Pubdate: Sun, 22 Apr 2001
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/71
Author: Lyndon Smith

NOBODY SHOCKED

Your correspondent Col Parrett is using extreme examples to sensationalise 
marijuana use.

Surveys have shown that most adult Australians have either sampled or used 
marijuana - most are not dependent just as most alcohol drinkers are not 
alcoholics.

Making marijuana illegal has simply made it more available - it's easier 
for a schoolkid to get marijuana than pizza because there are many drug 
dealers at every secondary school in Australia, whether we like to admit it 
or not.

Many marijuana dealers are not evil pushers, but simply fellow students of 
the users at the school.

Even those students or kids who do not use marijuana don't care if others 
do - it's so widespread and shocks nobody. All the scare campaigns are just 
laughed at by our youth because they know people using drugs with no harm 
and a lot of fun.

Cannabis is freely available in Holland and yet marijuana usage is lower 
there among youth than in the US with its strict prohibitionist policies.

It's time to face reality.

Lyndon Smith
Cremorne, NSW
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MAP posted-by: Beth