Scant data for medical cannabis

As a General Practitioner of nearly 30 years experience, I rely on valid and reliable scientific evidence to guide my prescribing. The Alberta College of Family Physicians carries out and reports on, in detail, their critiquing of studies and papers. In November 2017 they produced two summary reports. The first asked the clinical question, Are medicinal cannabinoids effective for the treatment of pain? Their analysis conclusion was that “evidence for inhaled marijuana for pain is too sparse and poor to provide evidence-based guidelines. Products may modestly improve neuropathic ( nerve) pain for one in 11-14 users but perhaps not for other pain types. Adverse events were plentiful” The second paper asked, “What are the harms associated with medicinal cannabinoid therapy?” They concluded that “regardless of the type of product used adverse events are common and likely underestimated. Given the extensive harms, potential benefits must be impressive to warrant a trial of therapy”. Legislators must separate those who want to addle their precious brains and lungs with the recreational use of a toxin versus the very limited benefits of medicinal cannabinoids.

Greg Dunn, Matamata.

Like the Americans

Regarding Fran O’Sullivan’s opinion piece “Vehicle for change . . . But at what cost?”, here is somebody who tries to sell us the idea that our infrastructure projects should be financed privately. But she never says that in clear, simple words so her own question “. . . but at what cost?” never gets answered. There actually is a very simple solution: Prime Minister Ardern calls the Reserve Bank and asks for an additional $10 billion dollars. They put that number in the computer. Done. Another $10b created. It’s our bank. It’s our money. That’s what the very smart Americans have been doing for years. And their place is booming. Inflation? Are you joking? If the money were imported from overseas investors it would have the same effect. One difference though: the people who really own this country would not make a profit. Apologies to Australia, the UK, China, the US etcetera.

Hans Geese, Whangaparaoa.

Construction woes

Expediency says — put Ebert into liquidation, set up Ebert 2 Ltd, renegotiate the contracts to make them viable/ survivable, factor any shortfalls owed to contractors into the new company/ contract (why should they bear the brunt of acting in good faith and systemic failure?) and do it all fast (to minimise bloodsucking receivers’ fees). Who cares if $200b turns into $225b if we get built what is needed? Bruce Kohn and Connal Townshend are right about skills shortages and risk-shifting. Tell me a construction project — domestic or commercial — that doesn’t have cost overruns. They simply need to be factored in the mix. Tony Kaye, Hamilton.

ACC and privacy

Whilst I acknowledge that privacy is a sensitive issue, I really cannot understand in a recent case as what the problem was with ACC seeking flight information from Customs on one of their claimants to ensure payments made were legitimate.

I believe they are just doing their job by checking that taxpayers’ money was being spent lawfully. I have no concerns with the authorities checking my flight or other work related activities to ensure that any payments I may be receiving are correct and above board. Surely only the scammers trying to beat the system need to be worried about being caught otherwise life just goes on assuming no unreasonable intimidation is involved.

Alan Walker, St Heliers.

GP failures

I found this article (“GPs failed my daughter, mother tells politicians”) very sad and distressing.

I retired from nursing in 2011 after a long career within the public hospital sector in both NZ and UK. I have watched the health service evolve into a functioning multidisciplinary approach.

The fact that the young woman involved only saw GPs who missed all the signs of ovarian cancer until an “intern” diagnosed her was tragically and shamefully mismanaged.

My heart goes out to all who have suffered from the same experiences.

Ask questions, challenge and demand tests. Go to the public hospital emergency departments. The Public Health Service belongs to, and is funded by us. We have a right to best practice and care.

Liz Ellison, Tauranga.

Labour’s leadership

Thank you Winston for identifying me as a “business elite”. Turnover for my small business has dropped 18 per cent this year but according to our finance minister, this drop is just “anti-Labour bias”. No matter the question, this lot thinks the answer is another tax. We need inspirational leadership that encourages us to achieve rather than excusing irresponsibility and fostering an “us and them” mentality. The cult of victimhood this Government encourages is a contributor to, not a cure of, our societal ills. Those who naively thought a Labour government offered a kinder, fairer future will be disappointed.

Mark McCluskey, Red Beach.

Corporate confidence

David Lange was right saying corporate NZ were like reef fish. Just because Labour gets in, all these corporate guys, who are not business owners but are (over)paid workers, suddenly have no confidence. How come everyone I need prices from is so busy it takes ages. Even up here in Kaitaia, which no doubt your business commentators either think is dead in the water, or more likely never asked about their confidence, the following export industries are booming, being avocados, honey, timber and kiwifruit, and old regulars like milk and meat seem fine. Commercial building here has never been so busy. The only drawbacks are the slow council having to deal with the myriad of regulations brought in under National by the ludicrously named Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the three things that Stalinist department is designed to prevent.

Wayne Brown, Mangonui.

Billion-tree plan

Regarding the billion-tree plan, the one factor notably absent from Andea Fox’s article last Friday is any consideration of the effect on our landscape.

We have efficiently transformed a subtropical rain forest into a temperate grassland, a totally different ecosystem. Our present landscape is a work in progress; grass, roads, wire, a few hedges, the occasional clump of evergreen trees, and yet more grass. But where are the deciduous trees from the northern hemisphere so suited to our new landscape. The landscape is indeed desperately short of trees but the last thing needed is a more boring evergreens, exotic or native.

The possible species listed are curious, since the nikau and the cabbage tree are economically totally useless, like so much else of our native flora. For replanting natives we need our exceptional softwoods; kauri, totara, rimu, matai and kahikatea. The native replanting should be in the thousands of hectares of cut over bush which is now recovering from the Neolithic timber extraction still practiced by our logging industry, hence the recent devastation on the East Coast and Banks Peninsula.

New Zealand needs its own “Capability Brown” to instruct and enthuse our landowners and farmers as Brown did in Britain in the 18th century.

Denys Oldham, Devonport.

Piano ivory removal

I have long been an admirer of the writings of your columnist, Brian Rudman, but I am now appalled at his disgraceful ramblings in Wednesday’s article concerning the even more disgraceful and idiotic actions of the Department of Conservation in removing ivory keys from the 1898 imported piano.

Brian: your stupid comments re the price of old pianos and their availability via Trade Me are reprehensible and irrelevant. Who are you to judge the apparent love by Professor Paton for his old piano. It must be special to him to go to the expense of bringing it to NZ.

Many people value some treasured possessions way beyond their monetary value. Professor Paton deserves an apology.

The departure from good common sense by DoC bureaucrats is most disturbing. Surely a simple approach in person to Professor Paton explaining his responsibilities under Cites would have been the sensible thing to do. To simply remove the “offensive” ivory keys was senseless, idiotic and totally unnecessary.

Disclaimer; I very seriously support the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and I am a member of the Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand. John Course, Waihi.