Cannabis can be damaging; caution is required
THE medical effects of smoking or taking cannabis include anxiety, panic attacks, impaired attention, memory and psychomotor performance, high risk of accidents (more so if cannabis is used with alcohol), increased risk of psychotic symptoms, increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and oesophagus, impaired educational attainment in adolescents and underachievement in adults, especially in occupations requiring highlevel cognitive skills, and lowbirthweight babies.
People with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, schizophrenia and other medically dependent illnesses risk their illness becoming exacerbated by cannabis.
In other words, making cannabis more readily available will overstretch hospital resources and cause great harm to our society.
Any use must be strictly under a doctor’s supervision.
Denis Shuker
Cambridge
[Abridged]
Suicide
IS the Government really serious about reducing our terrible suicide statistics?
How can the Government, on one hand, say it is going to invest
$40 million in a suicide prevention strategy to reduce suicide in New Zealand while investing untold millions in providing doctorassisted suicide?
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, ‘‘We believe that every life matters and by working together we can achieve a future where there is no suicide.’’ She is appalled at the frightening estimated suicide total of 685 men, women and children who killed themselves in 201819.
Why is the Prime Minister in denial about her support for assisted suicide?
In December 2018, a total of 37 Labour MPs and nine NZ First MPs voted to support the End of Life Choice Bill at its first reading.
How can the Prime Minister say that every life matters when she supports assisted suicide? Why should the taxpayer be asked to fund both suicide prevention and doctorassisted suicide?
Ken Orr Christchurch
Christianity
I CANNOT help but comment following Ian Harris’ assertion that ‘‘the Christian Church was the great symbol and embodiment of unity in European society’’ (Opinion, 13.9.19).
I wonder what period of European history he was referring to?
It cannot have been the 11th century with the burning of heretics at Orleans, and the establishment of the Inquisition against the Cathars. Nor the 13th century with the Albigensian crusade.
Then there was the virtual destruction of the Huguenots in the 17th century, and only a month ago I passed in Oxford the spot where Latimer and Ridley were roasted at the stake in 1555 by fellow Christians.
How about the 30 Years War, 16181648? Or sectarian violence in Ireland?
Give me the worship of a good game of rugby over Christian myths any day. Charles Higham Company Bay
[Abridged] ......................................
BIBLE READING: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all. — James 1:5.