Daily pot smokers increase risk.

Re;- "Daily pot smokers increase risk", NT News, 22 May.

Having read Dr Martin Cohen's report, and listened to his Catalyst ( ABC) interview, I am even more convinced of the need to legalize and regulate the use of cannabis, just as we have done with the other drugs which are dangerous to one's health and wellbeing when abused. I refer of course to nicotine and alcohol.

One of the major concerns expressed was the over use of cannabis in adolescents.

The cannabis industry should be embraced by our Government and properly regulated, from growers to distributors, just as the nicotine and alcohol industries are. Accompanied by truthful and comprehensive education as to the responsible use of the drug.

We have had a concerted effort over the last couple of decades to better educate people on the perils of cigarette smoking, with far more positive results than could have been achieved by simply making tobacco illegal. The percentage of cigarette smokers in Australia has been on a steady decline since the education campaign began. People are choosing not to smoke, making informed decisions for themselves.

We are yet to achieve the same results with alcohol abuse.

Hardly surprising given the conflicting messages being sent to our kids.

Alcohol is still commercially promoted as the preferred party drug.

The police still stand silently outside our nightclubs while flagrant breaches of the Liquor Licensing Act are taking place within. Then complain about having to deal with the alcohol and amphetamine induced psychotics pouring out onto the streets at 4.00am.

Why are these drug dealers (the publicans) not seen in the same light as the illicit drug dealers. Destroying young lives by plying them with dangerous quantities of a mood altering drug, so that they can go away and fight each other over trivial misunderstandings, or drive their cars at breakneck speeds around the s-bend at the boundary of Stuart Park and Parap.

Never have I seen a breatho unit or speed trap set up on this most deadly 1/2 kilometer of road in Australia, during it's most deadly hours, 2.00am - 5.00am.

How many more of our young adults have to die before the NT Police start to act like police who care about the wellbeing and safety of the community. Not gangster thugs, kicking people awake on the esplanade who are sleeping peacefully, not presenting a danger to themselves, or others, chasing gay men through the bushes at the beat, or arresting people at general aviation for supposedly trafficking in a substance that may cause some harm to some users (bit of a double standard there)?

There is simply no logical reason for the continued discrimination against those of us who choose to smoke pot in preference to the legally available, yet far more damaging, alcohol.

There is no logical reason for the inclusion of cannabis on the dangerous substances list if alcohol and nicotine are not also included.

Robert Fyffe
Network Against Prohibition