Legal cannabis sale plan slammed

[grace]

Legal cannabis sale plan slammed

May 6, 2008 - 11:59PM

 

A proposal by the head of a Sydney drug and alcohol clinic that cannabis should be sold legally at post offices has been branded irresponsible by an anti-drug group.

 

St Vincent's Hospital drug and alcohol service director Alex Wodak argued that cannabis should be legalised and distributed by the government, which would then be able to reap the resulting tax revenue.

 

Drug Free Australia chair Craig Thompson rejected Dr Wodak's proposal.

 

"At a time when the most reputable evidence points to the increased harms of cannabis, it seems highly irresponsible from a person in Dr Wodak's position to make such a statement," Mr Thompson said.

 

Mr Thompson said Dr Wodak had his facts wrong.

 

"For example, he claims that the idea has worked in Amsterdam, but this is not the case. In fact, the distribution outlets (coffee shops) are closing down at a rapid rate."

 

Drug Free Australia executive officer Jo Baxter said Dr Wodak's message had dangerous health consequences.

 

Risks of cannabis use include memory loss, psychosis, impaired driving, hallucinations, asthma and even lung cancer, she said.

 

"If the good doctor could provide his evidence-base to show that open distribution of cannabis would actually decrease use, reduce psychosis and related violence, he may have a credible voice," Ms Baxter said.

 

"However, right now he has only dug himself further into disrepute."

 

© 2008 AAP

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<http://news.smh.com.au/legal-cannabis-sale-plan-slammed/20080507-2bpc.

[nugget]

Risks of cannabis use include memory loss, psychosis, impaired driving, hallucinations, asthma and even lung cancer, she said

 

Whoa the same harms as alcohol/tobacco cause, I'll be damned.....

[freddie]

"Drug free Australia" is hardly likely to provide an unbiased opinion here. Their agenda is quite clear.

 

Alex Wodak is all about harm minimisation. I hope he does present his evidence.

[WantDaChronic]

the problem with any scientific studies he provides as evidence is that regardless of which side of the argument you are on, you can always provide 5 other studies that say the exact opposite

 

good on him for standing up and i hope that he provides some evidence to shut those anti drug fools up, but i dont like his chances of doing it without creating a shit load of problems for himself

[mull]

So Mr Thompson and Ms Baxter don't talk much?

 

Mr Thompson said coffee shops are closing down at a rapid rate, which makes it conceivable that tolerating cannabis there, has lowered demand.

Lower demand, must therefore mean a lower rate of psychosis and related violence, hallucinations and bad driving.

 

Ms Baxter there's some evidence for you perhaps.

 

Whose backing this DFA, anyone know? Wonder if they want to end alcohol and tobacco in aus as well nugget?

 

Maybe 'drug free' doesn't include drugs that are sold by the sponsors tho

[nugget]

Wonder if they want to end alcohol and tobacco in aus as well nugget?

 

That would mean they couldn't sip their wine and smoke their cigars while coming up with this bullshit though

 

 

 

Maybe 'drug free' doesn't include drugs that are sold by the sponsors tho

 

 

My point exactly

 

 

[grace]

So Mr Thompson and Ms Baxter don't talk much?

 

Mr Thompson said coffee shops are closing down at a rapid rate, which makes it conceivable that tolerating cannabis there, has lowered demand.

Lower demand, must therefore mean a lower rate of psychosis and related violence, hallucinations and bad driving.

 

Ms Baxter there's some evidence for you perhaps.

 

Whose backing this DFA, anyone know? Wonder if they want to end alcohol and tobacco in aus as well nugget?

 

Maybe 'drug free' doesn't include drugs that are sold by the sponsors tho

 

 

Drug Free Website - http://www.drugfree.org.au/home/

 

Bunch of wankers but they have a button where you can have your say - I had my say. These ill informed idiots just keep reinventing themselves.

 

National President

 

Craig Thompson

National President

Mr. Craig Thompson

Magistrate

 

Community Interests:

 

President of PRYDE Australia Inc. (Parents Reaching Youth through Drug Education - now closed)

Member PRIDE Inc. (Parents Resources in Drug Education) International Committee 1985-99 Atlanta, USA.

Board Member Ted Noffs Foundation 7 years.

Committee member Australian National Council on Drugs (1998-2004)

Vice-President Drug Watch Australia (Resigned)

Delegate to Drug Watch International.

Former District Governor Lions Clubs International District 201N2

Honorary Secretary

 

Mr. Gary Christian

Honorary Secretary

Mr. Gary Christian

National Director - Adventist Development & Relief Agency

 

Community Interests:

 

1980-1988 - Coordinated the Eastern Suburbs Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking

1986-1987 - Co-writer of the Quit Now Stop Smoking Program

1999 - Co-founder of the Cabramatta ADRAcare Centre for drug dependent and homeless people of the area

2000-2003 - President of Hassela Australia Teen Drug Rehabilitation program

 

 

International Liaison Officer

 

Major Brian Watters AO

International Liaison Officer

Major Brian Watters AO

INCB (UN)

 

Arts Degree from Newcastle (NSW) University, majoring in Medical Sociology.

Qualified Psychiatric Chaplain and trained at Newcastle University in Addictions Counselling.

In 1998 he was appointed by Prime Minister John Howard as The Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs, the peak Drugs Policy Advisory Body to the Australian Federal Government.

A member of the National Board of Drug Arm Australia;

Board Member of Drug Free Australia;

Member of the Leadership Council of International Substance Abuse and Addiction Coalition.

Past President of the N.S.W. Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies with a Membership of more than 100 Agencies.

Served on the N.S.W. Health Minister’s Drug Advisory Council.

In 2005 he was elected by ECOSOC to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of the United Nations – based in Vienna.

In 2007 appointed Vice President of the INCB