REASONGING AGAINST CANNABIS USE

MAYBE the reasons for a lower figure of regular cannabis use in Holland
since decriminalisation (Letters, Alan Wells 5/4) is due primarily to
access, it's certainly a lot easier to grow a plant or two here in
Australia with all our sunshine than in a country like Holland.

Maybe the reason 62 per cent of West Australians arrested for minor
cannabis offences are unemployed is because of the effect their drug taking
has on their employability.

Alan Wells has used statistics that support his view, yet ignored others
that oppose it. He has failed to include recent statistics that has found
that heavy use of cannabis at age 18 (and younger) increases the risk of
schizophrenia sixfold.

Latest studies have shown one third of teenagers who smoke cannabis weekly
will become dependent on the drug by their early 20s. Considering about
half our population tries cannabis before leaving school that's more than
enough reason not to decriminalise it.

B. SING, Falcon