-Levine and by the
Ledain Commission are supported by statistics and research of experts in
the field.

I hope this letter gives a more balanced view with respect to the use of
marijuana and its effects.

Ian N. McAndrews, Penticton