DRUG POLICY SIMPLY POTTY

I'M A person who smokes pot on a regular basis and has done so for
about 30 years.

I've also spent most of that time working, paying tax and
contributing to my town.

I smoked with people from all sectors of society - not just the
junkies the government would have us believe are the only face of drug use.

I have shared smokes with judges/magistrates, police officers,
members of the legal fraternity, doctors, politicians and ordinary,
honest, hardworking people.

All of these people, like myself, were (and are), ordinary, honest,
working taxpayers.

But our Government would have those who know little or nothing about
drugs, other than alcohol, believe that we are all dangerous and
desperate junkies, prone to psychotic outbursts.

What a load of rubbish.

Let the Government publicise the research papers showing the clear
links between drug use and mental illness.

I think they cannot, as all they have is the anecdotal evidence from
the various community organisations that have to deal with a small
percentage of drug users with a substance abuse problem.

Substance abuse is a condition arising from deeper issues, that
affects a small minority of drug users - and I include alcohol in all
references to drugs.

All the people I know who have a serious problem with drug abuse have
been placed in that situation by the general, and mental, health systems.

It seems the Government would rather demonise a fairly large sector
of the community (about 30 per cent) in those of us who enjoy using a
substance other than alcohol for our recreation. Rather than render
effective health services to those who have a substance abuse problem.

I had hoped that the trend toward liberalism, that began in the '70s,
would lead our governments to take a more mature approach to the
issues of substance use as a social issue, and substance abuse as a
health issue.

But it seems we'll be waiting a while before we see a government with
the intestinal fortitude required to deal responsibly (not
hysterically) with the issue.

Robert Fyffe

Rapid Creek