Page 2078 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 9 September 1992
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There is also tentative research which suggests a link between cannabis and particular conditions, such as heart problems and mental problems such as schizophrenia. For instance, studies mapping the correlation between schizophrenia and cannabis show that a cannabis user is six times more likely to develop schizophrenia than a non-user. It is certainly true that cannabis adversely affects lung and respiratory functions. One cannot doubt this, because a cannabis or marijuana cigarette contains far more carcinogens than the strongest tobacco cigarette. Not only does cannabis contain more tar than tobacco; in addition, people smoking cannabis will not have the benefit of filters or any of the other requirements that come with a tobacco cigarette. So people smoking marijuana will be exposed to far more cancer causing agents than could possibly be imagined from any tobacco cigarette.
The Liberal Party does not consider it wise, on any sensible public health grounds, to be encouraging people to become exposed to new sources of carcinogens; yet the Government wishes to relax the laws relating to this drug. It is totally hypocritical. At a time when we are seeking to increase restrictions with regard to tobacco, because we all recognise its cancer causing properties, the Government wishes to decrease the restrictions on cannabis. Cannabis clearly is as bad as tobacco and alcohol. Like both alcohol and tobacco, cannabis is a drug of dependence, but it has some of the worst properties of both these drugs. On one hand, cannabis has more carcinogens than tobacco. On the other, it is a psychotropic drug, just like alcohol, so it seriously affects thinking and skill performance. Cannabis clearly has the potential to be the worst of both worlds. In other words, the truth about cannabis could not be further from the perception that appears to exist in some quarters. The perception is that cannabis is not dangerous, when the fact is, quite categorically, that it is in many cases.
The Liberals believe that in view of the fact that cannabis is a dangerous drug there is merit in retaining the current sanctions. Government members may argue that a penalty against cannabis use is being maintained in the form of on-the-spot fines. However, the real truth is that any credible deterrent against the use of marijuana will be removed. The signal that we will send out is a powerful one, and one that has been underestimated by those supporting the Bill. What it says is that cannabis use is now okay. Notwithstanding the on-the-spot fines, the signal is that cannabis use is okay, or at least no worse than going through a "stop" sign, or parking in a "no parking" area.
We have to consider the use from the perspective of someone who is on the verge of a decision about whether to use cannabis or to abstain, and from the perspective of someone who is just about to use cannabis: There no longer will be any credible deterrent. If you happen to bump into a policeman it is a bit of a problem because you might have to pay, under Michael Moore's Bill, $40, or under Mr Connolly's Bill, $100. Well, that is a bit of a nuisance, but that is all it is. Apart from this small fine, what the Bill does is to remove any real deterrent from these people's use of cannabis. In other words, by passing this amendment Bill you could actually be encouraging the use of what is a dangerous drug. The fact that you could be promoting the use of a dangerous drug is supported by evidence from most jurisdictions where a relaxation of cannabis laws has been tried in the past. They have experienced an increase in drug use. In Holland the production of cannabis as a horticultural crop has increased significantly over the years and the range of outlets and cafes selling the drug has expanded. These facts alone show that cannabis use in Holland must have increased dramatically.
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