WE DISAGREE

IN HIS letter (Prohibition has failed, 19/3), Niall Young correctly stated
that cannabis is not harmless, but unfortunately his letter then lost its
credibility when he stated that responsible cannabis use by consenting
adults is safer than alcohol.

Using cannabis is not safe in any circumstances or in any amounts. It is
carcinogenic, it attacks most parts of the body and, contrary to the belief
of many people, it is, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,
responsible for many deaths. It also has the potential to trigger
schizophrenia and psychotic problems.

One of the main dangers of cannabis is that many people do not, or will
not, believe that it is a dangerous substance. The Quit campaign in this
State has met with great success in encouraging people to give up smoking
tobacco. Why don't we do the same with cannabis? It is possible. The
late Dr John Anderson set up such a program, Quit Marijuana, in New South
Wales and it is operating successfully. With such a dangerous substance it
is always better to try for prohibition than to give up and allow it to do
its damage unhindered.

TERRY RYAN

Thornlie