HEROIN CURE WORSE THAN DISEASE

Editor:

Regarding Sean Chase's story on "Hillbilly Heroin" in the Feb. 16
Daily Observer.

Few people remember that heroin was originally synthesized in an
effort to wean morphine addicts off of their addictions. The resulting
"cure" was worse than the disease.

Oxy, like many other pharmaceuticals used for pain, is addictive and
potentially deadly. Heath Ledger was also heard in a recent video
saying that he "... used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years." If
he had stuck with cannabis instead of visiting Dr. Feelnothing, he
would probably be alive today.

Marijuana, used for 5,000 years for dozens of medical conditions, has
never killed anyone. It is impossible to ingest a fatal dose, and it
has none of the toxic side-effects of chemical pain killers. Its
effectiveness as a pain-killer is well-documented, and Canadians can
even get a permit from Health Canada to use and grow marijuana.
(www.medicalmarihuana.ca)

As for kids getting ahold of drugs, our government's prohibition
policies are making drug dealing easier and more lucrative than ever.
Prohibition caused this mess, and the government is promising only
more prohibition to repair it.

"For kids who have never tried it, it will ultimately kill you." It
should be noted that junk food will kill more Canadians than all
illegal (and legal) drugs combined. As bad as the "Oxy Problem" is,
far more damage is being done by poor diets and sedentary lifestyles
than by "drugs."

This article will serve two purposes: scaring medical Oxy users away
from a potentially helpful medicine, and enticing more kids to try it
for fun. Nothing gets kids curious like forbidding them, or scaring
them.

Russell Barth

Federal medical marijuana license holder

Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis
(PAIDOC)

Ottawa, Ont.