A LETTER TO THE PREMIER AGAINST THE CANNABIS CONTROL BILL

Dear Dr Gallop,

We appeal to you, on behalf of Western Australian families, to withdraw the
Cannabis Control Bill 2003. The bill will decriminalise possession and
cultivation of cannabis [1]. The penalty for using cannabis will be
reduced to a small fine or a single education session with no criminal
record and no escalation in penalties for repeat offenders. This bill will
not deter people from using cannabis nor divert them into mandatory detox
and rehabilitation centres. With only a small fine for growing two plants
- - a fraction of the street value of the harvested cannabis - there will be
an uncontrolled supply of cannabis in our community.

The most recent research on the harm of cannabis confirms that:

o Cannabis use is a risk factor for schizophrenia [2]

o Daily cannabis use by teenage girls increases the risk of depression by
560% [3]

o Teenage cannabis users are 520% more likely to become alcohol or drug
dependent than non-users [4]

o Cannabis causes lung, throat and tongue cancer [5]

o There were fifty cannabis related deaths recorded for Western Australia
from 1997-2000 period [6] (not zero as the Comunity Drug Summit was falsely
informed [7])

o Cannabis alone is responsible for 4.3% of driver fatalities [8]

o Cannabis use may be responsible for up to 30,000 deaths in Britain
annually [5]

The Coalition Against Drugs calls on your Government to withdraw the
Cannabis Control Bill 2003 and instead introduce effective measures for the
protection of the community and the rehabilitation of cannabis users including:

o Additional Drug Courts to divert users from jail and into rehabilitation
services [9]

o Additional detox and rehabilitation facilities

o Immediate mandatory intervention for teenage cannabis users involving
families

o Comprehensive abstinence-based drug prevention programmes

Dr Gallop, the current Cannabis Control Bill 2003 if enacted, will create a
gap between non-users and users of cannabis, who will be robbed of their
intelligence, sporting ability and mental health.

Research [10] shows that when drug laws are seen by children as relaxed,
drug use increases, whereas pro-active measures significantly reduce
cannabis use and dealing.

The Coalition Against Drugs calls on you to protect the children and
families of Western Australia by implementing the above pro-active measures
and withdrawing the Cannabis Control Bill 2003.

Footnotes:

[1] Possession of up to 30g and cultivation of up to two non-hydroponic plants

[2] Zammit et al, Self reported cannabis use as a risk factor for
schizophrenia in Swedish conscripts of 1969, British Medical Journal
2003;325:1199-1204

[3] Patton et al, Cannabis use in mental health in young people, British
Medical Journal 2002;325:1195-1198

[4] Lynsket et al, Escalation of drug use in early-onset cannabis users vs
co-twin controls, Journal of the American Medical Association 2003;289:427-433

[5] Henry and Oldfield, Comparing cannabis with tobacco, British Medical
Journal 2003;326:942-943

[6] Drug Induced Deaths by Leading Type of Drug, Australian Bureau of
Statistics 2003

[7] Illicit drug use in WA; facts [sic] and figures, Comunity Drug Summit
Office, 2001

[8] Swann, The real risks of being killed when driving impaired by
cannabis, Vic Roads Safety Dept, 2000

[9] "Drug Court Given Thumbs Up" BBC News 11 Nov. 2002

[10] West Australian Community Drug Summit 2001 Position Paper Four;
Hawkins et al, Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other problems
in adolescence and early childhood: Implications for substance abuse
prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 4, 64-105

This letter has been prepared by the Coalition Against Drugs (WA). For
further information or to offer your support (including donations) contact
the Coalition Against Drugs (WA), Tel 9321 2333 or return the coupon below
to Reply Paid 1369, Perth WA 6845. Make cheques payable to: Coalition
Against Drugs (WA). Donations by credit card may be made by telephone.