(This letter appeared in the Letter section of a newspaper):
National Post · Dec. 21, 2011
The former mayors of Vancouver advocating for decriminalizing the gateway drug cannabis is ludicrous. It was largely because of their permissiveness and leniency that Vancouver's Downtown Eastside turned into the nightmare that it is today. Continuing down this path would be asinine.
Seattle, a city comparable in weather and socio-economic climate, does not have the same problem with open drug use simply because it is not tolerated. New York cleaned up its decaying core in the 1980s by cracking down on drug use, not by some hare-brained scheme of decriminalization.
The constant reference to "the war on drugs" is also getting tiresome. The struggle to keep drugs off the streets is more like a constant battle, similar to those society wages with any other illegal, undesirable activity.
Jeffrey Hay, Ladner, B.C.
http://www.nationalpost.com/Keep+drugs+going/5890195/story.html
12/4/11
Neuroscientist strongly against pot; lost three colleagues to it
(A letter in The Province, Nov. 29, 2011 • Section: Opinion)
The pot pushing club of Vancouver mayors has now reached four. British Columbians should firmly reject their entreaties to legalize marijuana.
They wish to enhance its availability on the grounds that it will bring revenue to the city and is harmless. Just say no. It is not a harmless agent. Our brain research laboratory at UBC published a series of papers in the 1970s specifically demonstrating brain damage from cannabis. I was invited to testify before a U.S. congressional committee on our findings. Three of my scientists ignored those findings. As marijuana users, they became incapable of designing and executing experiments. They were the only three I have lost in more than 50 years of managing young neuroscientists.
I have never been able to understand why anybody would be so foolish as to monkey with the biochemistry of their most precious organ, their brain.
Drug addiction is contagious. One user seduces another. As Vancouver mayors have found, Vancouver has a terrible problem dealing with the wasted lives of the addicted community. But that problem will soon spread to drug-free communities in this province and across Canada if the mayors’ advice is followed.
Criminals make money by addicting the foolish. It may be too late for the older generation who think exposure to marijuana is fine, but the younger generation could eliminate the problem.
Just say no to marijuana and no to being surrounded by users. They create nothing but problems for themselves and others.
Dr. Patrick McGeer, University of B.C.
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/11/29/province-letters-title-goes-here/
The pot pushing club of Vancouver mayors has now reached four. British Columbians should firmly reject their entreaties to legalize marijuana.
They wish to enhance its availability on the grounds that it will bring revenue to the city and is harmless. Just say no. It is not a harmless agent. Our brain research laboratory at UBC published a series of papers in the 1970s specifically demonstrating brain damage from cannabis. I was invited to testify before a U.S. congressional committee on our findings. Three of my scientists ignored those findings. As marijuana users, they became incapable of designing and executing experiments. They were the only three I have lost in more than 50 years of managing young neuroscientists.
I have never been able to understand why anybody would be so foolish as to monkey with the biochemistry of their most precious organ, their brain.
Drug addiction is contagious. One user seduces another. As Vancouver mayors have found, Vancouver has a terrible problem dealing with the wasted lives of the addicted community. But that problem will soon spread to drug-free communities in this province and across Canada if the mayors’ advice is followed.
Criminals make money by addicting the foolish. It may be too late for the older generation who think exposure to marijuana is fine, but the younger generation could eliminate the problem.
Just say no to marijuana and no to being surrounded by users. They create nothing but problems for themselves and others.
Dr. Patrick McGeer, University of B.C.
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2011/11/29/province-letters-title-goes-here/
10/23/11
Legalizations have killed countless millions of people; countless medical costs
Legalizing drugs isn’t the answer
by MARGARET WENTE, columnist for Globe and Mail, Oct. 20, 2011
"Mr. Kleiman maintains that legalizing drugs would create far bigger problems than the legalizers think. Consider alcohol and tobacco, which are heavily taxed and regulated, and are the focus of massive public health campaigns. Even so, both are associated with major public health disasters. Alcohol alone kills more than 100,000 people a year in North America – more than all illicit drugs combined.".....
by MARGARET WENTE, columnist for Globe and Mail, Oct. 20, 2011
"Mr. Kleiman maintains that legalizing drugs would create far bigger problems than the legalizers think. Consider alcohol and tobacco, which are heavily taxed and regulated, and are the focus of massive public health campaigns. Even so, both are associated with major public health disasters. Alcohol alone kills more than 100,000 people a year in North America – more than all illicit drugs combined.".....
9/30/11
Doctor: Marijuana has no place in society
National Post · Letter section, Sept. 30, 2011
Re: A Misguided Sense Of Justice, letter to the editor, Sept. 28; Pot Growers Face More Jail Than Rapists, Sept. 23.
Two letters criticize the government's plan to increase the punishment for marijuana growers. As a psychiatrist who has been practising for more than 30 years, I have seen the extensive harm smoking pot has done in terms of mental well-being for countless people and their families. Many small marijuana growers share or sell their crop with others, whose brains became poisoned, resulting in paranoia, psychotic behaviour, amotivation and many of these damages become chronic and long lasting, contrary to what most people may think.
Some of their presentations are indistinguishable from long-term psychosis. Comparing the punishment for marijuana growers with sexual predators is like comparing apples with oranges. They are both unacceptable and should not be tolerated in our society.
Dr. Henry T. Chuang, Calgary
http://www.financialpost.com/todays-paper/Marijuana+place+society/5480484/story.html
Re: A Misguided Sense Of Justice, letter to the editor, Sept. 28; Pot Growers Face More Jail Than Rapists, Sept. 23.
Two letters criticize the government's plan to increase the punishment for marijuana growers. As a psychiatrist who has been practising for more than 30 years, I have seen the extensive harm smoking pot has done in terms of mental well-being for countless people and their families. Many small marijuana growers share or sell their crop with others, whose brains became poisoned, resulting in paranoia, psychotic behaviour, amotivation and many of these damages become chronic and long lasting, contrary to what most people may think.
Some of their presentations are indistinguishable from long-term psychosis. Comparing the punishment for marijuana growers with sexual predators is like comparing apples with oranges. They are both unacceptable and should not be tolerated in our society.
Dr. Henry T. Chuang, Calgary
http://www.financialpost.com/todays-paper/Marijuana+place+society/5480484/story.html
9/18/11
Vancouver afraid to offend drug addicts---legalizes drug abuses with free crack pipes
Drug addicts should be sent to isolated work camps
By Brian Purdy, Postmedia News, September 14, 2011
I prosecuted a lot of drug dealers in Vancouver during my career. Those at the wholesale level were not usually addicts. At the retail level of drug dealing, many were addicts, peddling drugs to anyone, including kids, to obtain money to fuel their addiction.
Of course, the addicts engaged in many other crimes to get money for more drugs. They mugged old ladies, broke into homes and cars, stole from stores and family, broke their parole and probation terms, abused the welfare system, prostituted themselves, and generally led a degenerate, lawless life.
By Brian Purdy, Postmedia News, September 14, 2011
I prosecuted a lot of drug dealers in Vancouver during my career. Those at the wholesale level were not usually addicts. At the retail level of drug dealing, many were addicts, peddling drugs to anyone, including kids, to obtain money to fuel their addiction.
Of course, the addicts engaged in many other crimes to get money for more drugs. They mugged old ladies, broke into homes and cars, stole from stores and family, broke their parole and probation terms, abused the welfare system, prostituted themselves, and generally led a degenerate, lawless life.
7/15/11
Harm reduction enables addiction
(The letter below was published in the July 15, 2011 edition of The Vancouver Courier)
Vancouver Courier, July 15, 2011
To the editor:
I am the founder and director of an unfunded recovery house in Vancouver and have been in operation for 20 years. I read Mark Hasiuk's story about recovery houses and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. Yes, the health ministry is dumping so much money into this harm reduction and it's not helping anyone. If anything, it's enabling addicts to continue. I have been clean and sober myself for 26 years. Harm reduction has created a new breed of drug addicts that walk around with this attitude of entitlement that it's society's job to feel sorry for me. When I was in my addiction, the last thing I needed was somebody feeling sorry for me. Harm reduction would have been perfect for me to continue with my addiction.
Jim Lynch, Vancouver
http://www.vancourier.com/health/Harm+reduction+enables+addiction/5106963/story.html#ixzz1SFGL1jCe
© Copyright (c) Vancouver Courier
Vancouver Courier, July 15, 2011
To the editor:
I am the founder and director of an unfunded recovery house in Vancouver and have been in operation for 20 years. I read Mark Hasiuk's story about recovery houses and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed it. Yes, the health ministry is dumping so much money into this harm reduction and it's not helping anyone. If anything, it's enabling addicts to continue. I have been clean and sober myself for 26 years. Harm reduction has created a new breed of drug addicts that walk around with this attitude of entitlement that it's society's job to feel sorry for me. When I was in my addiction, the last thing I needed was somebody feeling sorry for me. Harm reduction would have been perfect for me to continue with my addiction.
Jim Lynch, Vancouver
http://www.vancourier.com/health/Harm+reduction+enables+addiction/5106963/story.html#ixzz1SFGL1jCe
© Copyright (c) Vancouver Courier
6/20/11
Pot brownies send seven to hospital
Posted: June 17, 2011, Toronto Sun (Source: QMI Agency)
WOODSTOCK, Ont. -- Seven people were sent to hospital after eating marijuana-laced brownies at a golf course.
Police said an employee of the golf course brought brownies made with marijuana to work Thursday and shared the batch with co-workers, who didn't know the brownies were laced.
The golf course was shut down after seven employees were taken to Woodstock General Hospital following complaints of feeling dizzy and disoriented. The employees were treated and released.
A 19-year-old Woodstock man is charged with administering a noxious substance, possession of a controlled substance and breach of probation.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/17/pot-brownies-send-seven-to-hospital
WOODSTOCK, Ont. -- Seven people were sent to hospital after eating marijuana-laced brownies at a golf course.
Police said an employee of the golf course brought brownies made with marijuana to work Thursday and shared the batch with co-workers, who didn't know the brownies were laced.
The golf course was shut down after seven employees were taken to Woodstock General Hospital following complaints of feeling dizzy and disoriented. The employees were treated and released.
A 19-year-old Woodstock man is charged with administering a noxious substance, possession of a controlled substance and breach of probation.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/17/pot-brownies-send-seven-to-hospital
3/15/11
"Medical-marijuana" may well be just "placebo effect"
How a simple sugar pill from the doctor may not be a thing of the past
The placebo effect is so powerful that doctors want to make more use of our ability to 'trick ourselves better’, says Liz Bestic
By Liz Bestic 7:00AM GMT 14 Mar 2011
Not so long ago, it wasn’t unusual for your friendly GP to have at hand a bottle of sugar pills for patients’ minor aches and pains. While sugar pills are no longer on offer, a report out last week revealed that half of all German doctors are happily dishing out placebos to their patients for ailments such as stomach upset and low mood.
The study, published by the German Medical Association, said that placebos – here defined as sham treatments without any active constituents – from vitamin pills to homeopathic remedies and even surgery, can prove effective as treatments for minor problems and are completely without side effects.
The placebo effect is so powerful that doctors want to make more use of our ability to 'trick ourselves better’, says Liz Bestic
By Liz Bestic 7:00AM GMT 14 Mar 2011
Not so long ago, it wasn’t unusual for your friendly GP to have at hand a bottle of sugar pills for patients’ minor aches and pains. While sugar pills are no longer on offer, a report out last week revealed that half of all German doctors are happily dishing out placebos to their patients for ailments such as stomach upset and low mood.
The study, published by the German Medical Association, said that placebos – here defined as sham treatments without any active constituents – from vitamin pills to homeopathic remedies and even surgery, can prove effective as treatments for minor problems and are completely without side effects.
3/14/11
Legal or illegal pot attracts crimes like corpses attract flies
Mayors want end to medical marijuana growing
By Matthew Claxton, Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2011
The mayors of Langley Township and the City of Langley are calling on the federal government to cancel licences for medical marijuana growing operations.
Legal marijuana is proving a major crime headache for the Langleys, which saw another violent attack on a legal growing operation last weekend. On Sunday morning, a medicinal marijuana growing operation in Brookswood was raided by armed thieves, the RCMP say.
"We believe that the time for consultation is over and that action needs to be taken," a letter sent to the federal government by City Mayor Peter Fassbender and Township Mayor Rick Green said.
By Matthew Claxton, Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2011
The mayors of Langley Township and the City of Langley are calling on the federal government to cancel licences for medical marijuana growing operations.
Legal marijuana is proving a major crime headache for the Langleys, which saw another violent attack on a legal growing operation last weekend. On Sunday morning, a medicinal marijuana growing operation in Brookswood was raided by armed thieves, the RCMP say.
"We believe that the time for consultation is over and that action needs to be taken," a letter sent to the federal government by City Mayor Peter Fassbender and Township Mayor Rick Green said.
3/2/11
Marijuana Use Linked to Psychotic Disorders
By Neha Prakash, Mar 2nd 2011 2:18PM
A new study has found that the use of marijuana at a young age will dramatically increase the chance of psychotic disorders later in life, Reuters reports.
Continued use of marijuana doubles the risk of psychotic episodes, hallucinations or delusions, researchers said.
"This study adds a further brick to the wall of evidence showing that use of traditional cannabis is a contributory cause of psychoses like schizophrenia," said Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, who was not involved in the research.
A new study has found that the use of marijuana at a young age will dramatically increase the chance of psychotic disorders later in life, Reuters reports.
Continued use of marijuana doubles the risk of psychotic episodes, hallucinations or delusions, researchers said.
"This study adds a further brick to the wall of evidence showing that use of traditional cannabis is a contributory cause of psychoses like schizophrenia," said Robin Murray of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, who was not involved in the research.
1/9/11
Pro-pot forces want more smokes in air and lungs
Once again, more (endless) bad news about the destructive effects of smoking (any kind). As said in previous posts, all smokes (fumes from fire) are harmful and toxic---there's no such thing as "harmless" smoke, whether it's from tobacco, pot, banana leaf, etc. Don't agree? Then let your children smoke pot everyday.
- Tobacco Smoke Causes Immediate Damage To Cells And Tissue, US Surgeon General
- Even One Cigarette Can Prove Lethal, U.S. Surgeon General Says
- Secondhand Smoke May Put Kids at Risk for Diseases
- Smoking causes gene damage in minutes
Sat Jan 15, 9:17 pm ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Those first few puffs on a cigarette can within minutes cause genetic damage linked to cancer, US scientists said in a study released.
In fact, researchers said the "effect is so fast that it's equivalent to injecting the substance directly into the bloodstream," in findings described as a "stark warning" to those who smoke.
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