Pubdate: Fri, 18 Apr 2014
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Telegraph Media Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Author: David Brown

GOOD DRUGS, BAD DRUGS

SIR - Cannabis is slightly less addictive and harmful than coffee. 
This has been shown by many studies using much larger sample sizes 
than the 20 users in the study you report ("Even casual use of 
cannabis alters brain, warn scientists", April 16).

For most adults, cannabis is good in moderation. It is a natural 
supplement to our endocannabinoid system and helps to protect against 
autoimmune conditions such as diabetes and cancer. It promotes 
neurogenesis, so is useful for the treatment of brain injury, stroke, 
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The United States government 
holds a patent for the use of cannabinoids in treating such conditions.

Peter Reynolds Clear: Cannabis Law Reform Sutton Poyntz, Dorset 
SIR  Professor Simon Gibbons (report, April 12) highlighted the lack 
of information available to children aged 10, 11 and 12 about the 
misuse of drugs.

I chair a local charity that has been presenting programmes in 
primary schools for ages four to 12 for the past 20 years.

These promote a healthy lifestyle and inform children about the 
effects of legal and illegal drug use. The object is to equip them to 
resist peer pressure as they move on to secondary education.

Costs are kept to a minimum and our charges to schools have not 
changed for 10 years, but we have seen a reduction in bookings solely 
because of the demands on school budgets in the past few years.

David Brown Leicestershire Life Education Centres Trust Cropston, Leicestershire
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom