CANNABIS ONLY DANGEROUS DUE TO PROHIBITION

ASK yourself; What do you really know about Cannabis?

Unfortunately many people have a very negative opinion on this subject, but
why? A lot of these opinions are blindly formed due to illegality and public
condemnation.

Even though many facts about cannabis have been proven, groups such as the
Gardai still insist that their often false and narrow minded views are
correct.

Let us compare things to alcohol. If the Government decided tomorrow to make
alcohol illegal, I could guarantee public uproar throughout the country. Did
you know that alcohol is more harmful than Cannabis?

Think about it, how many deaths are there in Ireland each year due to
alcohol, be it drunk-driving or alcohol related illness? How many families
have been destroyed and women battered by alcoholic husbands? Do we ever
hear of deaths or violence in homes due to Cannabis?

The prohibition of growing Cannabis is ridiculous. Plants were created to
grow, it is nature, we do not have the right to outlaw this. Just because we
know that Cannabis can be used as a narcotic, doesn't mean it is the only
plant that can be used for this purpose. In fact, there are plants all over
the country that have this potential usage. I also was surprised to find out
that lettuce could be used as a drug. If lettuce is left to over-ripen, a
white sap begins to form in the main stalk. This sap contains opium, which
is the ground basis of heroin. What is the Government going to do next,
outlaw lettuce?

Ireland, having one of the highest numbers of asthmatics in Europe should
especially consider legislation of Cannabis. In Switzerland in the town of
Illighausen, Max Haberlin, a chronic asthmatic, got the idea when his asthma
cleared up from working in the fields. People basically get this natural
treatment while sleeping, no need for inhalers or chemicals. The Chinese
already used cannabis over 6,000 years ago as a medicine against conditions
such as beriberi, malaria, mental problems and female problems.

Legislation would be of benefit in various ways. This versatile plant could
create jobs as over 50,000 different products can be produced from it.
Things such as: food, paper, cosmetics and clothing. Sale of Cannabis in
shops would prevent young people from coming in contact with dangerous drugs
such as ecstasy and heroin from dealers.

Cannabis is not a gateway drug. The Government is playing its cards poorly.
They are doing the dealers a favour by artificially making it a gateway
drug, through prohibition.

I believe that Cannabis is over rated by public opinion, lack of knowledge
being the main culprit. It is time for people to learn the truth about
Cannabis; it is not a dangerous substance but rather a plant that can be of
benefit to all of us and in many ways.

Its culture reaches far beyond six millennia. It was only after World War II
that the Americans prohibited it in Europe during its restructuring, in the
Marshall Plan.

Oliver Neff, Belleview, Myrtleville, Co Cork.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"