DRUG USE

Despite decrying everyone else's supposed ignorance about substance use, in
his recent pro-drug outburst ( ODT, 18.6.02), John Dolan passes up a golden
opportunity to tell the truth about the adverse health effects of cannabis.
It has similar long-term lung damage potential to tobacco, impairs mental
and physical performance in the short-term, and should definitely not be
used during pregnancy. A prospective cohort study of a large number of
young people in Christchurch has shown dependency rates of nearly 10% by
age 21, and an alarmingly strong association with the subsequent use of
more hazardous illegal drugs.

John Caygill