CERTAIN MEDICAL authorities appear to harbour serious misunderstanding
concerning the upcoming health select committee inquiry into cannabis.
Prof Robin Taylor said it would be peculiar if the Government didn't
consider the health effects of cannabis in its decriminalisation
deliberations ( ODT, 27.11.00). It would be peculiar, indeed, if the
health committee overlooked the health effects of cannabis. I doubt if
this will happen.

The same article also mentioned that the Asthma and Respiratory
Foundation of New Zealand will be making a submission against
decriminalisation based on the findings of the study. I find this odd,
considering the heavy toll that criminalisation takes on one's mental
and physical health, and even more odd considering that the
criminalisation of cannabis users failed to stop over 52% of the study
group members from smoking pot during the previous year.

Duncan Eddy, National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
Dunedin