Pubdate: Wed, 17 Apr 2002
Source: Hull Daily Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Northcliffe Newspapers Group Ltd
Contact:  http://www.thisishull.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1181
Author: Carl Wagner, Legalise Cannabis Alliance
Note: Headline by newshawk

WHY PUNISH THE MENTALLY ILL?

I'd like to respond to the anonymous writers of the two letters (Mail 8th 
and 9th April), who both claim that a family member has ended up in a 
mental hospital because of cannabis use.

There's a vast difference between saying that cannabis is safe and claiming 
that it can never have a bad effect on some people.

People suffer mental problems for all sorts of reasons and it's possible 
that in this case cannabis, or whatever illegal concoction it was that she 
consumed, may have played a part.

I am not a doctor or psychiatrist so I am unable to comment on individual 
cases, however, I must point out that this situation has been allowed to 
develop under the present prohibition policy.

The question I have to ask is: How can anyone justify punishing the 
unfortunate person who is apparently in a mental ward, let alone other 
cannabis users, which is what the law threatens to do?

Carl Wagner

Hull
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MAP posted-by: Beth