CANNABIS, OUR HEALTH AND CRIMINALS

Barbara Kay mentions a March, 2007, Lancet article that declares
cannabis to be "more dangerous and addictive than LSD and Ecstasy."
The article in question examines possible cannabis-induced psychosis.
What she does not mention is that this article examined cannabis use
in a prohibition context. Users in Holland or in places that allow
compassion clubs have the advantage of being able to choose strains.
Compassion clubs have noticed that cannabis indica is better for
those who are easily excited, whereas cannabis sativa works better
for those experiencing depression.

And Ms. Kay's concerns over cannabis-induced cancer would be easily
addressed if she would attempt to find one case of a cannabis-only
smoker who got lung cancer from smoking -- there are none on record,
according to Prof. Donald Tashkin, of the University of California,
Los Angeles.

Keeping cannabis criminal only "makes sense" to those who have a
"little learning" on the long history of cannabis as medicine and
sacrament over the last 4,000 years.

David Malmo-Levine, curator, Herb Museum, Vancouver.