29/01/2008 00:00:00
Letter: Regulate Properly and Improve Safety for Users and Save Taxpayers'
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Alun Buffry of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, calls for the drug to be
Regulated Properly and Improve Safety for Users and Save Taxpayers' Money
In the article "Fears over increased cannabis use" (EN: Jan 22nd),
several people interviewed rightly expressed concerns over the health of
users of illegal cannabis.
http://ccguide.org.uk/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13188
What was not mentioned was that in addition to any risks from cannabis
itself, there is the added risk from contaminated or doctored cannabis.
Recently glass particles, sugar crystals and who-knows-what, have been
spotted, and for many years a nasty form of resin called "soap bar" has
been available. The risk to health from the substances put in the
cannabis to boost profits is unknown. Those risks are caused through the
lack of controls on quality and the greed of the suppliers.
But that's not all. There is also the risk from exposure to hard drugs
and crime; also risk due to the lack of good advice and information at
point of sale.
For every mass cannabis grower or dealer arrested, there are many more
ready to step into this highly profitable illegal trade with no worry
about consumer protection or hygiene laws, no worry about taxation, and
a seemingly endless stream of customers. With almost one in three
people admitting to having tried cannabis and so many using on a regular
basis, it is obviously very popular. A minority of users suffer, a
majority claim to benefit, but the law treats them all the same, even
when they have no victims to their so-called crimes. What is the sense
of leaving the production and supply of such a popular substance outside
of the control of the law? What is the sense of punishing victimless
cannabis users whilst accommodating a prohibition policy that enables
such massive untaxable profits and at a huge policing cost?
Legalisation, with Dutch-style licensed outlets for adults and legal
small-scale cultivation at home, is the answer!
Alun Buffry
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13217
Author:
Evening News: Norwich via UKCIA
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